‘Best places to live’ in the UK revealed

North Berwick topped the Sunday Times list

The Scottish seaside town of North Berwick in East Lothian has been named the best place to live in an annual guide.

It topped a list of 72 locations chosen by The Sunday Times to represent the best of the UK in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

The comprehensive guide is released online on Friday, with an abridged version to be published as a magazine supplement on Sunday.

North Berwick is the first Scottish winner in the 12-year history of Best Places to Live. It has a great high street with independent shops, the great outdoors and family-friendly houses, those behind the guide said.

The judges were impressed by its easy connections to Edinburgh and the way life revolves around the town’s beaches as well as the wealth of activities, whatever someone’s age. They also highlighted the thriving independent shops as a sign of the positive effect that small businesses can have on a community.

The annual guide, sponsored by mortgage lender Halifax, also named 10 regional winners, including Clerkenwell in London, Abergavenny in Wales and Portstewart in Northern Ireland.

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “Wherever you are on the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.”

The Sunday Times’s judges 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.

Kim Kinnaird, Halifax’s homes and protection director, said: “Where you want to live is a very personal decision. We know it can be daunting, whether it’s deciding where to buy your first home or making a move as your circumstances change.

“There can be lots to think about around what is right for you and your family.”

Published: 15/03/2024 by Radio NewsHub