UK's best place to live has been named
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A British town of fewer than 5,000 people has been named as the UK’s best place to live.
Known for its 'stunning scenery', the small town beat 71 other locations as the judges from the Sunday Times were confident in their choice.
The area was praised for its good schools, convenient transport links and variety of high street shops and activities, such as the farmers’ market, clubs, classes and the community cinema at the Community Hall.
Helen Davies, editor of Best Places To Live 2023, said: “When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever.
“Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.
“This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre.
“Whether you’re downsizing, trading up or getting on to the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.”
Well, without further ado - East Sussex town Wadhurst is now the smallest winner of the award in its 11-year-history.
The votes swayed in their favour thanks to a special group of fathers dubbed The Wadhurst Warriors.
They are responsible for fundraising for the town’s primary school in 2004 and now raise money for the whole village.
Wadhurst Warriors chairman Chris Poulton said: “We do believe Wadhurst is the best place to live and that is down to us all working together to make it a place where everyone can be supported.
“We don’t do it for ourselves, we do it for the community.
“Being recognised is great but the more we can give back to the community the better.
“Recognition can just be someone coming up to us and saying thank you.”
You can see the full list of the winners from across the UK below.
A winner was also selected for each region in England:
EAST OF ENGLAND
Winner: Saffron Walden, Essex
Aylsham, Norfolk
Bourn, Cambridgeshire
Buckhurst Hill, Essex
Dedham Vale, Suffolk
Felixstowe, Suffolk
Norwich
LONDON
Winner: Crouch End
Beckenham
Hackney borders N1 and E8
Earlsfield
King’s Cross
Notting Hill
Woolwich
MIDLANDS
Winner: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Digbeth, Stirchley, Birmingham
Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire
Great Malvern, Worcestershire
Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Melbourne, Derbyshire
Rutland
NORTHERN IRELAND
Winner: Donaghadee, Co Down
Ormeau, Belfast
Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh
NORTH AND NORTH EAST ENGLAND
Winner: Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Leeds
Ouseburn, Newcastle
Sheffield
Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Wooler, Northumberland
NORTH WEST
Winner: Liverpool
Manchester
Penrith, Cumbria
Rawtenstall, Lancashire
Sale, Greater Manchester
Stockport, Greater Manchester
Tarporley, Cheshire
SCOTLAND
Winner: Dunkeld, Perthshire
East Linton, East Lothian
Portobello, Edinburgh
Shawlands, Glasgow
Newport-on-Tay, Fife
Orkney
Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute
SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
Winner: Chichester, West Sussex
Alresford, Hampshire
Brighton and Hove, Seven Dials
Folkestone, Kent
Guildford, Surrey
Lindfield, West Sussex
(East) Oxford
Reading, Berkshire
Reigate, Surrey
Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire
SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
Winner: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Bishopsteignton, Devon
Bristol
Broad Chalke, Wiltshire
The Chew Valley, Somerset
Marlborough, Wiltshire
Penzance, Cornwall
Poundbury, Dorset
WALES
Winner: Ruthin, Denbighshire
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Barmouth, Gwynedd
Pontcanna, Cardiff
Gower Peninsula, Swansea
Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Solva, Pembrokeshire
The full list can be found online at thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive.
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