South Wales Scores High in Sunday Times Guide

Gower and Pontcanna in Cardiff named Best places to live in Wales

Rhossili Bay in Gower.
Author: Claire PearsonPublished 24th Mar 2023

Two areas of South Wales have made it into the top ten of the Sunday Times Best Places to Live in Wales.

The guide says the Gower Peninsula merits its place on beauty alone, but also praises its busy hive of community projects.

The other place to make the list is Pontcanna in Cardiff, described as small, friendly and unpretentious.

Overall, Ruthin in Denbighshire has been named as the Best Place to Live in Wales.

The Sunday Times judges praised the historic town's medieval and Victorian buildings, atmospheric setting surrounded by the Clwydian hills, as well as its community hubs and excellent schools.

The guide said: “This beautiful, historic corner of the Vale of Clwyd provides the very best of small-town living.

"It may look sleepy from the outside, but scratch the surface and it’s a hive of activity. The market hall is the place for food and craft markets and pop-up restaurants, a disused bank has been converted into a repair cafe and the old courthouse is now a visitor hub and co-working space.

"There are all kinds of interesting independent businesses, producing everything from ice cream to roads.”

Six other locations in Wales are featured in the comprehensive guide.

  • Abergavenny, Monmouthshire: From the scenery to the high street and a busy community eager to get involved in everything from choirs to litter picks, there’s something to admire everywhere you turn. This is a proper market town which along with the food festival and the many excellent restaurants, makes this a particularly good spot for anyone keen on eating well.
  • Barmouth, Gwynedd: This beautiful resort, with its famous viaduct and stunning mountain backdrop, is rapidly turning from a kiss-me-quick holiday getaway to a sophisticated coastal retreat. It’s now a great place to enjoy the scenery all year round, helped by an influx of interesting shops and restaurants, such as the beachfront Celtic Cabin, which serves the best street food in the country.
  • Cardiff, Pontcanna: Small, friendly and unpretentious, Cardiff is the UK’s most likeable capital city. Leafy Pontcanna is our favourite neighbourhood in the Welsh capital, thanks to its combination of beautiful parks, elegant Victorian terraces and some exceptional independent shops, cafes and restaurants as well as easy access to the city centre.
  • Gower Peninsula, Swansea: This 70 sq miles of prime scenic seaside is worth its place on beauty alone, but it has even more to offer than its beaches, cliffs and moorlands. It’s a busy hive of community projects - village shops, organic farms and much more. From the smart Swansea suburbs of Caswell Bay and Langland to village life at its best in Llanmadoc or Llangennith there’s something for everyone - especially families who can enjoy the outdoor lifestyle while keeping Swansea on the doorstep.
  • Narberth, Pembrokeshire: An exciting new food hall and a new cafe that offers mental-health support are just the latest additions to a town centre that punches far above its weight. Easy access to Pembrokeshire’s spectacular beaches, a swimming pool, lively community centre and a strong cultural offering add to the appeal.
  • Solva, Pembrokeshire The location is beautiful, but it’s the community spirit that earns this village its spot. From Bayview Stores, the brilliant village shop that became a lifeline during lockdown, to the annual fireworks display or the Solva Edge festival, there’s a rare determination among the population to take care of each other and keep Solva buzzing all year round.

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