"Malmesbury’s ever-improving high street is the star of the show in a historic town that’s a safe place for families to put down roots. There’s plenty going on: sports clubs, a theatre group, the Athelstan Players, and hardworking community groups. The highlight of the calendar is the annual carnival, proudly “by the community, for the community”. The Three Cups is one of the country’s most interesting pubs, offering a vegan menu and all kinds of events from yoga classes, language lessons, craft sessions, board games nights and serious experimental music to the more familiar pub activities of good beer and convivial chat. The state schools are excellent, there are jobs at the Dyson Creative Campus and although there’s no station, Bristol, Bath and London are easily reached."placeholder image
"Malmesbury’s ever-improving high street is the star of the show in a historic town that’s a safe place for families to put down roots. There’s plenty going on: sports clubs, a theatre group, the Athelstan Players, and hardworking community groups. The highlight of the calendar is the annual carnival, proudly “by the community, for the community”. The Three Cups is one of the country’s most interesting pubs, offering a vegan menu and all kinds of events from yoga classes, language lessons, craft sessions, board games nights and serious experimental music to the more familiar pub activities of good beer and convivial chat. The state schools are excellent, there are jobs at the Dyson Creative Campus and although there’s no station, Bristol, Bath and London are easily reached." | Getty Images

Bristol neighbourhood named among the 8 best places to live in the South West by The Sunday Times - full list

By Adriana Amor
Published 20th Mar 2026, 07:00 GMT

The Sunday Times has listed a Bristol neighbourhood among the top 8 best places to live in the South West.

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026 guide has been released today (March 20), revealing the best places to live in the South West.

The comprehensive guide included a total of 72 locations across the UK. Each location has been visited by the expert judges who assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

Norwich in Norfolk was named the overall best place to live in the UK, which in the South West Malmesbury in Wiltshire was crowned the best place to live in the region.

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Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.

“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live. These judges have travelled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”

Scroll through to learn about the 8 best places to live in the South West, according to The Sunday Times, and why.

"Exmouth is changing fast. Quick trains to Exeter are attracting a younger crowd who like to wake up with the sea on their doorsteps. Small enough to feel like home, big enough to have everything you need, it’s an ideal spot to put down roots, with useful housing stock and an improving range of shops and restaurants. The red-sand beach, all two miles of it, is quite the playground. Star of the seafront is the Sideshore community hub, where you’ll find a watersports centre and great coffee, cakes and ice cream. "

5. Exmouth, Devon

"Exmouth is changing fast. Quick trains to Exeter are attracting a younger crowd who like to wake up with the sea on their doorsteps. Small enough to feel like home, big enough to have everything you need, it’s an ideal spot to put down roots, with useful housing stock and an improving range of shops and restaurants. The red-sand beach, all two miles of it, is quite the playground. Star of the seafront is the Sideshore community hub, where you’ll find a watersports centre and great coffee, cakes and ice cream. " | Delphotostock/Adobe Stock

"These proud twin towns offer all you need for a fun and funky life by the sea. Penryn is smaller and cosier; Falmouth bigger, brighter and busier, with a high street that’s patchy but full of interest. The two towns are so close together that whichever you pick, you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of life in a place with the energy of a university town, a working port and a sophisticated modern seaside resort. The coffee scene is exceptional, thanks to cafés such as Beacon, Dark Pony, Yallah and Situ. There’s lots of culture - gigs at the Cornish Bank, talks and films at the Poly and more - unusual pubs and bars such as the Chintz, Beerwolf, which doubles as a bookshop, and the Verdant Brewery, which produces many of Cornwall’s best beers."

6. Falmouth and Penryn, Cornwall

"These proud twin towns offer all you need for a fun and funky life by the sea. Penryn is smaller and cosier; Falmouth bigger, brighter and busier, with a high street that’s patchy but full of interest. The two towns are so close together that whichever you pick, you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of life in a place with the energy of a university town, a working port and a sophisticated modern seaside resort. The coffee scene is exceptional, thanks to cafés such as Beacon, Dark Pony, Yallah and Situ. There’s lots of culture - gigs at the Cornish Bank, talks and films at the Poly and more - unusual pubs and bars such as the Chintz, Beerwolf, which doubles as a bookshop, and the Verdant Brewery, which produces many of Cornwall’s best beers." | Lee Stephens

"This is the place for Cotswolds countryside at its most egalitarian, where trains, schools and an inspirational farmers’ market offer a quality lifestyle for everyone. The Saturday morning farmers’ market is the town’s star attraction, and the food hall at the revamped Five Valleys shopping centre has added a new dimension to Stroud’s hospitality scene. Excellent schools, train links and a good choice of homes, along with the glorious views and bracing walks on the town’s famous commons, keep things both practical and pretty. Community spirit is strong here and there’s no shortage of get-togethers and fun, from the food festival and book festival to the August Yard Trail, a giant town-wide yard sale."

7. Stroud, Gloucestershire

"This is the place for Cotswolds countryside at its most egalitarian, where trains, schools and an inspirational farmers’ market offer a quality lifestyle for everyone. The Saturday morning farmers’ market is the town’s star attraction, and the food hall at the revamped Five Valleys shopping centre has added a new dimension to Stroud’s hospitality scene. Excellent schools, train links and a good choice of homes, along with the glorious views and bracing walks on the town’s famous commons, keep things both practical and pretty. Community spirit is strong here and there’s no shortage of get-togethers and fun, from the food festival and book festival to the August Yard Trail, a giant town-wide yard sale." | Mykhailo Danilchenko via Google Maps

"Wimborne is a fine example of a traditional English town. There’s history on show in its minster and the eye-catching wisteria-covered houses, and the town is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The town centre is busy, buzzy and beautiful and there are also clubs and societies for pretty much everything. The folk festival is the biggest event of the year, run by volunteers, and Christmas is celebrated in boisterous style. An impressive array of amenities ranges from the glorious art deco Tivoli Theatre to an interesting range of shops, cafés and restaurants. "

8. Wimborne Minster, Dorset

"Wimborne is a fine example of a traditional English town. There’s history on show in its minster and the eye-catching wisteria-covered houses, and the town is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The town centre is busy, buzzy and beautiful and there are also clubs and societies for pretty much everything. The folk festival is the biggest event of the year, run by volunteers, and Christmas is celebrated in boisterous style. An impressive array of amenities ranges from the glorious art deco Tivoli Theatre to an interesting range of shops, cafés and restaurants. " | Google Maps

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