Every year there are new survey results detailing the best place to live in the UK. This year the best place to live in the UK is as follows:
Winchester – according to the Royal Mail
Salisbury – according to the Sunday Times
Farnborough – according to the Office for National Statistics
Stornaway – according to the Halifax
There are more surveys conducted by other sources, all with their own verdict on the ‘best place’, which makes you wonder – why do they pick the places they do?
There are some common virtues which these places all have in common. These include having a low rate of crime, good schools, good transport links, a friendly community, good air quality, and a nice appearance.
These are all aspects that certainly make a place nice to live in, but curiously, they also tend to have a medieval cathedral as well. In fact, estate agents think that having a cathedral nearby can add 10% to the value of a house. The other stand-out feature is that the best places tend to have small businesses and eccentricity.
The best places to live are eclectic. Forget shiny new shopping malls, what makes a town or city special is its individuality. Kitsch coffee houses instead of Costas; small boutique stationers instead of a branch of WHSmith; a boutique bakery instead of a Greggs. These little quirks are what make a place special.
So, if you want to shine, as a place or as a person, always be yourself – in all of your unique glory.
