It’s everyone’s dream to live in a chocolate box village, but what about the ‘Chocolate Village’ found right here in Birmingham? Bournville, the model village built by the Cadbury family, is famous for its preserved-in-time Arts and Crafts houses, charming green spaces, and strict residential rules. And now, one of the best places to live…
“This leafy corner of B30” has surprisingly been named one of the best places to live in the UK in 2026 by The Times—a list that also includes Shrewsbury, The Malverns, and Stratford-upon-Avon from the Midlands. While you still can’t get a pint from a pub here, there’s still plenty to love about The Factory in a Garden.
“It doesn’t feel like you’re in the second-biggest city in the UK, there’s that community feel that money can’t buy,” says Toby Watley, 51, director of collections and estate at Birmingham Museums Trust. “Every night I hear two owls hooting away. I love the fact that I’m in a big city and can be woken up by owls.”
Why is Bournville so great to live in?
There are famously no pubs in Bournville, but if you’re a member, you can get a pint at Bournville Social Club (with live music every second Saturday night and jazz bands on Sunday afternoons). You’re also only 15 minutes from the city centre by train (30 if you fancy a bike ride), which helps balance quiet village life with bustling city living.
If that’s not enough, Stirchley is only a stone’s throw away with its award-winning cocktail bar (Couch) and incredible restaurants (i.e. Riverine Rabbit and Eat Vietnam). While, closer to home, the Friends of Bournville Park organise forest school, tai chi in the park, free tennis lessons, and an annual picnic and litter-picking.
The average house price here costs around £412,600, but as The Times points out, about 40% of houses are managed by the Bournville Village Trust for affordable rent. The Times tip is to “look for roads named after trees — Sycamore, Maple and Acacia — where a family-sized classic semi could cost £1 million.”
“I don’t know about living in a bubble, but we do see it as an escape,” Watley adds. “I’m immersed in the cultural scene in the city so there’s a different pace, I’m able to switch off from all the things I do at work. Bournville is very restful.”
The best places to live in the Midlands:
- The Malverns (winner)
- Bournville
- Hathersage
- Market Harborough
- Shrewsbury
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- The Vale of Belvoir
To read The Times’ best places to live list, head here.