Ranking of the ideal living locations in England and Wales, encompassing 1,447 towns, cities, and large villages; discovering this year's triumphant winner.
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Upgrade Your Residential Game: The UK's Top 20 Picks for 2024 by Garrington Property Finders
Who doesn't dream of finding the perfect place to call home? Whether it's a charming historic district, breathtaking countryside views, or a great school system, the search seems endless. But worry not, Garrington Property Finders has got your back! The esteemed property buying agency has revealed its list of the best places to live in England and Wales.
The real estate experts have left no stone unturned, ranking more than 1,400 towns, cities, and villages across these regions. So, if you're wondering, they're looking at settlements with a population of over 5,000. Five key criteria were assessed for this ranking: natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage, schools and jobs, and value for money (determined by the price of a family home compared to the region's average).
- Natural Beauty: Open green spaces, proximity to a Natural Beauty Area (e.g., AONB, Heritage Coast), Flood risk
- Wellbeing: Air quality, percentage of homes with 1 hectare of accessible open space within 300 meters, crime ranking
- Heritage/Culture: Percentage of listed buildings, percentage of pre-1900 homes, museums, galleries, and theaters within 5 miles, number of restaurants within 5 miles
- Schools, Employment, and Connectivity: Growth in high-tech jobs, overall job growth, homes with ultrafast broadband, outstanding schools, homes within 200 meters of a bus stop or railway station
- Quality/Value: Changes in average sale prices, income relative to regional average, sales prices per square foot relative to regional average
This year, the Hertfordshire village of Redbourn has taken the top spot, dethroning last year's winner, Twyford. Redbourn boasts a delightful blend of rural serenity and quick access to London, offering two golf courses and a rich cricket history. The average family home price in Redbourn is £767,501, despite a 8.2% drop in 2024.
Epsom, recognized for its famous horse race, ranks as the runner-up, thanks to high-paying jobs and top schools. The typical family home in this Surrey town goes for £790,983, with a modest 2.5% decrease in prices last year.
And here's a surprise – Whitburn, a seaside village in Tyne and Wear on the northeast coast, claims the third spot, despite its relatively modest family home price of £328,699. The average price dropped by 1.6% in 2024.
So, you don't need deep pockets to live in a top-performing place! Discover an exuberant five-bedroom house in Whitburn for just £365,000.
Meanwhile, Alnwick in Northumberland, ranked sixth, offers the most affordability among the top 20, with an average family home cost of £327,246. This picturesque cobbled market town is also a top performer in the value for money category.
St Albans, Hertfordshire, takes fifth place, thanks to its rich historical background, two millennia of history, and many good schools. The average family home price increased slightly to £974,657, despite the 0.2% increase in 2024.
Curious about the rest of the top 20? Check out the complete ranking below:
- Redbourn, Hertfordshire
- Epsom, Surrey
- Whitburn, Tyne & Wear
- Marple, Greater Manchester
- St Albans, Hertfordshire
- Alnwick, Northumberland
- Merley, Dorset
- Ewell, Surrey
- Chigwell, Essex
- Ashtead, Surrey
- Rawdon, West Yorkshire
- Worcester Park, Surrey
- Godalming, Surrey
- Gatley, Greater Manchester
- Corsham, Wiltshire
- Whitnash, Warwickshire
- Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- Long Ashton, Somerset
- Meltham, West Yorkshire
- Tadworth, Surrey
You can explore and compare these locations further using Garrington Property Finders' interactive tool. Just remember, some delightful, historic places, like Ambleside (population 2,627) and Arundel (population 3,496), might be missing as they have less than 5,000 inhabitants.
Here's a quote from Jonathan Hopper, the CEO of Garrington Property Finders, shedding some light: "Our analysis has revealed several highly desirable parts of England and Wales where prices have either fallen, or risen more slowly, over the past year. Some of the biggest savings are to be made in perennially popular, prime locations which offer excellent amenities, a high standard of living, and now also improving value."
Ready to make your move? Give Jonathan Hopper a call now!
Annabel Dixon | James Fisher | Deputy Digital Editor
- The farm shop in Redbourn, the top-ranked location, provides fresh food-and-drink options for residents, enhancing their lifestyle.
- For those looking to revamp their fashion-and-beauty wardrobes, Epsom, the runner-up, offers numerous shopping opportunities.
- As homeowners relocate to Whitburn, the third-ranked location, they can make room for pets in their spacious home-and-garden areas.
- Whether planning a weekend getaway or an extended trip, the travel-conscious residents of Redbourn, Epsom, Whitburn, or any other top 20 location can easily access various destinations.
- In Alnwick, a top-performing location in terms of value for money, one can find affordable cars to explore the nearby countryside.
