The Sunday Times Best Places to Live sponsored by Halifax Abergavenny, Monmouthshire named the best place to live in Wales North Berwick, East Lothian named the overall best place to live in the UK
March 15, 2024: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, has been named the Best Place to Live in Wales in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The Sunday Times judges said: “Few locations in the UK are as friendly, practical and picturesque as this friendly market town on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. There has been a market here since the 13th century and food remains a strong point, with the Abergavenny Food Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Community spirit is off the charts and there’s a strong and varied sporting scene.”
Six other locations in Wales are featured in the comprehensive guide. Published by The Sunday Times, the guide includes 72 locations across the UK and is released on Friday, March 15. An abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement on Sunday. The full list of Wales locations is as follows:Please note: apart from the winner, they are not ranked but published in alphabetical order.
· Winner: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
· Cardigan, Ceredigion
· Conwy
· Mumbles, Swansea
· Narberth, Pembrokeshire
· Presteigne, Powys
· Vale of Glamorgan
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, says: “This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2024, from Dunkeld to Knutsford, Falmouth to Leeds. Wherever you are on the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.
“These are all places where you can feel grounded as well as upwardly mobile: they have a mature sense of community, lively, supportive high streets and an eye to the future, whether that is eco-friendly measures, transport and regeneration, or imaginative inclusion of new housing.”
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.
The chosen locations come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny Scottish island of Kerrera and the remote Welsh village of Presteigne to big, lively cities such as Belfast, Leeds and Liverpool.
There are more new entries than ever before in this year’s guide and no place for previous winners such as York and Bristol - the judges looked for improving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.
“What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there,” Helen Davies, the guide’s editor, says. “That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That might be fast commutes and high-achieving schools but also clean water to swim in, lively town centres with useful shops, the possibility of earning a living and being part of a friendly community.
“We do consider affordability, though high house prices are no barrier to inclusion - as long as they provide value for money. Different people may be looking for different things, but what all our best places have in common is that people love living in them and are proud to call them home.”
The guide has again been sponsored by the mortgage lender Halifax, which has provided an average house price for each location. “Where you want to live is a very personal decision. We know it can be daunting whether it’s deciding where to buy your first home or making a move as your circumstances change. There can be lots to think about around what is right for you and your family. With a great range of locations suited for different budgets and family situations, alongside a great mix of both rural and urban locations, this is a great place to start,” says Kim Kinnaird, Halifax’s homes and protection director.
Broadband speeds were provided by Thinkbroadband.com, the UK’s leading independent guide to broadband.
Previous winners of the Best Places to Live in Britain title are: Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017), York (2018), Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019), Altrincham, Cheshire (2020) Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021), Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022) and Wadhurst, East Sussex (2023).
Winner: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire Few locations in the UK are as friendly, practical and picturesque as this friendly market town on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. There has been a market here since the 13th century and food remains a strong point, with the Abergavenny Food Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary last year. Community spirit is off the charts and there’s a strong and varied sporting scene.
Cardigan, Ceredigion This far-flung corner of wild west Wales is a hive of artisan creativity, from locally made bread and beer to the local arts and crafts showcased in fine style on the thriving high street. Connections to the rest of the country aren’t great, but happily, all you need is here, from a health centre and revamped school to Mwldan, a not-for-profit arts centre in a former abattoir that has a three-screen cinema and a theatre.
Conwy Every kind of natural adventure is within easy reach of the brooding towers and tumbledown castle walls that cast an enchanting spell over this coastal hotspot. Those lucky enough to live in the town can pick up groceries and grab a coffee in impeccably historic surroundings, while enjoying the reassurance of regular trains and a fast road.
Mumbles, Swansea Community spirit, stunning scenery and a hard-to-beat location make Swansea’s seaside super-suburb hard to resist. The Mumbles coastline is varied and gorgeous and it’s handy for both the M4 and big-city practicalities. There are sports clubs, a stunning golf course, shops both interesting and useful and a good selection of bars and restaurants.
Narberth, Pembrokeshire High streets across the UK may be struggling, but not so in Narberth. This colourful market town continues its upwardly mobile, upmarket march, with an increasingly turbocharged selection of delis, restaurants and galleries. But Narberth is practical and pragmatic, too. There's a station, proximity to Pembrokeshire’s magnificent coast, good sports facilities and butchers, bakers and greengrocers on the high street.
Presteigne, Powys The inspirational community in this small town on the Welsh border have a knack for getting things done. Presteigne has just been declared the first official “dark skies” community in mainland England and Wales, after a six-year project. Wildflowers and daffodils are planted by volunteers, drivers are on hand to take people for hospital visits and the council and a local arts group have built a community barn on Went’s Meadow that is used for everything from yoga classes to music festivals and the riotous annual carnival.
Vale of Glamorgan The scenery and seaside of the countryside around Cardiff offers an enticing cocktail of comfort and convenience, plus a healthy dash of aspiration. The Vale has good schools, convenient transport links and two of Wales’s most justly sought-after postcodes in Penarth and Cowbridge.
