Liverpool’s Woolton has been crowned the best place to live in the North West, according to the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. The Times’ expert team of judges visit hundreds of towns across the UK every year, to compile a list of sought-after locations, with a winner in every region.
The judges praised Woolton as « an independent-minded village » boasting trendy coffee shops, an exceptional cheese store and a superb local pub. The Sunday Times panel commented: « Everything is within walking distance in the Liverpool suburb where Lennon and McCartney met for the first time. Its independent-minded village centre has cool coffee shops, a formidable fromagerie and cocktail bars, as well as a belting neighbourhood boozer in the Elephant Pub and Bakehouse ».
The review continued: « It’s a gloriously family-friendly place to put down roots, with excellent schools, parks and even a patch of woodland. »
Woolton’s Menlove Avenue was the location of John Lennon’s childhood home and where his is believed to have first met Paul McCartney, which has subsequently become a point of pilgrammage for Beatles fans.
This year’s guide saw more new entries than ever before, leaving no room for many previous winners such as York, Winchester in Hampshire, and Altrincham in Cheshire.
The criteria focused on « thriving locations with a strong sense of community » rather than renowned areas with high property prices. Past recipients of the Best Places to Live in Britain title include Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022), Wadhurst, East Sussex (2023), and North Berwick, East Lothian (2024).
Six other North West locations have been included in the comprehensive guide, which crowned Saffron Walden in Essex as the best place to live in the UK. The expert panel of judges visited all the locations listed in the guide and evaluated factors ranging from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the vitality of the high street.
The 72 chosen locations vary greatly, from the Scottish Island of Tiree and the secluded Welsh village of Maenclochog to bustling market towns, and suburbs of large, vibrant cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and London.
Helen Davies, The Sunday Times editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, commented on the importance of local communities amidst global challenges: « 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 cafés, to larger initiatives from repair cafés to new railway stations ».
Davies further explained the individuality of their compiled list, stating: « 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. That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That could be anything from exceptional schools and fast trains to beautiful houses and countryside ».
She also emphasised the significance of community involvement in creating desirable living spaces: « The health of the high street is important, but more than anything else, what we are looking for are towns, villages and cities with strong communities who work hard to make the best of where they live, and play hard too.
« We also consider affordability. 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. »
The full list of North West locations includes:
Woolton, Liverpool (regional winner)
The Heatons, Greater Manchester
Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
Knutsford, Cheshire
Malpas, Cheshire
Mossley, Greater Manchester
Source link
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Ukrainian