The Sunday Times recently designated the picturesque Essex village of Saffron Walden as the best place to live in the UK. The most favored choice, Saffron Walden beat out 71 other contenders from both rural peaceful communities and urban metropolises. This idyllic town has already usurped the previous year’s winner, North Berwick in East Lothian.
The methodology behind choosing the best place to reside is based on a number of key factors, such as the local schools’ standard, transportability, broadband speed, mobile coverage, local green spaces, and High Street vitality. In Saffron Walden’s case, each of these positive factors works in its favor, so it is a top destination for residents and visitors.
Bruce King, a 49-year-old Cheffins estate agent, has no hesitation in endorsing the town’s popularity. He thinks Saffron Walden fully deserves its number one spot and talks enthusiastically about the community spirit that pervades the town. For Bruce, the town’s renowned market square, with its mix of popular chain outlets and quirky independent shops, is one of the town’s standouts. “We can be in Cambridge in half an hour, we can be at Stansted Airport in less than half an hour, and we can be in the centre of London in an hour,” he says, highlighting the town’s good transport connections.
The town’s High Street is also an important aspect of what makes Saffron Walden so attractive. 58-year-old Karen Oakley runs the Sage and Saffron delicatessen that she founded towards the end of the lockdown pandemic. For more than ten years, she has been residing in Saffron Walden, seeing local, independent retailers prospering amidst their plight among other High Streets throughout the rest of the United Kingdom. “All High Streets have passed on nowadays, yet Saffron Walden High Street is not doing badly at all,” remarks Karen. For Karen, the award is richly deserved. “Saffron Walden has been shortlisted forever, as long as I’ve lived here at least. We’ve beaten Essex a couple of times, but this is enormous,” she comments. Her attitude echoes the town pride that much of the locals feel about where they live, particularly as their town continues to flourish in comparison to many other towns and cities.
The judges who crowned Saffron Walden as the winner of the competition mentioned a number of the town’s most important features, which helped it win the competition. They commended its historic character, good state schools, lively cultural life, and thriving food scene. “Saffron Walden was selected for its knockout historic appearance with great state schools, a rich cultural provision and an exploding foodie scene,” the judges said.
Historically, Saffron Walden had developed a reputation for being somewhat old-fashioned, expensive, and a place for those seeking a quieter lifestyle.
However, this image is changing, as the town is finding ways to modernize while keeping its historic charm intact. According to the judges, while the traditional High Street is struggling across much of the UK, Saffron Walden is successfully reinventing its own for the modern era. This change is seen in the increasing number of independent companies that are based in the town. One of the best things about Saffron Walden is its capacity to provide a combination of rural peace and convenient proximity to city amenities.
The town’s proximity to Cambridge, London, and Stansted Airport means it is an ideal location for commuters or those who like to go into the city every now and then. But even with its closeness to these large urban centers, Saffron Walden has retained a special sense of community and character that gives it the feel of an escape from the chaos of city life. The town’s rich cultural scene, varying from markets to art shows to festivals, also contributes to its popularity. For those who love local food, the town’s culinary scene has been growing at a very fast pace, and hence it has become a foodie destination. The boost in gastronomic attractions has brought new businesses and has contributed to the popular reputation of the town as a food destination.
Over the past few years, Saffron Walden has been more than a home—it has been an example of how a town can modernize while retaining its heritage.
The blend of a strong community spirit, historic charm, and innovative modernization has made it a benchmark for towns throughout the UK. Its elevation to the top of the list demonstrates that despite an age in which many towns struggle economically and socially, there remain some that are successfully surviving and reinventing themselves in innovative ways. Ultimately, Saffron Walden being the best place to live in the UK is proof of its ability to balance the new with the old.
It is clear that small Essex town has much to provide residents of all ages based on its strong community spirit, great transport links, active local economy, and activities. Saffron Walden will cater to all of your requirements, whether you are a family looking for top schools, a food lover finding new eateries, or simply somebody wanting a peaceful place to live.
