A SCOTTISH seaside town has been named the best place to live in an annual guide.
North Berwick in East Lothian 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 was 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.
READ MORE: These are the best places to live in Scotland, according to the Sunday Times
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.”
Previous winners of the Best Places to Live title are Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017); York, North Yorkshire (2018); Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019); Altrincham, Cheshire (2020); Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021); Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022); and Wadhurst, East Sussex (2023).
Here are the 2024 regional winners:
Scotland: West End, Dundee
Judges said their favourite place in Scotland – after North Berwick – is Dundee’s revitalised West End. It was described as lively and arty, with regular festivals and events.
East of England: Wivenhoe, Essex
A welcoming community and a strong artistic tradition help the picturesque riverside town to stand out from its neighbours in the outer reaches of the Essex commuter belt, those behind the guide said.
London: Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell embodies all that is best about life in London, with culture covered by the Barbican and Sadler’s Wells and cosy pubs, cool cafes, lively bars and some of the city’s best restaurants, according to judges.
Midlands: Stirchley, Birmingham
This down-to-earth suburb of Birmingham has some of the city’s best bars, restaurants and cafes, according to judges.
North and North East: Leeds
Leeds was praised for its shopping destinations, youthful energy and great choice of places to live.
Northern Ireland: Portstewart, County Londonderry
Portstewart drew praise for its sandy beach, shops, cafes and interesting cultural scene.
North West: Stockport, Greater Manchester
Stockport was described as one of the most exciting towns around, with its historic streets filling up with independent businesses. It was praised for being functional and family-friendly, with rail connections, parks, sports clubs and good-value houses.
South East: Folkestone, Kent
Folkestone was praised for its impressive schools, state-of-the-art sports facilities and high-speed trains to London.
South West: Sherborne, Dorset
Sherborne was described as handsome and historic, with a friendly, energetic population.
Wales: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Judges highlighted the Abergavenny Food Festival and praised the town’s community spirit and strong and varied sporting scene.
More information about the research is available HERE - where you can also find the full list .
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel