Bristol has been named one of the best places to live in the South West - but a Cotswolds destination just an hour away beat it to the top spot. Despite our city's status as the capital of the region, a Gloucestershire town was considered a better place to live than Bristol in the new Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The 2023 version of the annual guide has been published today (Friday, March 24), with Cirencester taking first place in the South West. Judges praised the beauty of its historic buildings, its 'busy and useful town centre' and easy access to Cotswold countryside.
They added: “The capital of the Cotswolds is a supremely liveable town that more than lives up to its stunning historical backdrop. It has regular markets, a thriving high street and beautiful parks that lead straight out into the surrounding countryside make it heaven for dog-lovers.
Read more: Our guide to Cirencester just an hour from Bristol
"The volunteer-run heated outdoor swimming pool is a particular highlight, as well as superior local culture available at the Barn Theatre and the New Brewery Arts Centre."
Seven other locations in the South West are featured in the guide, among 72 locations across the UK. Bristol was also named one of the best places to live in the region, as was the Chew Valley in nearby Somerset.
What did they say about Bristol?
Bristol's entry read: "Bristol has a popularity problem. It’s so good that everyone wants to live here — and with good reason.
"It has everything: it’s urban and rural, posh and gritty, homely and highbrow. But there are side-effects: terrible traffic and serious grumbles over a clean-air zone and the e-scooter scheme.
"It’s the UK’s most interesting and independently minded city, with something for everyone, whether it’s the gorgeous Georgian houses of Clifton, the sensible semis of Henleaze or the terraces in buzzy Bedminster."
This is the 11th edition of the guide, with Wadhurst in East Sussex named the overall winner of Best Places to Live. It was praised by judges for its “good schools, convenient transport connections, an amazingly well-stocked high street and stunning scenery”. They said that it offers “pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature”.
What is the list based on?
This year’s guide features more new entries than ever before. The Sunday Times said its 'expert 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.
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.”
The guide's sponsor, Halifax, provided the average house price for each location. Kim Kinnaird, the director of Halifax Mortgages, said: “What people look for when choosing where to live is a very personal choice.
"We know that the housing market can sometimes feel daunting when there are so many locations and things to consider. But looking at these fantastic locations is a great start, with options for different budgets and family situations, alongside an exciting blend of urban and rural living.”
Previous winners of the Best Places to Live in Britain title are: Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017), York (2018), Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019), Altrincham, Cheshire (2020) Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021) and Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022).
Below are the South West entries that made it into the guide alongside Bristol. The full guide is available to view on the Sunday Times. Aside from the winner for each region, the list is not a ranking - the other places mentioned are listed in no particular order behind Cirencester at the top.
Winner: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"The capital of the Cotswolds is a supremely liveable town that more than lives up to its stunning historical backdrop. It has regular markets, a thriving high street and beautiful parks that lead straight out into the surrounding countryside make it heaven for dog-lovers. The volunteer-run heated outdoor swimming pool is a particular highlight, as well as superior local culture available at the Barn Theatre and the New Brewery Arts Centre."
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."
Broad Chalke, Wiltshire
"With its thatched cottages, steep green hills, chalk streams and watercress beds, the village at the centre of the Chalke Valley is still showing the rest how laid-back rural life should be done. But like the ducks on the River Ebble, it takes a lot of paddling under the surface to make country living look this dreamy, with top marks for effort going to the 70 volunteers who man the Hub, the community-run shop/cafe/post office that’s at the centre of life here."
The Chew Valley, Somerset
"The picture-perfect villages in the gorgeous slice of prime English countryside that nestles between Dundry Down and the Mendips are full of character, with shops, schools, churches and village halls busy with playgroups and fitness classes. Bristol is only 10 miles to the north, and you can feel the city’s innovative, community-minded spirit in the number of interesting regenerative farming enterprises and events such as Valleyfest, a family-friendly food and music festival."
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."
Read Bristol Live's guide to a Marlborough day trip here
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."
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."
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- We revisit Fishponds high street two years after we were told it has 'nothing'
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- The iconic 'Bristol' village with a historic pub and scenic walks
- The village one hour away from Bristol so beautiful explorers flock to it in their droves
