US READING residents have always known it to be true, and now it’s official: we’re one of the best places to live in the south east.
The Sunday Times has compiled a list of the 10 top towns. Top of the pile is Chichester in West Sussex.
The Ding is one of the other nine places, none of which are ranked in order.
Judges said: “The force is with Reading – and not just because of the latest Star Wars spin-off that’s being filmed at the new Shinfield Studios.
“It’s the combination of great job prospects and transport links with relatively affordable property prices that make the town a hard-to-beat option for millennials and Gen Z.
“The leisure options are good, too, from the Biscuit Factory cinema to the restored Thames Lido.”
The other eight are Alresford; Brighton and Hove; Folkestone; Guildford; Lindfield; (East) Oxford; Reigate; and Wheathampstead.
This year’s guide – the 11th – features more new entries than ever before.
The Sunday Times judges have visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.’
Wadhurst in East Sussex was named the overall winner of Best Places to Live. It was praised by judges for its “good schools, convenient transport connections, an amazingly well-stocked high street and stunning scenery”. They said that it offers “pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature”.
Helen Davies, the editor of Best Places to Live 2023, said: “When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever. Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.
“This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre. Whether you’re downsizing, trading up or getting onto the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.”
The guide’s sponsor, Halifax, provided the average house price for each location.
Kim Kinnaird, the director of Halifax Mortgages, said: “At Halifax, we know it’s where you live that really makes somewhere feel like ‘home’. What people look for when choosing where to live is a very personal choice.
“We know that the housing market can sometimes feel daunting when there are so many locations and things to consider. But looking at these fantastic locations is a great start, with options for different budgets and family situations, alongside an exciting blend of urban and rural living.”
Broadband speeds were provided by Thinkbroadband.com, the UK’s leading independent guide to broadband.
Reading’s place in the list has been welcomed by Borough Council leader Cllr Jason Brock, who said it was pleasing.
“It’s always gratifying to see external validation for our great town, particularly from an outfit carrying some clout like the Sunday Times list – and quite unlike some of the vague surveys from bizarrely-named organisations that we sometimes see which appear to penalise successful urban environments for not being obscure hamlets,” he said.
“It is no surprise to see our powerful economy, excellent transport connections, good schools and parks, and riverside walks all highlighted by The Sunday Times, but judges could have selected any number of areas where Reading excels.
“These include our town’s rich history, our cultural scene catering for all manner of tastes, the world-class lion statute or the… thrilling… football team, but most of all the wonderful communities which make up our town in all their incredible diversity and variety.”
“I’ve said before, what sets Reading apart is maintaining its sense of community, which remains intrinsic to our town even while we are at the same time a major economic powerhouse, both regionally and nationally.
“Most successful economic centres tend to lose something in terms of their sense of community, but in Reading it’s something we remain very proud of – our ‘little big town’.”
However, he said that Reading faces similar challenges faced by other major and successful towns and cities, including limited road space.
“I think many people would also take issue with the survey’s reference to ‘relatively affordable house prices’. Relatively affordable in comparison to parts of London possibly, but it’s not what many of us would define as affordable,” he said.
“As welcome as being named one of the top ten places in the country to live is, I’m at a genuine loss as to why we did not take top spot to be honest.
“I was also interested to see that Reading is the only place in Berkshire to have made the Sunday Times’ top ten, which only goes to confirm what everyone from Reading already knew – the rest of the county are fortunate to bask in our brilliance.”
