Sunday Times 'Best Places To Live': Wadhurst Wins Top Spot In South East

West Sussex has been named as the Best Place to Live in the South East of England in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. 

The Sunday Times judges praised Chichester for its mix of history and modern culture, its excellent schools, convenient transport connections, proximity to the South Downs National Park and shopping that meets most budgets.  

“Chichester has both class and a heart. The beautiful historic town has welcomed the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per head in the country. It has good schools and transport links but it’s the easy access to both the South Downs and Chichester Harbour plus a healthy dose of culture from the Festival Theatre and Pallant Gallery that elevate it far above the south coast sprawl.”

Nine other locations across the South East are featured in the comprehensive guide. Published by The Sunday Times, it includes 72 locations across the UK and was released online at 6am today (Friday, March 24). An abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement on Sunday. 

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.” 

Wadhurst in East Sussex was 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”. 

This year’s guide – the 11th – features more new entries than ever before. The Sunday Times’ 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. 

The sponsor, Halifax, has provided the average house price for each location.

Kim Kinnaird, the director of Halifax Mortgages, said:

“At Halifax, we know it’s where you live that really makes somewhere feel like ‘home’. 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). 

Of the 72 other(unranked) best places listed across the UK, two other locations in Sussex took spots:

Brighton and Hove: Seven Dials. There's a good reason why the hilltop neighbourhood of Seven Dials is regularly namechecked as Brighton’s coolest enclave. It has a genuine village-feel, with its beautifully preserved Victorian terraced houses and villas, independent shops and views of the South Downs. With Preston Park on the doorstep, and the station and seafront a short walk away, it’s easily the best place to enjoy Brighton’s bewitching mix of grit and glamour. 

Lindfield, West Sussex, With its duck pond, rose-covered historic houses and a pretty common full of dog walkers, Lindfield looks like the perfect English village. It's excellent pubs, coffee shops and a high street with a baker, greengrocer, butcher and classy interiors shops and boutiques back that up in style.   

Information provided by: Amadi Tagoe / Izzy Brantingham –  thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive