Once again, the Yorkshire Dales confirms its enduring appeal, with Skipton being newly crowned the most desirable area in the country by The Sunday Times’s 101 Best Places to Live in Britain.
The Sunday Times judges put it in top spot for its ideal combination of low crime rates, “top class” schools, great transport links, “buzzing” high street, pretty and reasonably priced property and beautiful surrounding countryside.
“Skipton is a worthy winner,” said Sunday Times home editor Helen Davies. “We love it for its big-hearted, buzzy life.”
Second in the list was Newnham, a district of Cambridge, with Monmouth, third and Falmouth, fourth.
Each place was selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people and combining desirable features such as a positive community spirit, good local shops, services and attractive outdoor spaces.
Locals proud
According to local paper, The Craven Herald:
- Skipton MP Julian Smith said he was over the moon: “The judges described all the attributes we know Skipton has, whether it is access to the Dales, quality of its schooling or its high street. I am a very proud local MP.”
“It’s in the heart of Yorkshire and it’s the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. It’s strong on tradition and it has a really excellent education system.
- Councillor Chris Harbron, leader of Skipton Town Council, said: “This is a fantastic result for the town and is all the more valuable in that it is an independent survey based on a combination of hard data and research.
“It’s no accident that Skipton performs so well. It is a combination of the hard work of so many organisations – councils, schools, police and emergency services, shops and businesses, community groups and their support networks – they all come together to make Skipton what it is. I’m very proud to work and live in the town. We should sing this from the rooftops.”
- Leader of Craven District Council, Coun Chris Knowles Fitton, said: “This accolade will further boost the area as a great place to live, work and visit and we shall all continue to work hard to maintain and enhance the town’s growing reputation.”
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