Baby Ace: Skipton in North Yorkshire is named the best place to live in Britain

By

Mark Duell

Idylls from across England, Scotland and Wales have proved the most desirable locations for home owners in a new report.

A compilation published yesterday identifies the North Yorkshire town of Skipton as the ultimate location, ahead of Newnham in Cambridge, Monmouth in Wales and Falmouth in Cornwall.

Judges for The Sunday Times’s 101 Best Places to Live in Britain report said Skipton was commended for its ideal combination of low crime rates, top-class schools and great transport links.

Idyllic: A compilation identifies the North Yorkshire town of Skipton (left) as the ultimate location for home owners, ahead of Newnham (right) in Cambridge

Ancient: Skipton was praised for its 900-year-old castle (pictured) and beautiful surrounding countryside

Canal boat: Skipton

Canal boat: Skipton’s ‘buzzing’ high street dominated by independent shops was noted, along with its pretty and reasonably priced property

They also praised the area’s ‘buzzing’

high street dominated by independent shops, pretty and reasonably

priced property, 900-year-old castle and beautiful surrounding

countryside.

Newnham – the

second of just four locations to be identified for special praise from

judges – was said to offer ‘country living in the heart of Cambridge’,

which retains a genuine village atmosphere.

And

Monmouth in Monmouthshire was described as a charming and attractive

market town, which has good transport links and high-performing schools.

The

coastal town of Falmouth was commended for combining traditional

attractions of wonderful sea views, beaches and countryside with a newly

earned reputation as a cultural hub.

Autumn colours: Newnham - the second of just four locations to be identified for special praise from judges - was said to offer

Autumn colours: Newnham – the second of just four locations to be identified for special praise from judges – was said to offer ‘country living in the heart of Cambridge’, which retains a genuine village atmosphere

Pretty: Monmouth (left) in Wales, was described as charming and attractive, while the coastal town of Falmouth (right) in Cornwall was commended for its wonderful sea views and a newly earned reputation as a cultural hub

Supplement home editor Helen Davies said: ‘The four places we have selected demonstrate the range of fantastic places there are to live across Britain.

WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT SKIPTON?

‘Skipton is a worthy winner for this year but each place featured deserves its spot on the list.’

Nic Robinson, 57, who is the manager of Ken Varey’s Outdoor World shop, said it was clear why Skipton was the best place to live.

He tole The Sunday Times: ‘It’s small enough to know virtually everyone, but big enough that you’ve got everything you need here. It’s got the best castle in the world, it has history and character. Oh, and it’s in Yorkshire.’

The places were selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people, and combining desirable features such as a positive community spirit, good local shops, services and attractive outdoor spaces.

The south west and Yorkshire and north east regions each recorded the highest number of desirable locations in the top 101, with 15 each, in The Sunday Times report.