New research has revealed the 10 most attractive places to live in the UK. Did your town or city make the list?
Saffron Walden in Essex has been judged as the best place to live in the UK, according to the latest Sunday Times’ list.
The pretty town, made affluent thanks to the saffron dye it traded in the Middle Ages, is located 15 miles south of Cambridge.
It is known for its beautiful architecture and market place, gourmet pubs and restaurants, as well as nearby stately home Audley End.
It takes around an hour to get to London from railway station Audley End a few miles away.
The judges of the Best Places to Live List 2025 were impressed by the "lively high street, fine food and a new dose of entrepreneurial spirit," as well as the good local schools.
However, the average house price in Saffron Walden is a pricey £607,100 - the most expensive in the top 10.
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Other top contenders
Second in the list was Chelmsford, also in the East of England, described as an excellent commuter hub.
Essex's county town, where the average house price is a more affordable £468,400, is known for its cathedral, race course and quality secondary schools.
Meanwhile, Chew Valley in Somerset's Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty took third place.
A commute from Bristol, it boasts picturesque countryside, lakes and good quality local produce in its cafes and restaurants.
Average house prices there are a more expensive £512,500, however.
The top 10 best places
|
Ranking |
Location |
Region |
Average house price |
|
1 |
Saffron Walden |
East of England |
£607,100 |
|
2 |
Chelmsford |
East of England |
£468,400 |
|
3 |
Chew Valley, Somerset |
Southwest England |
£512,500 |
|
4 |
Dundrum, County Down |
Northern Ireland |
£222,300 |
|
5 |
Gower Peninsula, Swansea |
Wales |
£310,200 |
|
6 |
Ilkley, West Yorkshire |
North England |
£532,000 |
|
7 |
Ilmington, Warwickshire |
Midlands |
£458,100 |
|
8 |
Liverpool: Woolton |
Northwest England |
£281,800 |
|
9 |
North Berwick |
Scotland |
£523,500 |
|
10 |
Petersfield, Hampshire |
Southeast England |
£605,000 |
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The regional winners
As well as naming the top places to live across the entire UK, the judges also crowned 10 regional winners.
Chelmsford took the top spot in the East of England, while Walthamstow was named the best place to live in London. The area is well know for its connections to designer William Morris, foodie culture and green spaces.
Gower Peninsula was ranked the most desirable location in Wales, partly down to its ‘cool, creative and sustainable’ local businesses. while Ilmington in Warwickshire was named the best place to live in the Midlands.
North Berwick, last year's overall winner and a popular seaside resort with its two sandy beaches, was ranked regional winner in Scotland.
Meanwhile, Ilkley in Yorkshire was named the most desirable location in the North East partly thanks to its local beer festival, and seaside town Dundrum in County Down, which has a nature reserve and an Anglo-Norman castle, was the regional winner in Northern Ireland.
What makes somewhere a great place to live?
When evaluating each potential winner, the judges visited the area and looked at features such as outside spaces and the state of the high street.
Other factors included school league tables, house prices, broadband speeds and cultural life.
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Goodbye Stockport and Abergavenny
While the list included former winners such as Saffron Walden in Essex and North Berwick, which topped the poll last year, previous regional winners Stockport and Abergavenny were not included in the list.
Other previous winners of The Sunday Times’ crown have included Wadhurst in East Sussex, Boston Spa in West Yorkshire and Newnham in Cambridgeshire.