Ilkley and Masham among best places to live in the North
The Sunday Times has compiled its top ten list
Ilkley has been named the best place to live in the North and North East of England - with Masham, in the Yorkshire Dales, also in the top ten.
A list of top 10 locations in the region chosen by The Sunday Times to represent the best of Britain in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges behind the guide assess a wide range of factors, from schools, air quality, transport and broadband speeds to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.
They look for improving towns, villages or city centres, for attractive, well designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit - which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.
The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2021: North and Northeast
- Winner: Ilkley, West Yorkshire
- Alnmouth, Northumberland
- Barnard Castle, Co Durham
- Easingwold, North Yorkshire
- Leeds
- Masham, North Yorkshire
- Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
- Todmorden, West Yorkshire
- Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
- York
Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor said:
“This guide has never been so important. The pandemic has taught us just how much we rely on our homes, our communities and our surroundings. With working from home now common, it’s no surprise that many of us are reassessing our priorities and thinking hard about where we really want to live.
“Our focus for this year has been community, countryside and convenience. It hasn’t been a year for big cities or small villages. Instead it is small towns that have shone: big enough to have everything you need within walking distance and small enough for everyone to feel connected.
“Ilkley has a beating community heart, a business brain, culture and a good sense of humour.
“It’s also got excellent schools, great shops in its town centre and is within easy reach of both Leeds and the stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, with its own magical moor as the icing on the cake.”
The judges described Masham as “a picturesque market town in its own right that offers the best of both worlds. The extraordinary landscape of the Yorkshire Dales is on the doorstep and Ripon, with its top selective school and Curzon cinema, is just a short drive away.” Their favourite things here include the market, Black Sheep Brewery and Johnny Baghdad’s is a funky bright-yellow café on the square.