Somerset village comes out as best in England

Chew Magna, a typical English village in the Somerset countryside, is named as the best location in the country to live in research conducted by property consultants Savills.

It has drawn up a list of the best 12 villages based on categories including best schools, best value, best connected and best to escape to.

‘Everything about this village works, it has proper core to it and you really get the feeling the villagers love living there. It has everything anyone could possibly need for everyday living and then Bristol and Bath are nearby,’ said Richard Brooks, who runs the Savills residential office in Bristol.

All the villages shortlisted had a good primary school, were not too far away from employment either by car or public transport and had good basic amenities such as a village shop and at least one pub. The setting and overall health of the village were also rated, with the best being an attractive place to live with a thriving social and economic infrastructure.

‘The popularity of these villages is clearly reflected by the fact that properties in the villages change hands infrequently and for an identifiable premium. Although the premium varies dramatically, detached house prices were more than 50% higher than the county average,’ said Lucian Cook, Director of Savills research.

Within the different categories Chew Magna came first for best connected, followed by East Hendred in Oxfordshire and Brenchley in Kent. Best for schools was Crondall in Surrey, then Chipperfield in Hertfordshire and Chiddingfold in Surrey.

Navenby in Lincolnshire topped the best value category, with Farndon, Cheshire in second place, followed by Walsham le Willows in Suffolk.

Best for the Great Escape was Mylor Bridge in Cornwall, then Hovingham in North Yorkshire and Grosmond in Monmouthshire.

‘Mylor Bridge sits at the head of a creek, which is a tributary of the Fal Estuary, but unlike too many Cornish villages it is an all year round village. Yes, it does appeal to holiday home owners but there is a thriving permanent community of all ages. It has a wide range of amenities and village facilities and then Truro and Falmouth are about a 15 minute drive,’ said Jonathan Cunliffe head of residential in Cornwall.

William Marsden-Smedley a director of Prime Purchase, said good villages are attractive as they provide a sense of community, which in today's fast moving world is often lost elsewhere.

‘Among our clients villages are often popular with families making their first move out of London, particularly with wives, who tend to like to be part of somewhere especially when their husbands are commuting all week. The best villages provide a broad scope of property types that cater for all ages and usually price tags, good local amenities and a safe neighbourhood,’ he added.