Saffron Walden in Essex has been crowned the best place to live in the UK for 2025, according to The Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. The market town, located in the London commuter belt, was praised for its 'knockout' looks, excellent state schools, rich cultural offering, and exploding foodie scene.
Judges visited all 72 locations on the list, assessing factors such as schools, transport, broadband speeds, mobile signal, culture, access to green spaces, and high street health. They noted that Saffron Walden is reinventing the high street for the 21st century with a mix of chains and independent shops. Locals compare the Saturday market to those found in the South of France.
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: 'It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate as we look closer to home.' She highlighted small gestures like daffodil-lined verges and volunteer-run dementia cafes, as well as larger initiatives such as repair cafes and new railway stations.
Regional winners include Walthamstow in London, described as 'diverse, vibrant and cool without being frosty'; Ilmington on the edge of the Cotswolds; Dundrum in Northern Ireland; and Petersfield in Hampshire. The guide is available online and as a magazine supplement on Sunday.
