Southerners have been beaten once again by the mighty north and this time it’s the best place to live. You can keep your Cotswolds and Cornwall coastline, according to The Sunday Times, Ilkley in West Yorkshire is the number one place to live in the UK.
Topping the list of 70 locations in the UK, the market town of Ilkley in West Yorkshire was named Best Place to Live in the UK – and we couldn’t be prouder. Sat beneath the beautiful wild Ilkey Moor, the town was praised for a range of factors in the list that is now in its tenth year.
Top schools, a diverse high street, breathtaking countryside, and easy rail access are a few things that the judges praised. As well as its sports groups and the opportunities they provide for young people, as well as the vibrant community spirit – volunteerism is a key part of local life, and the cinema and marketplace were both started by locals.
Ilkey being named the best place to live in the UK wasn’t the only accolade that Yorkshire achieved in this year’s Sunday Times list. The textiles village of Slaithwaite was praised for its affordable houses, independent shops, countryside, and railway links.
Read More: The 9 Most Beautiful, Quaint Towns To Visit In Yorkshire
We’d be more impressed with its links to the ever-popular Real Ale Trail, the Transpennine Ale Trail. The canalside village was named the Best Place to Live in the North and “a perfect place for post-pandemic happiness.”
Many of the new entries are smaller settlements, indicating a shift in priorities following the epidemic and promoting excellent local amenities like Hathersage’s freshly rebuilt 1930s heated outdoor swimming pool.
Discussing this year’s list, Helen Davies, the editor of The Best Place to Live Guide, said: “When we launched the inaugural list, it was all about schools and smart supermarkets. London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not yet reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains.
“These days there’s more mention of festivals, bookshops, markets, living car-free, wild swimming spots and energetic communities who’ll stop at nothing to improve where they live.
“This year we have discovered more new best places to live, from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the South West, and a commutable Scottish island.”
Read More: The 11 Most Beautiful, Quaint Villages To Visit In Yorkshire
