Where would you go if you could live anywhere in the UK? You’d stay in Brum, right? Good choice. You can’t beat the culture, food, humour, and accent – and it’s home to one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the country. But if you’re looking for somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of city life to live, maybe check out Warwickshire’s Ilmington.
Just an hour away from Birmingham, or an hour and a half in bad traffic, Ilmington has been named the best place to live in the Midlands in the Sunday Times’ annual ‘Best Places to Live’ guide. And, with its cute, honey-coloured Cotswolds houses, quiet village lifestyle, and calming walks across the Ilmington Downs, it’s easy to see why.
The Sunday Times says: “Pretty as a picture, with its twin village greens, winding lanes and an ancient church. Ilmington was described by the judges as a blissful example of village life as it should be. Perched on the very edge of the Cotswolds, it welcomes day-trippers in walking boots rather than on tourist coaches.
“The village boasts good pubs, sports clubs and community groups but at its heart — its proudest achievement — is the community shop manned by more than 100 volunteers (one in seven of the population) which celebrates its 10th birthday this year.”
It’s one of 72 locations across the UK picked out by The Sunday Times. This year’s overall winner of The Sunday Times’ ‘Best Places to Live’ is Saffron Walden in Essex for “opening cool new independent shops and launching tasty places to eat.” Birmingham shouldn’t feel left out, however, as Harborne also made the list, alongside places like Shrewsbury in Shropshire and Eccleshall in Staffordshire.
“B17’s leafy streets are home to an entire property ladder’s worth of attractive period homes, plentiful parks, top primary schools, and a heavenly food scene. The high street is supremely practical, the community strong and it has three top restaurants – stellar enough to attract diners from all over the city and beyond, yet cosy enough for discerning regulars to return week after week.”
The Best Places to Live in the Midlands:
- Ilmington, Warwickshire (regional winner)
- Eccleshall, Staffordshire
- Harborne, Birmingham
- Market Harborough, Leicestershire
- Oakham, Rutland
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
- Wirksworth, Derbyshire
To see the the annual Sunday Times’ ‘Best Places to Live’ guide head here.