Best places to live in England and Wales revealed
Redbourn, a picturesque village in Hertfordshire located less than 30 miles from central London, has been named the best place to live in 2025 across England and Wales.
The village topped a ranking of over 1,400 communities across England and Wales, compiled by Garrington Property Finders.
Redbourn excelled in multiple categories, securing 11th place in natural beauty and performing well in heritage, schools, and jobs. Its attractive rural location, combined with a rich history dating back to Roman times and its status as the site of one of the first-ever cricket matches in 1666, contributed to its top ranking.
The village commands an average family home price of £767,501, which, although above the national average, has seen an 8.2% dip over the past year.
Read more: UK house prices stall in March ahead of stamp duty hike
Epsom, a Surrey spa town known for its horse racing heritage, is in second place on the list. Its ranking is supported by highly rated schools and lucrative job opportunities in the area.
A typical home in Epsom costs £790,983, a 2.5% decline in prices compared to the previous year.
The seaside village of Whitburn comes in at number three. It scored high for natural beauty and well-being.
Known for its sandy beaches, nature plays a role in the village's appeal, as its coastal park boasts rare birds, while seals and dolphins can be spotted frolicking out at sea.
The price of a typical family home in Whitburn fell by 1.6% to £328,699 at the end of last year. By contrast, the average property price in North East England rose by 6.7% in 2024.
Hot on the heels of third-placed is Marple in Greater Manchester. The town is within easy reach of the big city — it boasts two train stations and is just 10 miles from central Manchester — but offers a gentler pace of life with a rural location and canalside walks, along with a farmer's market, theatre and independent cinema. A house here will set you back £496,289.
Official data from the Land Registry shows property prices in England rose by 4.8% and in Wales by 6% in the 12 months to January 2025.
However, regional variations are notable. While London saw a modest price increase of 2.3%, North East England experienced a surge of 9.1%, and the North West saw a 6.8% rise.
Several locations bucked these trends and performed strongly in the value-for-money category. For instance, Alnwick in Northumberland, a cobbled market town with a castle that starred as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, ranked at number six, boasts a typical family home price of just £327,246. In contrast, Whitnash in Warwickshire, ranked 16th, offers homes for £536,692 — both lower than their regional averages.
Read more: Mortgage rates to stay higher for longer amid high inflation
The highest-ranked Welsh location was Penarth, a seaside town just three miles from Cardiff. With its Art Deco pavilion and pebble beach, Penarth secured 31st place overall. The town excelled in value for money, ranking second in this category with an average property price of £502,497, following a 5.1% price dip.
The most expensive location in the top 20 is St Albans, the cathedral city in Hertfordshire, which came in at number five. Known for its history and schools, St Albans saw the average price for a family home rise by 0.2%, reaching £974,657.
Jonathan Hopper, CEO of Garrington Property Finders, said: 'With mortgage interest rates forecast to come down gradually during 2025, many would-be buyers and movers are likely to progress their plans in coming months, keen to capitalise on the combination of lower borrowing costs and a highly competitive market in which buyers often hold the cards when it comes to negotiating the best price.
'Our team of experts across England and Wales is already seeing a surge in interest from buyers who've decided to kickstart their previously paused moving plans in 2025."
Read more:
10 home upgrades that don't need planning permission
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How rising house prices can impact your finances
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