Boston Spa has been included on the Sunday Times' list of the best places to live in the UK.
Boston Spa named among best places to live in the UK Boston Spa near Wetherby has been named among the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times. The national newspaper has published its annual ‘Best Places to Live’ guide, which has featured Harrogate in the past. And this year Boston Spa was named among the best places to live in the North and North East, whilst Leeds bagged top spot. Boston Spa and Skipton were the only North Yorkshire locations included in the list of 72. Also included were Heaton (Newcastle), Nether Edge (Sheffield), Saltaire (West Yorkshire), Whitley Bay (Tyne & Wear) and Yorkshire Wolds. Speaking about Boston Spa, Sunday Times judges said:
“This handsome village on the banks of the River Wharfe may never have made it as a spa resort, but it has more than made up for it now. “People now clamour to live in one of the beautiful, honey-coloured homes clustered around a thriving high street, which has buzzy restaurants and bars, upmarket shops and even a gin distillery. “With sports clubs and a scarecrow trail, there’s community spirit aplenty as well as a secondary school that was rated outstanding in all areas when it was inspected last year.”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, Liverpool and London. Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said:
“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.”Helen added:
“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 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.”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). Harrogate was shortlisted in 2022. Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
Political leaders declare mayoral vote 'too close to call'
Naked charity walk returns to Ripon
Bomb squad called after WWII items found near Ripley
Oatlands Infant School launches bike library
GALLERY: Highfield pupils shine in spectacular production of "The Wizard of Oz"
Hampsthwaite Primary raise vital funds for two local causes
Plans for extension at Knaresborough Waterside home approved
Knaresborough clinic celebrates 20th anniversary
Celebrity guests announced for this year's Great Yorkshire Show
Kex Gill on course to open by end of June, say council
Floral trail set to return to Harrogate this summer
Your Harrogate listeners granted 20% off tickets for electric vehicle show
More Northern rail strikes announced for next week
Knaresborough Town Crier to mark one year since Coronation of King Charles
Council increases library fines for first time in a decade
Former Doctor Who actor confirmed as special guest for Comic Con in Harrogate
Ripon business raises £20,000 for charity in memory of former director
Scouting for Girls set to perform at Ripon hotel
How to vote in tomorrow's mayoral election
Resurrected Bites to host family fundraising day in aid of food poverty
