UK’s best place to live in 2023 – the small market town beats 71 other locations

Wadhurst, a quiet market town in East Sussex, has been crowned Britain’s best place to live as the Sunday Times list of most favourable places to locate to has been released for 2023. The popular annual list has ranked Wadhurst as the nicest place to live in the UK, beating off competition from 71 other locations around the nation. Judges who crowned Wadhurst the winner said the small market town offers “pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature”. Express.co.uk has delved into the top 10 listed areas to share their average house prices.

The town was praised for its good schools, convenient transport links, variety of high street shops and being surrounded by “stunning scenery”.

The Wadhurst Warriors, a group of fathers who began fundraising for the town’s primary school in 2004 and now raise money for the whole village, were praised as the “stars of the show”.

Judges also praised the town of fewer than 5,000 people – the smallest winner of the award in its 11-year history – for the many activities available for children, the farmers’ market, clubs, classes and the community cinema at the Community Hall.

Community members said: “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.”

A parish council spokesperson told PA news agency: “This is really exciting news. Wadhurst is a lovely, lovely place to live with a great community feel. What makes it really special is the community, we have lots of different village clubs and a really active community. We are all helping each other out and during Covid that really came to the forefront, with lots of groups helping to get food and medicine to people.

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“I would say to someone thinking of moving here that it’s a great place to live, you have the best of both worlds. You have easy access to towns and cities but if you want a rural lifestyle it is perfect.”

Paula Lee, 58, who owns the @ONE homeware shop on Wadhurst’s high street said: “I would agree completely – it is a lovely place to live and it has got a good sense of community. I am not surprised – I think you would be hard-pushed, certainly in the South East, to find somewhere better.

“There are some really lovely shops, it is a well-rounded high street – there is a nice independent butcher, grocers and a nice community spirit. The countryside in this area is just outstanding. There is lots of walking and lots of sporting activities in an area of outstanding natural beauty.”

Here is the top five list of Best UK places to live in UK winners

1. Wadhurst, East Sussex

Taking the top spot, Wadhurst is a small market town full of character, boasting a high street lined with cottages and a range of pubs, restaurants and independent shops.  Amenities such as the Wadhurst train station, schools and leisure facilities also make the town very attractive to prospective homebuyers.

According to Rightmove, properties in Wadhurst had an overall average price of £480,641 over the last year. Most sales in Wadhurst during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £652,429. Terraced properties sold for an average of £338,450, with semi-detached properties fetching £357,750.

2. Chichester, West Sussex

Living in Chichester is a particularly desirable prospect. Chichester is such a popular location due to its amazing variety of amenities and its array of different property types. Rightmove found that properties in Chichester had an overall average price of £438,448 over the last year.

The majority of sales in Chichester during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £267,596. Terraced properties sold for an average of £434,525, with semi-detached properties fetching £462,208.

3. Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Dubbed the “Capital of the Cotswolds”, that statement alone would be enough to convince most people to move to Cirencester. Quintessentially English, Cirencester’s rural way of life sees most buyers put down roots here.

Properties in Cirencester had an overall average price of £370,658 over the last year, according to Rightmove. The majority of sales in Cirencester during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £337,713 Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £375,199, with flats fetching £216,104.

4. Crouch End, London

One of North London’s hidden gems, the vibrant community of Crouch End is full of charm and character.  Its streets are lined with an eclectic mix of independent eateries, boutique stores and cultural hotspots, and some of the most impressive parks in the Capital are situated close by. 

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Considerably more than other places on the list, properties in Crouch End had an overall average price of £764,903 over the last year, claimed Rightmove. The majority of sales in Crouch End during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £533,669. Terraced properties sold for an average of £1,169,153, with semi-detached properties fetching £1,643,082.

5. Donaghadee, County Down

Donaghadee is a small town in County Down Northern Ireland. It lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula, several miles to the east of Belfast. The town is known for its many attractions, including the lighthouse and moat, as well as its souvenir and antique shops.

With average house prices significantly lower than the national average, properties in this location average out at £203,200, according to House for Sale and to Rent.

6. Dunkeld, Perthshire

Dunkeld is just eight hours away from London and offers beautiful scenery and historical attractions. It’s no surprise that this town has made it onto the list of one of the best places to live, as it boasts some of the best scenery of the Scottish Highlands.

It would be criminal to miss Dunkeld Bridge, which offers excellent views of the River Tay and the surrounding area. In terms of buying in the area, properties in Dunkeld had an overall average price of £230,313 over the last year, according to Rightmove.

7. Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Royal Leamington Spa is a picturesque town in Warwickshire, England, famous for its vibrant boulevards, scenic parks, and Geogian and Edwardian architecture. Rightmove shared that properties in Leamington Spa had an overall average price of £390,848 over the last year. Regency townhouses are particularly popular with buyers, and the demand reflects in the price. 

8. Liverpool: Waterloo and Toxteth

Waterloo gives the best that Merseyside can offer – it’s close to the beach, has plenty of amenities and great schools. According to Rightmove, average property prices in Waterloo over the last year have jumped by 16% to just over £260,000.

Toxteth has come a long way in shedding its outdated reputation. It’s now a cultural melting pot where local residents and students mix. Property prices here in the last 12 months have grown by three percent to £157,614, but the figure is 15 percent up on the 2020 peak of £137,066.

9. Ruthin, Denbighshire

Ruthin is a unique destination in Wales, distinguished by its charming character, rich heritage spanning several centuries, and a picturesque setting in one of Britain’s most stunning landscapes. Properties in Ruthin had an overall average price of £246,553 over the last year, according to Rightmove.

10. Saffron Walden, Essex

Saffron Walden consistently gets featured in lists of the best places to live in the UK, and this one’s no different. However, its popularity does come with higher house prices. According to Rightmove, properties in Saffron Walden had an overall average price of £430,022 over the last year.

source: express.co.uk