How does your home town rank?

Every year there are news reports and surveys claiming to have found the “best” place to live in the UK. If you have ever used google to find out where that place might be, you might have found it hard to find a definitive answer. This year alone there have been an array of reports suggesting that anywhere from Cumbria to Orford in Surrey are the places we should all be heading for. Locally, Whalley has received a mention as the “go to” town for true happiness when residing in the North West. So where truly is the best place to live in the UK?

The problem with answering this question is the ambiguity of the word “best”! Some reports are measuring friendliness whilst others talk about happiness. Is there such a difference between the two? The Daily Telegraph mentions Cumbria as the best place to live, that is if you are a dog. Cumbria received an accolade from the Kennel Club stating that the area was extremely dog friendly. However, if you are of the two legged variety then head off to nearby Harrogate where the pretty surroundings and outstanding neighbourliness ensure the residents are the happiest in the country.

More reliable services take into account a larger number of factors. For example they consider house prices, affordability, employment and also the density of the population. Locally, the Ribble Valley was noted for being one of the least densely populated areas in the UK and having the benefit of areas of natural outstanding beauty and a pretty market town. But what about security? In this day and age safety plays a big part of our general happiness, so where are the safest places to head for in the UK!

Back to our friends at the Telegraph and their report on the safest towns! We were a little disappointed that only two northern towns managed to get a mention, Bromley Cross in Lancashire and Yarm in Yorkshire. The rest of the towns were in the south of England including Wokingham, Lightwater and Bingham. However, they do say that you cannot believe everything you see on TV or everything you read in the paper. For example, one report suggested that smaller villages in Buckinghamshire would be a safe place till live. However as many of us recall, Buckinghamshire has been the setting for many a Midsomer Murder. Hmmm, something is afoot we feel.