Skipton has been named the best place to live in the north and northeast of England in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The Sunday Times describes Skipton as properly grounded and strongly connected to the spectacular surrounding landscape.
It also says Skipton is a place where traditional businesses thrive and a haven for families drawn by the excellent schools and affordable property prices.
They noted Skipton’s volunteering culture is strong - the local Rotary Club’s annual Eco Day raises funds for wildlife and nature charities, bringing together groups such as Share Skipton, which operates a Library of Things that allows members to borrow anything from a disco ball to a leaf blower and also holds monthly repair cafés.
Seven other locations in the north and northeast are featured in the guide.
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the best of Britain, with Norwich, Norfolk, named the overall national winner.
The guide is published online on Friday, March 20, with an abridged version appearing as a magazine supplement on Sunday, March 22.
For more information, visit https://www.thetimes.com/best-places-to-live
The full list of locations in the north and northeast include:
- Skipton
- Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire
- Leeds city centre
- Morpeth, Northumberland
- Newcastle: Gosforth
- Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
- Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
- York
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.
“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live.
“These judges have travelled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide.
“One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
The Sunday Times’s judges have visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to amenities, as well as access to high-quality green spaces and the health of the high street.
