Riverside town in Essex named best place to live in East
Three towns and villages in Essex have been recognised by the Sunday Times.
A riverside town in Essex has been named the best place to live in the East of England in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The Sunday Times judges highlighted Wivenhoe’s architecture and arts scene.
They wrote: "A welcoming community and a strong artistic tradition help this picturesque riverside town to stand out from its neighbours in the outer reaches of the Essex commuter belt. It has two art galleries, a high street full of independent shops and a choice of seven pubs, as well as attractive architecture that’s worthy of its beautiful estuary location."
Colchester City Councillor for Wivenhoe, Mark Cory, says he's not surprised the town has received this title.
He said: "It's fantastic to hear that Wivenhoe has been chosen as the best place to live in the east of England. We know it because we live here. Our community is a fantastic place to live and to work and to visit.
"So, you get to know people really well. People look after one another. It's always bustling. There's always something to do, whether that be cultural, arty activities, going to one of the magnificent pubs in Wivenhoe, which you always feel welcomed at. But also there's just a strong community of other people knowing each other and helping each other.
"It's a mix between urban and rural. It’s sort of grown over the years in terms of population and in terms of diversity, and therefore there seems to be even more to offer than there ever was before."
Six other locations in the East of England are featured in the guide, in alphabetical order:
• Ingatestone, Essex
• Norwich, Norfolk
• Saffron Walden, Essex
• The Shelfords, Cambridge
• Sheringham, Norfolk
• Shotley Peninsula, Suffolk
The full list can be found here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/best-places-to-live.