The Sunday Times Best Places to Live sponsored by Halifax Abergavenny, Monmouthshire named the best place to live in Wales North Berwick, East Lothian named the overall best place to live in the UK
March 15, 2024: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, has been named the Best Place to Live in Wales in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The Sunday Times judges said: “Few locations in the UK are as friendly, practical and picturesque as this friendly market town on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. There has been a market here since the 13th century and food remains a strong point, with the Abergavenny Food Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Community spirit is off the charts and there’s a strong and varied sporting scene.”
Six other locations in Wales are featured in the comprehensive guide. Published by The Sunday Times, the guide includes 72 locations across the UK and is released on Friday, March 15. An abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement on Sunday. The full list of Wales locations is as follows: Please note: apart from the winner, they are not ranked but published in alphabetical order.
· Winner: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
· Cardigan, Ceredigion
· Conwy
· Mumbles, Swansea
· Narberth, Pembrokeshire
· Presteigne, Powys
· Vale of Glamorgan
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, says: “This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2024, from Dunkeld to Knutsford, Falmouth to Leeds. Wherever you are on the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.
“These are all places where you can feel grounded as well as upwardly mobile: they have a mature sense of community, lively, supportive high streets and an eye to the future, whether that is eco-friendly measures, transport and regeneration, or imaginative inclusion of new housing.”
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.
The chosen locations come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny Scottish island of Kerrera and the remote Welsh village of Presteigne to big, lively cities such as Belfast, Leeds and Liverpool.
There are more new entries than ever before in this year’s guide and no place for previous winners such as York and Bristol - the judges looked for improving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.
“What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there,” Helen Davies, the guide’s editor, says. “That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That might be fast commutes and high-achieving schools but also clean water to swim in, lively town centres with useful shops, the possibility of earning a living and being part of a friendly community.
“We do consider affordability, though high house prices are no barrier to inclusion - as long as they provide value for money. Different people may be looking for different things, but what all our best places have in common is that people love living in them and are proud to call them home.”
The guide has again been sponsored by the mortgage lender Halifax, which has provided an average house price for each location. “Where you want to live is a very personal decision. We know it can be daunting whether it’s deciding where to buy your first home or making a move as your circumstances change. There can be lots to think about around what is right for you and your family. With a great range of locations suited for different budgets and family situations, alongside a great mix of both rural and urban locations, this is a great place to start,” says Kim Kinnaird, Halifax’s homes and protection director.
Broadband speeds were provided by Thinkbroadband.com, the UK’s leading independent guide to broadband.
Previous winners of the Best Places to Live in Britain title are: Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017), York (2018), Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019), Altrincham, Cheshire (2020) Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021), Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022) and Wadhurst, East Sussex (2023).
Winner: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire Few locations in the UK are as friendly, practical and picturesque as this friendly market town on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. There has been a market here since the 13th century and food remains a strong point, with the Abergavenny Food Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary last year. Community spirit is off the charts and there’s a strong and varied sporting scene.
Cardigan, Ceredigion This far-flung corner of wild west Wales is a hive of artisan creativity, from locally made bread and beer to the local arts and crafts showcased in fine style on the thriving high street. Connections to the rest of the country aren’t great, but happily, all you need is here, from a health centre and revamped school to Mwldan, a not-for-profit arts centre in a former abattoir that has a three-screen cinema and a theatre.
Conwy Every kind of natural adventure is within easy reach of the brooding towers and tumbledown castle walls that cast an enchanting spell over this coastal hotspot. Those lucky enough to live in the town can pick up groceries and grab a coffee in impeccably historic surroundings, while enjoying the reassurance of regular trains and a fast road.
Mumbles, Swansea Community spirit, stunning scenery and a hard-to-beat location make Swansea’s seaside super-suburb hard to resist. The Mumbles coastline is varied and gorgeous and it’s handy for both the M4 and big-city practicalities. There are sports clubs, a stunning golf course, shops both interesting and useful and a good selection of bars and restaurants.
Narberth, Pembrokeshire High streets across the UK may be struggling, but not so in Narberth. This colourful market town continues its upwardly mobile, upmarket march, with an increasingly turbocharged selection of delis, restaurants and galleries. But Narberth is practical and pragmatic, too. There's a station, proximity to Pembrokeshire’s magnificent coast, good sports facilities and butchers, bakers and greengrocers on the high street.
Presteigne, Powys The inspirational community in this small town on the Welsh border have a knack for getting things done. Presteigne has just been declared the first official “dark skies” community in mainland England and Wales, after a six-year project. Wildflowers and daffodils are planted by volunteers, drivers are on hand to take people for hospital visits and the council and a local arts group have built a community barn on Went’s Meadow that is used for everything from yoga classes to music festivals and the riotous annual carnival.
Vale of Glamorgan The scenery and seaside of the countryside around Cardiff offers an enticing cocktail of comfort and convenience, plus a healthy dash of aspiration. The Vale has good schools, convenient transport links and two of Wales’s most justly sought-after postcodes in Penarth and Cowbridge.
thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive