It's no secret that the North East is the best place to live in the country.
The buzzing metropolis of Newcastle upon Tyne, the wild beaches of the Durham Heritage Coast, and the endless countryside and dark skies of Northumberland mean that the only downside to living up here is the weather - but even that's alright sometimes. And the Times has recognised this by naming two North East towns among the best places to live in the UK.
To be honest, it's a surprise that only two have made it. The 'comprehensive' guide, which was published this morning, is decided by expert judges who take a wide range of factors into account to come up with the 70 best locations to live in the country.
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Schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street are just some of key criteria. Judges look to celebrate improving towns, village or city centres; attractive, well-designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit - which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.
And the first of two entries in our region are in Northumberland. With an average house price of £264,000 and 20% growth since 2020, Morpeth, which earlier this year was included in a reimagining of the Monopoly board, was surprisingly the county’s only representation on the list.
The Times wrote: "The new cut-price Lumo train service adds convenience to the charm of a hearty Northumberland market town, which already appeals for its good-looking houses, strong sporting scene and a community eager to get involved in activities such as the community cinema or annual picnic in the park. Surrounding villages such as Longhorsley and Belsay are, if anything, even more attractive."
The other representation in our region is familiar to Times readers as the Hawaii of the North - though we've still never heard any locals call it that. Tynemouth's average house price is higher than Morpeth, at £286,000, with some of the most sought-after properties overlooking King Edward's Bay and the 14th century Priory.
The article read: "Newcastle’s smart seaside suburb is a longstanding fixture of the Best Places to Live list, and once again, it’s too good to leave out. Whether you’re surfing off a Blue Flag beach, browsing among the 150 stalls in the undercover market or tucking into the freshest seafood at Riley’s Fish Shack, it’s impossible not to enjoy the laid-back lifestyle."
Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor, said: "The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective. Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place.
"For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example?
"Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like?
"Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people? Ten years ago, when we launched the inaugural list, London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not yet reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains. How times have changed — and how welcome that change is."
The overall best place to live in the UK was Ilkley in West Yorkshire. It was praised for its top schools, interesting shops, spectacular scenery and convenient rail links.
The judges were also impressed by its sports clubs and opportunities offered to young people and by the energetic community spirit: volunteering is a big part of life and the town's cinema and market were all launched by locals.
Of the 70 places on the list, nine were in the North and North East. Slaithwaite, in West Yorkshire, was named as the best place to live in the North and North East of England (somehow ahead of the overall country winner Ilkley).
The best places to live in the North and North East of England
Winner: Slaithwaite
Cawthorne, South Yokrshire
Great Ayton, Cleveland Hills, North Yorkshire
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Hovingham, North Yorkshire
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Leeds city centre
Morpeth, Northumberland
Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
