Saffron Walden named UK’s finest place to stay – see the total listing | EUROtoday

The Essex market city of Saffron Walden has been named as one of the best place to stay within the UK in The Sunday Times’ annual Best Places to Live information.

Judges praised the city’s “knockout” attractiveness and in contrast its market to these discovered within the south of France.

The information, which shall be printed on Sunday, assessed 72 areas throughout the UK, contemplating components starting from faculties and transport to broadband speeds, tradition, inexperienced areas, and the well being of the excessive road.

Saffron Walden’s enchantment, in keeping with the judges, lies in its mix of handy commuter entry to each London and Cambridge, high-performing state faculties, and a thriving cultural scene.

The city additionally boasts a burgeoning “foodie scene” and a revitalised excessive road, efficiently combining chain shops with unbiased companies.

The information notes that locals evaluate Saffron Walden’s Saturday market to these discovered within the south of France.

Helen Davies, editor of Best Places to Livestated: “It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate as we look closer to home. From small gestures that lift the everyday – like verges blooming with daffodils and volunteer-run dementia cafes, to larger initiatives, from repair cafes to new railway stations.”

Judges seemed for thriving areas with a powerful sense of group fairly than well-known names with excessive home costs.

Locations on this yr’s listing are available all sizes and shapes, from the island of Tiree in Scotland and the distant Welsh village of Maenclochog to the suburbs of huge cities like London, Leeds and Liverpool.

Ms Davies added: “High house prices are no barrier to inclusion – as long as they provide value for money. Different people will be looking for different qualities when they are choosing a place to live.

“One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”

Regional winners had been additionally chosen (areas are in alphabetical order and will not be ranked):

East: Chelmsford, Essex

Judges praised its faculties and transport connections.

London: Walthamstow

Walthamstow was described by judges as various, vibrant and funky with out being frosty.

Midlands: Ilmington, Warwickshire

Ilmington, perched on the sting of the Cotswolds, was described by the judges as a blissful instance of village life correctly.

North and North East: Ilkley, West Yorkshire

The “get up and go” of the group and the sporting and cultural alternatives for younger individuals impressed judges.

Northern Ireland: Dundrum, Co Down

The setting for Dundrum was described as magical, with a powerful meals scene and the thrill of Belfast not far-off.

North West: Woolton, Liverpool

Judges described it as a gloriously family-friendly place to place down roots, with glorious faculties, parks and even a patch of woodland.

Scotland: North Berwick

North Berwick was named general finest place to stay within the UK in 2024 and takes high spot in Scotland this yr resulting from its seashores, high quality faculties and thriving unbiased companies.

South East: Petersfield, Hampshire

Judges stated there’s all the time one thing taking place in Petersfield’s historic streets, set towards the backdrop of the South Downs countryside.

South West: The Chew Valley, Somerset

Judges stated the realm is a rural idyll and residential to a powerful choice of forward-thinking, sustainable rural companies.

Wales: Gower Peninsula, Swansea

Judges had been impressed with cool, artistic and sustainable unbiased companies arising in villages and hamlets within the “wilder corners of the peninsula”.