These are the best places to live in the UK in 2022 (2023)

Where is the best place to live in the UK? We all have our reasons for wanting to relocate but if you're looking for the best new place to call home in 2022, you should head to Ilkley in West Yorkshire, according to the 2022 Sunday Times Best Places to Live report.

Essentially, when it comes to moving house it depends on what your priorities are. Are you looking to move to a place that is better for your health and the environment, or an area with better employment opportunities or just somewhere with faster broadband?

Now in its 10th year, the Sunday Times Best Places to Live celebrates the best towns in the UK to live in, whether you're a renter, first-time buyer or home mover.

'When it comes to choosing a home, certain things always appeal — friendly communities, green spaces, rich history and thriving independent businesses, to name a few,' says Russell Galley, managing director at Halifax, who have partnered with Sunday Times to provide an average house price for every location.

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As the report claims, 'this is a list of the best places, not the best-value places, and there is a necessary premium to be paid for certain addresses'.

Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022 report

Ilkley in West Yorkshire has been crowned the best place to live in the UK, according to the 2022 Sunday Times guide.

Why did it win? With top-class schools, a buzzing high street and breathtaking views, this spa town, spread at the foot of Ilkley Moor, offers everything you need if you want a magical combination of convenience, countryside and community — without a car.

'The judges were impressed by its sports clubs and the opportunities they offer to young people, and by the energetic community spirit — volunteering is a big part of local life and the cinema and marketplace were both launched by residents,' the report explains.

TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh grew up in the town, and although he now lives in Hampshire, he remains one of Ilkley's keenest ambassadors. 'The scenery is beautiful,' Alan tells Sunday Times. 'It has a lovely town centre, and it's a town with a heart too. Whenever I visit, I always go straight up the moor, look down at the town and whisper, "I'm back."'

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Key stats:

• The average house price in Ilkley is £428,000, a 13 per cent growth since 2020 (cc: Halifax using Land Registry data)

• Best location? Across the river to Middleton, detached houses in Langbar Road, Curly Hill or Nesfield Road fetch at least £1 million. In town, old stone detached homes on Grove Road go for £1.5 million. For something cheaper, the terraced houses in Ben Rhydding costs about £350,000.

• There are direct trains to Leeds (from 29 minutes) and Bradford (from 30 minutes).

• If you're looking to explore the Yorkshire Dales, it's all about getting around on two wheels. The cycle club has more than 240 routes on its website.

• The high street has everything you want and it's on the doorstep, including two supermarkets — Tesco and Booths — chemists, and Lishman's butcher.

• Three of the five primaries are outstanding, according to Ofsted — All Saints, Ashlands and Sacred Heart.

• Environmental credentials: there's an electric cargo bike hire scheme, and the council has pledged to hit net zero by 2030.

• Broadband: Gigabit speeds are available from Virgin Media and there is plenty of superfast broadband to give a wider choice of service providers.

• Events: there's a jam-packed social calendar including the May carnival parade, the June tennis tournament, plus Pride in July, and a literary festival in October.

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The best places to live in the UK in 2022 - full list

While Ilkley is the overall winner, Sunday Times also produced a regional breakdown of the best places to live. These are the winners:

The East

• Norwich, Norfolk: 'Writers, students and Avengers all assemble in this welcoming medieval city with a millennial vibe.'

London

• Crystal Palace: 'Family fun and a hint of underground culture are taking this lofty southern suburb to new heights.'

Mid-market house price: £526,000

Read more: top 6 best places to live in London

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Midlands

• Uppingham, Rutland: 'A discerning market town with art, heart and smarts — plus the magnificent Rutland Water.'

Mid-market house price: £377,000

North and Northeast

• Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire: 'There's a dash of entrepreneurial spirit and a splash of cool in this canal-side mill village.'

Mid-market house price: £199,000

Northern Ireland

• Ballycastle, Co Antrim: 'Forget Game of Thrones — this fishing village's recipe of coast, country and fantastic food makes for a peaceful and friendly community.'

Mid-market house price: £169,000

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(Video) Top 10 Best Places to Live in the UK for 2022 || best places to live in the uk - Real Homy

Northwest

• Trawden, Lancashire: 'You can rely on this community-spirited village to save the day — and the shop, and the library, and the pub...'

Mid-market house price: £186,000

Scotland

• Isle of Bute, Argyll: 'It's island life, but not as you know it, with strong spirits (oyster gin, anyone?) — and Glasgow only 90 minutes away.'

Mid-market house price: £155,000

Southeast

• Sevenoaks, Kent: 'Rural yet connected, you're never far from an avocado, a chichi shop or a stand-out school.'

Mid-market house price: £685,000

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Southwest

• Chalke Valley, Wiltshire: 'From the views to the volunteering, you'll have a blast in the past in these charming villages.'

Mid-market house price: £655,000

Wales

• Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire: 'This colourful and characterful corner of west Wales is remote but still luxurious.'

Mid-market house price: £251,000.

And finally... who missed out?

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There are several surprise omissions this year. Overheated housing markets mean former winners York and Winchester, along with Cambridge, do not feature. And for the first time, there's no place for Edinburgh due to 'ruinous house prices, an Airbnb habit and an increasingly corporate atmosphere'.

Elsewhere, Central Manchester misses out due to a 'surfeit of luxury investment flats, and the fact that much of it looks like a building site'.

And there's no place for Cornwall this year 'because its property market already has enough issues caused by incomers and second-homers'.

It's also been noted that Stamford, Knutsford, Bollington and Narberth would all make worthy inclusions bit miss out after several years on the list because 'of the need to champion new communities'.

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