Best villages in the UK: where to live in the countryside
You can play cricket on the green at Chiddingfold
STUART TREE/ALAMY
Living in a perfect village is the British equivalent of the American dream, and never more so since the pandemic made everyone take stock of their lives. These days it is all about slowing down, getting back to nature and enjoying the benefits of a close-knit community — village life, in other words.
Be careful which one you choose: buy in the wrong village, with a dying high street, lacklustre spirit or too many second homes, and you will rue the day you left the big smoke. It has to be pretty too. If you are going to take the plunge, you might as well go the full Midsomer Murders — a village green, at least one shop, a pub, a church or village hall, ideally a post office, and plenty of clubs and societies.
If lockdown has taught us anything, it is the value of neighbours who know your name and will bake you a loaf of banana bread when you are self-isolating. Here’s a selection of our favourite locations.
Abinger Hammer, Surrey
The Surrey Hills, whose beautiful wooded slopes are within comfortable commuting distance of the capital, is an area dotted with appealing villages: Tilford for cricket on the green; Chiddingfold for its Bonfire Night bonanza; or Shere, where the rom-com The Holiday was filmed. Abinger Hammer has a handy village shop, and a tearoom that sells delicious homemade cakes and nets for children to fish in the stream.
Alnmouth, Northumberland
It’s not just the miles of perfect sand stretching seemingly all the way to Scotland and the well-stocked high street that make this slice of seaside so appealing. Instead, it’s the station, which may seem boring, but becomes a lot more interesting when you realise that its direct trains to London, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh mean that occasional capital-city commuters can spend most of their time here, listening to waves crash on Northumberland’s giant beaches or watching the stars sparkle in the giant, dark night skies.
Barbon, Cumbria
This is the pick of the villages surrounding Kirkby Lonsdale, the caring, sharing ancient market town that’s one of the very best on our Best Places to Live list. It shares the same glorious scenery: Lake District to the west, Yorkshire Dales to the east and the underexplored Forest of Bowland to the south. There’s also a cosy pub in the Barbon Inn and, best of all, the Churchmouse, a village store that is several prime cuts above the norm.
Edale, Derbyshire
There’s not just stunning Peak District scenery here, but also a lively community of arty city escapees and farmers, who get together for hearty celebrations of Bonfire Night, as well as a panto and a horticultural show. There are two pubs, a village shop, and anyone who finds themselves craving nightclubs, cocktails and exhaust fumes can hop on a train and be in Sheffield in half an hour, or Manchester in 45 minutes.
Hambleden, Buckinghamshire
This picture-perfect hamlet is the hub of the Hambleden Valley. All meadows, windmills and rose-covered brick-and-flint cottages, it looks just like Midsomer Murders (regularly filmed here), except that nobody gets impaled, beheaded or crushed to death by a cheese. Hambleden itself is a gem, with a welcoming pub in the Stag and Huntsman serving fireside pints and hearty dinners. It also has the valley’s only shop, the Village Stores (and post office), where residents stock up on baked pastries and pies and all kinds of fresh local produce
Hambleton, Rutland
We’re big fans of the no-nonsense, traditional country life on offer in Rutland, England’s smallest county. It has two hearty, unpretentious market towns in Oakham and Uppingham, lots of independent shops and some of the best bread in the land, courtesy of the Hambleton Bakery. The best address here is the village that gives the bakery its name. It’s an immaculate community on a peninsula in the middle of Rutland Water, the giant reservoir that’s heaven for sailors, birdwatchers and wild swimmers, with paths that have been an idyllic spot for daily exercise on foot or by bike.
Holbrook, Suffolk
The hordes who barely glance at the Shotley peninsula as they make their way to the upmarket seaside honeypots of Aldeburgh and Southwold don’t know what they’re missing. This unspoilt wedge of land between the Orwell and Stour rivers is perfect for Swallows and Amazons-style fun in the water, walks in the woods, and handy for travel to Ipswich, or London via Manningtree. Holbrook, which has two pubs and a village shop, is at the centre of it all — and the perfect place to start your search.
