The eight ‘best places to live’ in the West Country 2023 - including Bristol and Chew Valley
The judges assessed factors from schools to transport and broadband speeds to culture
Bristol has been named in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live list.
It’s one of eight places in the South West to feature in the comprehensive guide of 72 locations across the UK.
The full list is available online now and an abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement in The Sunday Times this weekend.
Cirencester in Gloucestershire was named as the Best Place to Live in the South West, with The Sunday Times judges praising the town for the beauty of its historic buildings, its busy and useful town centre and easy access to Cotswold countryside.
Helen Davies, the editor of Best Places to Live 2023, said: “When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever. Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.
“This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre. Whether you’re downsizing, trading up or getting onto the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.”
This year’s guide – the 11th – features more new entries than ever before.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have 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.
Here’s a round-up of the eight South West locations and what the judges said. Cirencester is the regional winner but the other locations are not ranked.
The full list is available online now and an abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement in The Sunday Times this weekend.
5. Marlborough, Wiltshire
Marlborough has excellent schools – state as well as private – beautiful countryside, lively sports clubs and the widest high street in the country, which is at the heart of life here. An impressive literature festival, a new cinema and standout shops such as the White Horse bookshop and indie record store Sound Knowledge keep it punching above its weight.
6. Penzance, Cornwall
A world away from Cornwall’s depressing second-home holiday hotspots, Penzance is wonderfully unpretentious, quirky and independent. It’s at the heart of a cultural and creative renaissance in Cornwall, with Cornish language, food, music, dance, art and film a core part of life here. New funding is in the pipeline to rejuvenate the town centre, but it’s the dramatic edge of the world feel that make this an irresistible location for anyone with a taste for the wild side.
7. Bishopsteignton, Devon
This suntrap village earns top marks for location, with easy access to both the coast and the wilds of Dartmoor. It offers the dream combination of seaside, countryside and a busy community that knows how to have a good time. There’s a village shop, great selection of pubs plus a doctor’s surgery, chemist and a post office, and Teignmouth and Exeter are close at hand for trains and supermarkets.
8. Poundbury, Dorset
Poundbury turns 30 this year, and it’s ageing gracefully. King Charles’s planned town was widely mocked when it was launched, but it now looks like Poundbury was ahead of its time. It has lots of affordable homes, renewable energy and a walkable layout that means you’re never more than 10 minutes’ stroll from buying a pint of milk.