Leigh-on-Sea and Saffron Walden ranked among best places to live in East Anglia
The Sunday Times has revealed its top seven places to live in the East
Leigh-on-Sea and Saffron Walden have come out on top in a list of the best places to live in the East of England.
The Sunday Times looked a range of factors to come up with its list, including schools, local transport, green spaces, broadband speeds and the health of the high street.
Saffron Walden is descirbed as a town with a 'strong cultural streak' with its picturesque homes, local cinema and art gallery. But the average home will set you back around £517,000 - 16% more than the average house price in 2020.
Prices in Leigh-on-Sea are similarly steep, with an average price of £429,000. However its described as 'the best bit of Southend' by the newspaper.
The Sunday Times list for the East of England was as follows:
- Winner: Norwich, Norfolk
- Boxford, Suffolk
- Great Massingham, Norfolk
- Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
- St Ives, Cambridgeshire
- Saffron Walden, Essex
- Woodbridge, Suffolk
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.
“This year we have discovered new best places to live, from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the Southwest, and a commutable Scottish island.
“We hope there is something to suit everyone.”