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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Chiara Fiorillo

Top places to live in each UK region with 'unique and independent' town crowned best

A town in Gloucestershire has been named the best place to live in the UK because of its good schools, transport links and green spaces.

Stroud topped the Sunday Times list of 78 locations across the country and was followed by Woodbridge, Teddington and Stamford.

The town has been praised for its "unique independent spirit" and good facilities, including schools.

Stroud's average house price is £265,000, while the average rental price is £700 per month.

The Sunday Times guide looks for improving towns, villages or city centres, for attractive, well designed homes and community spirit.

Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times property editor, said: "This guide has never been so important. The pandemic has taught us just how much we rely on our homes, our communities and our surroundings.

"With working from home now common, it's no surprise that many of us are reassessing our priorities and thinking hard about where we really want to live."

Previous winners of the top title in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live include Altrincham last year, Salisbury in 2019, York in 2018 and Bristol in 2017.

Do you live in one of these areas? Join the debate in the comments below

The bathing pier at Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland (Getty Images)

Here is the full breakdown for each region.

South West - Stroud

Stroud has been named the overall winner in the UK because of its schools, transport links, green spaces and its strong community spirit.

Novelist Jilly Cooper, who lived in the town for over 40 years, said Stroud is "beautiful" and "inspiring".

She added: "It’s incredibly friendly. It’s great dog-walking country and everyone gets on with everyone else.

"We’ve got lovely pubs, a fantastic vet and a village shop that really looks after us."

East - Woodbridge

Woodbridge, a historic market town in Suffolk, has been crowned the best place to live in the East.

The town has a lively community, with shops, cinemas, a market and a vibrant high street.

At the same time, its history is visible thanks to colourful buildings and hidden alleys.

There are many spots for walks and outdoor activities and most places are dog-friendly.

Woodbridge Tide Mill in Suffolk (Collect Unknown)

Midlands - Stamford

With its period charm, Stamford has been named the best place to live in the Midlands.

The town in Lincolnshire has five medieval churches, Tudor pubs and majestic buildings.

There are many independent shops and a Friday market with 60 stalls which locals love.

The town also hosts the annual Stamford Dog Show, which had more than 440 entries in 2019.

Typical limestone houses and narrow streets of Stamford (Getty Images)

London - Teddington

Teddington, a suburb in south-west London, is the best place to live in the capital, according to the Sunday Times list.

The area is known for its natural spots, including the popular Busky Park, and River Thames towpaths which offer amazing views at sunrise and sunset.

Locals also help each other through community groups which saw them raise £1 million to save Park Lane Stables.

Teddington has been named the best place to live in London (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

North and North East - Ilkley

Ilkley in West Yorkshire has been named the best area to live in the North and Northeast.

The town, located between Leeds and the Yorkshire Dales National Park, features plenty of places to eat and drink.

It is also mindful about climate change, with environment-friendly activities taking place regularly.

One of these is the Ilkley Clean River Campaign, which help to keep the River Wharfe clean.

The sky glows orange over the Cow & Calf pub high up on Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire (Andrew McCaren/LNP)

Northern Ireland - Holywood

Holywood is a dream town for sport lovers, with people practising activities including swimming, kite-surfing and sailing.

The town, located just half an hour from Belfast city centre, has excellent air quality.

Holywood is located just half an hour from Belfast city centre (Getty Images/EyeEm)

Northwest - Altrincham

Altrincham in Cheshire has been named the best place to live in the Northwest because of its vibrant high street, great schools and transport links.

The town has trains, trams and canalside cycle route into Manchester.

Altricham Market in Cheshire (MEN)

Scotland - North Berwick

North Berwick has been praised for its positive energy and natural spots, including its extensive shoreline where locals have been heading to often during the coronavirus pandemic.

The East Lothian town, only 30 minutes from Edinburgh, has a welcoming vibe.

Bronwyn Macaskill, a yoga teacher, said: "The sea is a huge thing here. Since I relocated I have started sea swimming.

"The [North Berwick] Law and nature walks all around have been a huge plus these past few months."

The ancient and picturesque town of North Berwick (Getty Images)

Southeast - Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills has the perfect feel of the English countryside.

The area, close to the M25, features several villages with vast grasslands, moorlands and hills.

One of the most popular spots in the area is Silent Pool lake, where Agatha Christie staged her famous disappearance in 1926.

In Surrey Hills there are vast grasslands, moorlands and hills (Wayne Starr/Daily Star)

Southwest - Frome

Frome is not in the most convenient location, but locals live there because they really like it.

The Somerset town is great for people commuting to Bristol and Bath on a regular basis, but is not connected very well to other regions.

Residents love going for walks along the River Frome. Canoeing is also a popular activity.

A quiet street in Frome during the coronavirus pandemic (Western Daily Press)

Wales - Usk

Usk, a town in Monmouthshire, has been named the best place to live in Wales.

It is a little town where most people know each other.

Usk is surrounded by green spaces, including top-notch facilities for tennis, football, cricket and, of course, rugby.

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