Malpas, a timber-framed village in Cheshire less than an hour's drive from Liverpool, has been named the UK's best kept secret place to live by The Sunday Times. The village, home to 2,500 people, was praised for its charm, community spirit, and amenities.
What makes Malpas special
Malpas is a one-time market town now considered a border village, tucked in the South Cheshire countryside between Chester and Wrexham. Much of the village is made up of timber-framed homes constructed from sturdy oak and filled in with wattle-and-daub, with thatched roofs. These houses, known in Cheshire as 'clay windings', would have been standard for working-class families 400 years ago.
Many of these homes have survived, with 38 in the parish having Grade 2 status. The village's name comes from Old French for 'bad passage', a reference to its hilly terrain in medieval times. This tucked-away quality, combined with its charm, saw it named Britain's most desirable village in The Sunday Times' list of the "best secret villages to live in".
What the ranking considered
The ranking considered lesser-known locations alongside "useful amenities, appealing locations and great communities - and often house prices that reflect their popularity." The town has a medieval street layout and a well-preserved Norman motte and bailey castle, as well as a monthly farmers' market, pubs dating back more than 300 years, and a high street lined with traditional fish and chip shops and cosy cafés.
The Sunday Times noted: "A top-of-the-range Georgian detached house will cost about £1 million, more if you need enough land for the horses - which you may well as this is an area with serious equestrian credentials, and not only because it's where the former footballer Michael Owen has his racing stables. With a hilltop church that can be seen for miles and a smattering of half-timbered houses, Malpas scores highly for looks as well as liveliness."
Residents and local landmarks
Resident Caroline Waterhouse told The Sunday Times: "It's got everything. The schools are fantastic, all the shops are here, from a bookshop to a great bakery that champions local produce, and there's a warm, loyal community. It's pretty, unspoilt and there's loads going on. There are great sports clubs and every group you can think of is here."
Jake Polmear, owner of the cafe bar Old Fire Station, told Great British Life: "I have travelled the country during my career in hospitality, but Malpas is the place I have lived where I feel most at home." Jake was attracted to the area by the excellent high school, which was rated exceptional by Ofsted and is led by David Curry, father of England rugby stars and former pupils Ben and Tom Curry.
St Oswald's Church, a Grade I-listed building with origins in the 14th century, stands in the centre. The Bishop Bennet Way is a 34-mile trail for walkers, horse riders and cyclists that passes through Malpas on its way from Beeston Castle to the Welsh hills.
The Lion, a popular pub dating back to the 1600s, is another local landmark. General manager Bethan Rose-Bailey told Great British Life: "There is a real sense of community here, not in a forced way, but in how people naturally come together. You see it in the small things – local groups meeting weekly, familiar faces supporting each other’s businesses and the way events are well attended because people care about where they live. Malpas has that feeling of a proper village, where people know each other and take pride in it."
The village is surrounded by some of the best countryside in Cheshire, which shapes the pace and quality of life. Maenclochog in Pembrokeshire took second place in the ranking, followed by Ebrington in Gloucestershire in third and The Hartings in West Sussex in fourth.
