Tiny postcard village crowned BEST place to live in England & Wales ‘where 1st ever cricket match was played’
A QUAINT village in the south of England has been named the best place to live in England and Wales.
Redbourn, Hertfordshire, has been given the 2025 title by , which creates an annual report, analysing 1,447 cities, towns and villages with more than 5,000 residents.
The locations are judged on five key criteria, natural beauty, well being, heritage, school and jobs, as well as value for money.
1. Redbourn, Hertfordshire
Located just 30 miles from central London, the charming village has a population of just 6,913 people, and dates back to Roman times.
Its Parish church St Mary's was built in the 12th century, and an Iron Age Hill Fort is located to the south-west of the village.
The picture-postcard village was also the location of one of the first cricket matches ever played back in 1666.
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Redbourn scored particularly high in the natural beauty category, due to its stunning rural location, and also scored well in the heritage and schools and jobs categories.
The nearest train station is located three miles away, and can get you into Luton in 10 minutes and London St Pancras in 45 minutes.
The area has a generous selection of Outstanding rated schools, including Roundwood Park School and Sir John Lawes school.
However, the average house price in the village is £767,501, way above the national average.
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2. Epsom, Surrey
The town of Epsom, located just 14 miles from central London, takes the second spot on the list.
Famed for its Derby, one of the world's most famous horse races, Epsom ranks consistently high on the table, and took the third place spot on Garrington's 2024 table.
The town also boasts a vibrant high street, featuring dozens of quaint cafes and independent shops.
The area has an abundance of highly rated schools and high paying jobs, which have allowed it to climb up the table.
Trains to central London take around 40 minutes, whilst Guilford can be reached by rail in 30 minutes.
The average house price in the area is a whopping £790,983, making it one of the highest in the UK.
Top 20 Places to Live in England and Wales 2025
- Redbourn, Hertfordshire
- Epsom, Surrey
- Whitburn, Tyne and Wear
- Marple, Greater Manchester
- St Albans, Hertfordshire
- Alnwick, Northumberland
- Merley, Dorest
- Ewell, Surrey
- Chigwell, Essex
- Ashtead, Surrey
- Rawdon, West Yorkshire
- Worcester Park
- Godalming, Surrey
- Gatley, Greater Manchester
- Corsham, Wiltshire
- Whitnash, Warwickshire
- Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- Long Ashton, Somerset
- Metham, West Yorkshire
- Tadworth, Surrey
Data: Garrington Property Finders
3. Whitburn, Tyne and Wear
Third place on this year's list goes to the village of Whitburn, Tyne and Wear.
The North East gem has stunning sandy beaches, and is in easy reach of both Newcastle and Sunderland.
Seals and dolphins can be spotted along the coastline, whilst rare birds circle around its National Trust park.
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It performs best for heritage, schools and jobs, with stunning period buildings dating back to the 17th century.
And with average house prices sitting at £328,999, this is by far the cheapest area to live in the top three.