A Decade of Britain’s Most Livable Places: The Sunday Times Best Places to Live

For over a decade, The Sunday Times has been crowning Britain’s most desirable places to call home, showcasing towns and cities that embody the perfect balance of community spirit, architectural charm, natural beauty, and quality of life. This prestigious annual award has highlighted fifteen remarkable locations across the United Kingdom since its inception in 2013, each offering a unique glimpse into what makes a place truly special to live in. From historic market towns to vibrant cities, coastal gems to rural retreats, these winners collectively paint a portrait of Britain’s diverse residential landscape and changing lifestyles.

The early years of the award saw recognition of England’s historic charm, beginning with Stamford, Lincolnshire in 2013, a quintessentially English town renowned for its preserved Georgian architecture and limestone buildings. The following year, the honor went to Skipton in North Yorkshire, the “Gateway to the Dales,” celebrated for its magnificent castle, thriving market, and access to breathtaking countryside. Cambridge’s intellectual neighborhood of Newnham took the title in 2015, offering a blend of academic prestige and village-like community feel just minutes from the historic university city center. Winchester, the ancient capital of England, claimed the prize in 2016, impressing judges with its imposing cathedral, excellent schools, and perfect combination of countryside proximity with convenient London commuting distance.

The mid-decade saw larger cities receiving recognition, with Bristol breaking the small-town winning streak in 2017. As England’s southwestern hub of creativity, Bristol captivated with its independent spirit, cultural diversity, and environmental consciousness—a true metropolis with a distinctive character all its own. York followed in 2018, its medieval streets and magnificent Minster harmoniously blending ancient history with modern amenities and a flourishing food scene. Salisbury demonstrated remarkable resilience when it won in 2019, rebounding from the Novichok poisoning incident to showcase its extraordinary community strength alongside its architectural splendors and picturesque water meadows surrounding the cathedral.

As Britain entered a new decade, the pandemic shifted priorities for many homebuyers, and this was reflected in the 2020 winner, Altrincham in Cheshire. Once suffering from high vacancy rates, this Greater Manchester suburb had undergone a remarkable transformation centered around its revitalized market hall, demonstrating how thoughtful regeneration can breathe new life into a community. Stroud in Gloucestershire captured the title in 2021, its creative spirit, innovative farmers’ market, and stunning Cotswold setting representing the growing desire for places that combine rural beauty with cultural richness. The 2022 winner, Ilkley in West Yorkshire, offered the perfect pandemic-era retreat with its expansive moor, Victorian hydro heritage, and strong community bonds, all while maintaining excellent connections to nearby Leeds and Bradford.

Recent years have seen the award recognize even more diverse locations across Britain. Wadhurst in East Sussex claimed the honor in 2023, a quintessential High Weald village that preserved its authentic character while offering sophisticated amenities and beautiful surroundings. In 2024, the award crossed the border to Scotland for the first time, celebrating North Berwick in East Lothian for its stunning coastal setting, excellent schools, and Edinburgh accessibility. Most recently, Saffron Walden in Essex received the 2025 distinction, completing a fascinating journey through Britain’s most livable places—a tour that has showcased medieval market towns, vibrant cities, coastal havens, and countryside retreats, each offering its unique vision of the ideal place to call home. Together, these fifteen locations tell a story not just about beautiful architecture or convenient amenities, but about the changing nature of community life in Britain and what people value most in the places where they choose to put down roots.