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 town was previously picked out among the top 8 places in the north back in 2024, and won the overall Best Place to Live in the UK in 2014.
This year, it tops the regional list - ahead of the Howardian Hills, Leeds city centre, Morpeth, Gosforth in Newcastle, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Slaithwaite and York.
Across the UK, 72 locations were selected for this year’s guide, with Norwich named the overall best place to live.
Skipton stood out to the judges, who said:
“Skipton is properly grounded and strongly connected to the spectacular surrounding landscape.
“It’s a place where traditional businesses thrive and a haven for families drawn by the excellent schools and affordable property prices.”
Judges commented that Skipton balances natural beauty with a strong, practical sense of community.
Excellent schools and relatively affordable house prices were highlighted as key reasons people are choosing to settle here.
The Skipton Academy, Ermysted's Grammar and Skipton Girls' High are all rated Good by Ofsted, with the selective schools both regularly appearing in tables charting the country's top state schools.
The judges recognised the strength of local volunteering as part of the announcement too:
“The 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.”
Listen to what people in Skipton had to say when asked by Your Skipton what they love most about their town:
Listen to judge and writer for the Sunday Times Best Places To Live Guide, Jayne Dowle, talking to Your Skipton's Stuart Clarkson:
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 traveled 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.”
Judges assessed a wide range of factors including schools, transport, broadband speeds, mobile signal, local amenities, green spaces and the overall health of the high street.
This year’s guide includes more new entries than ever before, with a focus on places where communities are thriving, rather than simply the most expensive locations.
See our Best Place to Live video on Instagram:
The guide is sponsored for the first time by Lloyds Banking Group, which has also provided average house price data for each location.
Kate Townson, Lloyds relationship and customer development director, said:
“For many, navigating the housing market can feel overwhelming.
“At Lloyds, our aim is to support all home buyers, including those taking their very first step onto the property ladder, with clear guidance, practical tools and tailored products that help them move forward with confidence and clarity.
“Our partnership with The Sunday Times Best Places to Live aims to give trusted insight into communities across the UK, helping homebuyers to make confident, informed decisions about their future home.”
Look out for a feature about Skipton in this weekend's Sunday Times, and see the full guide online now at www.thetimes.co.uk/best-places-to-live
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