We’ve crunched the data to find the best places to live in the UK, based on house prices, crime rates and more. How does your area measure up?
The Forest of Dean topped our list of the best places to live in England (Image: Getty)
We’ve compiled a map of the best places to live in England, based on factors including house prices, crime rates, schools and NHS waiting times – but where does your area rank? The UK is packed full of beautiful towns and cities, with popular spots for putting down roots spanning the length of the country, from rugged Northumberland down to the scenic south coast. But when considering a big move, it’s important to look at a number of major long-term factors.
To save you the effort, our data team has crunched the numbers on 11 different measures – including house prices, crime rates, school attainment scores and GP waiting lists – to discover the top places to live in England, and compile them in a handy map. The top-scoring place to live in the country is the Forest of Dean, a popular and leafy tourist destination in Gloucestershire that ranked top of class in categories including NHS treatment times, amenities including parks, post offices and pubs, and secondary school performance.
See how your area compares by entering your postcode or searching the map below.
Hot on the Forest of Dean’s footsteps is North Yorkshire, another rural area that combines beautiful countryside with cultural attractions and a stunning coastline.
The county’s high ranking is also based on its impressive number of pubs, with 120 for every 100,000 people, and good NHS performance, with 64% of patients seen for treatment within 18 weeks of referral.
It is followed by yet another Gloucestershire spot – Cotswold, which spans much of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and blends historical sites with rolling hills, picturesque villages and iconic honey-stone architecture.
While it also boasts the lowest crime rates of the top three areas, with just 46 crimes for every 100 people, its high house prices have forced it down the list, with properties averaging £435,606.
North Yorkshire ranked as the second best place to live in England (Image: Getty)
Top 10 best places to live in England:
1. Forest of Dean
2. North Yorkshire
3. Cotswold
4. Stroud
5. Mid Devon
6. Wiltshire
7. West Devon
8. Torridge
9. Teignbridge
10. Ribble Valley
