Quaint English town with 884-year-old market named the best place to live in the UK

Based on schools, transport, broadband speed, mobile signal to culture, green spaces and high street health, The Times has declared Saffron Walden as their winner.The other regional winners include London’s Walthamstow, Ilmington in Warwickshire and Ilkley in West Yorkshire.

Saffron Walden Market Square with market stalls and shoppers. — The market is bustling every Tuesday and SaturdayCredit: Alamy

Street scene in Saffron Walden, Essex, showing historic buildings and a pub called The Eight Bells. — Winding streets are full of medieval buildings and colourful cottagesCredit: Alamy

The Essex town was ranked number one from a shortlist of 72 locations.At the local pub, Railway Arms, there are food trucks every Thursday, and lots of coffee shops to have a bite to eat including The Goat And Grass.Someone else said there’s lots going on for young families with another adding it feels safe and is a friendly place.In the town centre is a market that has been running since 1141 and is still going strong today.

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On Tuesdays and Saturdays, stalls set up to selling food from fresh fruit and vegetables, to olives, bread, fish, flowers, antiques and jewellery.The market is also pretty famous and won the title of “Best Small Outdoor Market” in the Great British Market Awards in 2018.

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Row of colorful cottages on a sunny street. — Wonky and brightly coloured cottages line the streetsCredit: Alamy

Aerial view of Audley End House and Gardens. — Historic heritage house Audley End is up the road from Saffron WaldenCredit: Alamy

On the outskirts of Saffron Walden you’ll find Audley End house and gardens, where they have a miniature railway and a chance to meet the ‘staff’ of Audley End who take it back to its Victorian heyday.The Times declared these UK destinations as the top places to live…There’s also a traditional toy shop and Hart’s Books which has been open for over 175 years.Chew Valley in Somerset and Gower Peninsula in Swansea were also top-rated.Saffron Walden dates back to the 1130s and while it is 15 miles from the nearest city of Cambridge, it still has plenty to offer. They added: “If the traditional High Street is dying, Saffron Walden is reinventing it for the 21st Century.”The publication even spoke to locals, with one saying he moved to Saffron Walden from Australia and will always live in Essex.