Penryn in Cornwall is now regarded as one of the best places to live (Image: Getty)
A lesser-known Cornwall town has been highlighted as one of Britain’s finest places to live, overtaking some of the more obvious contenders. The well-known Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide has identified Penryn as a standout choice within the South West region.
The news outlet characterises Penryn as being “a little rougher round the edges than neighbouring Falmouth”, though they were seeking “thriving locations with a strong sense of community” rather than well-established destinations with exorbitant house prices. Penryn’s dynamic “energy, creativity and community” were emphasised as crucial elements behind its recognition. It also says that Penryn suits those wanting “endless adventures”, owing to its wealth of community organisations.
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Penryn has so much charm but it’s often overlooked by its busy neighbour Falmouth (Image: Tim Green/flickr)
This year’s list showcased 72 UK destinations in total. The assessment team conducted personal visits to every location, examining numerous factors including schools, transport connections, broadband and mobile coverage, cultural amenities, outdoor spaces, and the liveliness of town centres.
Whilst the Chew Valley in Somerset secured top honours for the finest location in the South West, Saffron Walden in Essex claimed the overall crown as Britain’s best place to live.
The Sunday Times judges commended Penryn, saying: “Penryn is a little rougher round the edges than neighbouring Falmouth, but what it lacks in arty-crafty knick-knack stores and beachside saunas, it more than makes up for in energy, creativity and community.
“Every old workshop, boathouse or ope – as the back alleys are known here – seems to be home to a local craftsperson or entrepreneur up to something forward-looking and fascinating, whether it’s a pottery studio, an art gallery, a yoga studio, or the Cornish Poetry Library.
Chew Valley in Somerset was top of the list for the South West (Image: Getty)
“There is the potential for endless adventures in the surrounding waters and countryside, and all kinds of community groups are doing good works or organising sports and activities.”
Currently, on Rightmove, there are one-bedroom flats available in Penryn for as little as £155,000, while those looking for a family home will find three-bedroom properties for as little as £225,000.
Additional treasured locations that secured their place in the South West rankings include Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, Hotwells and Cliftonwood in Bristol, Malmesbury in Wiltshire alongside Ashburton in Devon, and the Dorset duo, Sherborne and Southborne.
Helen Davies, who oversees these rankings as editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, remarked: “It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate as we look closer to home.
“From small gestures that lift the everyday – like verges blooming with daffodils and volunteer-run dementia cafes, to larger initiatives from repair cafes to new railway stations.”
Diving deeper into what sets their guide apart, she explained: “What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there.
“That means we can see what people really love about the places they live [in]. That could be anything from exceptional schools and fast trains to beautiful houses and countryside.
“The health of the high street is important, but more than anything else, what we are looking for are towns, villages and cities with strong communities who work hard to make the best of where they live, and play hard too.”
Homes are part of the picture (Image: Getty)
Helen explained: “We also consider affordability. High house prices are no barrier to inclusion – as long as they provide value for money.
“Different people will be looking for different qualities when they are choosing a place to live. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
Past recipients of the Best Places to Live in Britain accolade include: Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017); York (2018); Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019); Altrincham, Cheshire (2020); Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021); Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022); Wadhurst, East Sussex (2023); and North Berwick, East Lothian (2024).
You can find the complete Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide here.
