Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire has been named the best place to live in Wales. It is top of a list of six locations in the region chosen by The Sunday Times to represent the best of the UK in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The comprehensive guide, which includes 70 locations, is released online today and an edited version will be available in the paper on Sunday.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges behind the guide assess a wide range of factors, from schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.
They look to celebrate improving towns, villages or city centres, attractive, well-designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit – which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.
An average house price for each location has been supplied by Halifax, the sponsor of the guide, and up-to-date information on broadband speeds has been provided by Thinkbroadband.com, the UK’s leading independent guide to broadband.
Please note: apart from the regional winner, the other locations are not ranked, but listed in alphabetical order.
The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022: Wales
- Winner: Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire
- Conwy, Gwynedd
- Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan
- Ruthin, Denbighshire
- St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire
- Usk, Monmouthshire
Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor said: “The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective. Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place. For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?
“Ten years ago, when we launched the inaugural list, London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not yet reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains. How times have changed — and how welcome that change is.
“This year we have discovered new best places to live, from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the Southwest, and a commutable Scottish island.
“We hope there is something to suit everyone.”
There are comments from the judges on each of the chosen locations below. More details are available on request. Helen Davies, editor of the guide, and the judges are available for interview, to discuss specific entries or issues raised by the guide.
Winner: Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire
It’s rare to see so many nice things in such a small area. Whether you want a freshly made Welsh cake from Heavenly or a unique piece of local arts and crafts, the independent shops and cafés in Llandeilo’s tiny centre are full of the good things in life. Its colourful houses are a delightful backdrop and the surrounding countryside is full of magical places to explore.
- Average house price: £251,000
- Growth since 2020: 18%
Conwy, Gwynedd (New)
Stepping through Conwy’s ancient walls feels like entering a magical kingdom (especially during the annual pirate festival), but excellent road and rail links keep it within easy reach of large towns and cities and the mountains of Snowdonia. The ancient centre is full of independent shops and there’s golf, sailing and a popular Parkrun.
- Average house price: £288,000
- Growth since 2020: 20%
Penarth
This seaside suburb remains Cardiff’s best address, and also its healthiest, thanks to a population that’s always out enjoying the sea views, whether jogging, cycling or out on the water sailing or paddleboarding. The town centre is a good mix of the smart and the useful and the city centre is just a short train ride away.
- Average house price: £366,000
- Growth since 2020: 15%
Ruthin (New)
From certain angles, Ruthin may look like the archetypal sleepy-but-beautiful historic Welsh town, but look a little closer and you’ll see an impressively dynamic little community working hard to thrive in the 21st century. There are walking and cycling routes everywhere, the old Courthouse has been converted into a business centre, and the historic market hall reopened last year as a very modern showcase for local arts, crafts and food. The stunning Ruthin Craft Centre attracts art-lovers from far and wide, and plans for a new velodrome will give its sporting credentials a boost.
- Average house price: £277,000
- Growth since 2020: 32%
St Dogmaels (New)
The inspiring local producers’ market is the star attraction of this far-flung corner of beautiful Pembrokeshire. Poppit Sands is one of the area’s best beaches, there’s a village shop and a community that showed its mettle in getting together to save the White Hart Pub from closure.
- Average house price: £234,000
- Growth since 2020: 33%
Usk
The extraordinary community spirit of last year’s best-in-Wales continues undimmed. The Usk in Bloom volunteers have planted thousands of bulbs, there’s a new arboretum on the way and the many community groups are thriving. The houses are beautiful, it’s paradise for dog-walkers and the sporting opportunities are second to none.
- Average house price: £410,000
- Growth since 2020: 14%
The Sunday Times Best Places to Live in Britain covers the following regions: North and Northeast, Midlands, Northern Ireland, Southeast, Wales, Southwest, East, London, Scotland and the Northwest.
Ilkley, West Yorkshire, was named as the overall Best Place to Live in the UK.
Find out more on https://www.thetimes.co.uk/best-places-to-live