Helford, Cornwall
This relaxed sailing haven is the prime address on the lovely Lizard peninsula, Cornwall’s greatest escape. Its creekside cottages are heaven for anyone interested in messing about in the water, whether with sailing boat, paddleboard, kayak or wetsuit. There’s a friendly pub and a village shop, and a ferry to take you across the river to enjoy the evening sun at Helford Passage. The village is perfectly placed to explore pretty fishing coves, wild moors, stunning beaches and dramatic coast paths.
Ilmington, Warwickshire
Not quite the Cotswolds and all the better for it, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect spot. The ancient church — try to spot the hidden carved wooden mice — honey-coloured houses and village green nestle under Ilmington Down, the highest point in Warwickshire and a viewpoint that’s worth the two-mile climb. It’s a place where everyone gets involved, in the many clubs and societies based at the village hall, organising the annual show, or volunteering at the community shop.
Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire
Our favourite village on the beautiful Cleddau Estuary, known locally as the Secret Waterway because the tourists who descend on Pembrokeshire’s beaches have no idea that it’s there. It’s got a village shop with 24-hour access for locals by card, a tearoom, and if you fancy a change from riverside Lawrenny Arms, just grab your neighbours, hop in the kayak and paddle to the Cresselly Arms. You can even get a sourdough loaf or a croissant delivered, courtesy of Dani Higginson, whose Hugtasty Bakery is an inspiring pandemic start-up success.
Nunhead, London
Bear with us here. Urban villages are a thing too — and no longer just in the optimistic imaginations of estate agents. This urban corner of south London, next door to hipper-than-thou Peckham, has a green surrounded by independent shops, a tight-knit community that loves living there, and a social life that revolves around the pub. A ramble in tranquil, wooded Nunhead Cemetery, past ivy-covered angels and vine-obscured mausoleums, is a restorative match for most properly rural walks.
Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk
The meadows, hedgerows and gentle rivers of Dedham Vale barely seem to have changed since they were immortalised in oil and canvas by John Constable. These days, though, there’s more on offer in its pretty sociable villages than pastoral landscapes and the peal of church bells. There are sports clubs, community events and an easy journey to work in Ipswich or London, a commute that’s even more bearable if you don’t have to do it every day of the week. The pick of the villages is probably Stoke by Nayland, which has fine views, a brace of gastropubs and a well-stocked shop.
St Boswells, Scottish Borders
Close to beautiful Melrose, not too far from Edinburgh and surrounded by some of the most attractive scenery in the Borders, this convenient and contented little community has plenty going on: sports clubs, salmon fishing on the River Tweed and an award-winning pub in the Buccleuch Arms. The real star is Main Street Trading, where books are the big thing, but you can also buy cheese, wine and deli fare as well as natty homewares. Best of all, there’s a café that’s a real community hub, hosting book groups as well as other events.
Strangford, Co Down
If you watched the BBC drama Bloodlands, you’ll understand the beauty of island-studded Strangford Lough (supposedly with an island for every day of the year). The village that takes its name — romantically positioned at the Narrows where the lough meets the sea — is the perfect place to enjoy the wildlife and the water. It has a school, a GP surgery and three great restaurants to enjoy the local seafood. Belfast is roughly a 50-minute drive away, but nearby Downpatrick should meet most of your needs.
Tisbury, Wiltshire
This is very much a “large village”, with far more than just a pub or a post office. It has delis, cafés, a fishmonger and even a smart art gallery, Messums Wiltshire, in a gorgeous old tithe barn. Some people love it so much that they even braved the 110-minute train journey to and from London daily, just to be able to come home to its friendly atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. They’ll be hoping that a bit more post-pandemic working from home will give them more time to explore the chalk streams and rolling hills of the surrounding Nadder Valley.
Best Places to Live 2021