Woodbridge has been named the best place to live in the East of England.   

It is top of a list of eight locations in the region chosen by The Sunday Times to represent the best of Britain in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.  

The comprehensive guide is released online today and will be available in the paper this Sunday. 

The Sunday Times’s expert judges behind the guide assess a wide range of factors, from schools, air quality, transport and broadband speeds  to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.  

They look for improving towns, villages or city centres, for attractive, well designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit - which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.  See all the contenders here:

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2021: East 

·       Winner: Woodbridge, Suffolk 

·       Dedham Vale, Essex/Suffolk  

·       Ely, Cambridgeshire 

·       Epping, Essex 

·       Norwich, Norfolk 

·       Saffron Walden, Essex 

·       Shotley Peninsula, Suffolk 

·       Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk 

Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor says: “This guide has never been so important. The pandemic has taught us just how much we rely on our homes, our communities and our surroundings. With working from home now common, it’s no surprise that many of us are reassessing our priorities and thinking hard about where we really want to live.  

“Our focus for this year has been community, countryside and convenience. It hasn’t been a year for big cities or small villages. Instead it is small towns that have shone: big enough to have everything you need within walking distance and small enough for everyone to feel connected.  

“Woodbridge is our winner in this region because it is arty, creative and historic. Its thriving, independent high street is full of the good things of life and the schools are excellent.  

“During the pandemic, it has been the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors, whether it’s sailing or wild-swimming in the River Deben or walking up Kyson Hill or in Rendlesham Forest.” 

Recently featured in the Netflix drama The Dig (pictured above) Woodbridge is not stuck in the past. Judges described it as having an artsy, creative community, a vibrant high street  and a selection of independent shops, from impeccably tasteful homewares stores such as Vanil and Pascale, to an artisan wine shop (Saltpeter Wines) and Homespun, which sells clothes made from the finest Mongolian cashmere. It has a lively community, with a market, a Christmas fair and a Spirit of Place festival planned for the summer. Cultural offerings include Gallery East and Artspace Woodbridge, and the Riverside and Seckford theatres. 

Honey + Harvey serves some of the best coffee in the country (it’s currently offering takeaway from its Melton branch - £3 for a cappuccino). Other impressive places to eat and drink include the Cake Shop Bakery, the Tea Hut, the Unruly Pig (named dining pub of the year by the Good Pub Guide 2021) and the Angel (which sells local craft beers and about 250 gins).  

Average house price: £360,000 

Average rental: £850 pcm 

Dedham Vale was described by judges as “immaculate” and “timeless”. Villages such as Stoke by Nayland, Nayland and Dedham were praised for their extensive network of footpaths and cycling routes, plus golf, fishing and watersports. There are  fine-dining spots and gastropubs, including the Angel Inn and the Crown, the Swan Inn in Stratford St Mary, the Sun Inn, Milsoms, Le Talbooth, and the Old Bakery Café. Good local shops include Park Street Stores in Stoke by Nayland, IH Kerridge butcher in Nayland, which has queues out of the door on Saturday mornings. Hall Farm in Stratford St Mary has a beautiful farm shop. 

Judges said: “The immaculate, timeless villages of Constable Country are an ideal base for young families looking for country living within reach of work in Ipswich, Colchester or the City of London.” 

Average house price: £335,000 

Average rental: £800 pcm  

Ely was selected for its friendliness and historic atmosphere. Judges said: “We love Ely for its magnificent cathedral, and for the sense of community to be found in its market square, where nearly every day is market day and there’s excellent coffee available at the sociable SIlver Oak coffee truck. Best of all, it’s cheaper and friendlier than overheated Cambridge, just a short train ride away”. 

Other highlights include the gourmet bagels from the  Bagel Bar and the kindness shown by the Ely Scrub Hub’s hundred-plus volunteers, who have been sewing PPE for NHS workers 

Average house price: £300,000 

Average rental: £800 pcm 

In Epping, the forest was praised as one of the country’s greatest open spaces. Judges said: “There has been no more magical place within sight of London to take your daily exercise than the ancient forest. There’s also the convenience of the Tube and a hard-working community, where groups such as Epping in Bloom do everything they can to keep their town looking beautiful.”  

Average house price: £525,000 

Average rental: £1,250 pcm 

Norwich was applauded for its vibrant city centre and forward-looking, youthful population: the average age is just 34. The council hands out its own eco awards to schools and businesses, has invested heavily in a cycle network and was behind one of the best sustainable social housing developments in the country. It has a strong craft beer offering with the Plasterers Arms, the Brewery Tap and the Fat Cat, thriving independent shops and three theatres, as well as Cinema City and Norwich Arts Centre.   

Judges said: “Norwich is one of our favourite small cities. It’s beautiful and historic but also young, lively and environmentally friendly.  The market and independent shops in its compact city centre offer an experience that’s hard to replicate online, so it should be well placed to thrive after the pandemic.” 

Average house price: £238,000 

Average rental: £1,250 pcm  

Saffron Walden makes the list for its award-winning market, gorgeous historic houses, wealth of clubs and societies and excellent schools: Saffron Walden County High and Farlingaye High are both rated Outstanding by Ofsted. There’s culture aplenty. The Fry art gallery (soon to be extended) features standout Essex artists such as Michael Ayrton, John Aldridge and Grayson Perry. Saffron Screen, a not for profit community cinema, has offered online screenings through lockdowns, and state-of-the-art concert venue Saffron Hall has enlisted world-class artists to curate a set of free musical resources for primary schools 

Average house price: £450,000 

Average rental: £850 pcm 

Part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), The Shotley Peninsula was described by judges as: “a slice of prime Suffolk countryside where you can enjoy laid-back village life and Swallows and Amazons-style fun in the water.” Their favourite things include the local produce at the brilliant Suffolk Food Hall and the views from riverside pubs such as the Butt & Oyster in Pin Mill.  Pin Mill was described as the prettiest village, but Stutton, Tattingstone and Holbrook, which has two pubs and a village shop, are equally admired.  

Average house price: £275,000 

Average rental: £795 pcm 

Wells-next-the-Sea takes pride of place on the beautiful North Norfolk coast this year. Judges said: “More down to earth than Burnham Market or Blakeney, this seaside town combines convenience with a perfect location beside one of Britain’s best beaches” and praised its “golden sands, creeks and marshes bathed in ethereal light, endless horizons and wondrous wildlife”.  

Wells Maltings arts centre has been putting on virtual  quizzes and organising town treasure trails to amuse youngsters while the value of a Co-op and petrol station meet practical needs. 

Average house price: £450,000 

Average rental: £975 pcm 

 * For more information go to: www.thetimes.co.uk/best-places-to-live