The latest data-driven rankings of the best places to live in England have been unveiled, highlighting areas excelling in housing, safety, education, healthcare, and local amenities. While several South West regions have featured prominently, Somerset notably failed to secure a place in the top listings.
Our analysis considered 11 key factors per local authority—covering average house prices, crime rates, secondary school performance, NHS treatment times and GP ratings, plus access to parks, pubs, community facilities, post offices, and railway stations. The study excluded the City of London and Isle of Scilly due to their small populations. Each factor was ranked out of 294 local authorities and aggregated into five categories to determine overall standings.
Topping the list is Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, renowned for its ancient woodlands and rich cultural heritage. Forest of Dean boasts excellent NHS performance with 70% of patients seen within 18 weeks and 82% GP satisfaction. It also offers abundant local amenities—168 parks and play areas and 136 community facilities per 100,000 residents—paired with modest house prices averaging £297,084 and relatively low crime rates.
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North Yorkshire takes second place, combining stunning countryside with vibrant market towns. Its residents benefit from plentiful pubs, superior rail access (21% within 15 minutes of a station), strong NHS services, and affordable housing averaging £270,433. The area’s crime rate remains low at 49 per 1,000 people, and schools perform above national averages.
Third-ranked Cotswold, also in Gloucestershire, is famed for its picturesque villages and rolling hills within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It excels in NHS quality and community facilities while offering low crime rates. However, high house prices averaging £435,606 temper its overall ranking.
Other South West authorities such as Stroud, Mid Devon, Wiltshire, West Devon, Torridge, and Teignbridge also feature in the top ten, underscoring the region’s wide appeal. Meanwhile, Ribble Valley in Lancashire represents the North West’s inclusion among the highest-ranking areas.
Among regions outside the South West, locations like West Berkshire (South East), Staffordshire Moorlands (West Midlands), Bassetlaw (East Midlands), East Hertfordshire (East of England), Gateshead (North East), and Richmond upon Thames (London) lead their respective regions. London authorities generally rank lower due to soaring house prices.
While Somerset is renowned for its scenic beauty, it notably does not appear in the top ranks, indicating opportunities for improvement in some of the measured factors.
In summary, this comprehensive ranking reflects a balance of affordability, safety, quality education, accessible healthcare, and plentiful amenities. To discover how your area fares, explore the interactive map using your postcode.