This is Wales' best place to live in 2025

Seven locations in Wales have been named as among the best places to live in the UK in 2025 in the newly published annual guide The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2025.

Across the UK expert judges have visited all the 72 locations within the 2025 guide and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

The UK has also been split into regions with a number one location revealed for each. The Wales regional winner and pronounced the best place to live in Wales in 2025 is Gower Peninsula, Swansea. Six other locations in Wales are included in the comprehensive guide, which named Saffron Walden in Essex as the best place to live in the UK overall.

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The guide states that the chosen locations come in all shapes and sizes, from the Scottish Island of Tiree and the remote Welsh village of Maenclochog to vibrant market towns, and suburbs of big, lively cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and London. As always, the judges looked for thriving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, states: "What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there.

"That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That could be anything from exceptional schools and fast trains to beautiful houses and countryside. The health of the high street is important, but more than anything else, what we are looking for are towns, villages and cities with strong communities who work hard to make the best of where they live, and play hard too.

"We also consider affordability. High house prices are no barrier to inclusion - as long as they provide value for money. Different people will be looking for different qualities when they are choosing a place to live. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home."

Winner: Gower Peninsula, Swansea

The Gower peninsula has long been loved by locals and visitors for its collection of absolutely stunning sandy beaches and cosy coves, all of them with unique features such as rugged rocks and mountains tumbling to the sea shore, including Rhossili which has been named one of the best beaches in the world, find out more about that here.

Easily accessible from Swansea the area can entice you with a visit to Mumbles, regularly listed on its own as one of the best places to live in Wales, to enjoy boutique shopping, socialising and eating and drinking with the expansive Swansea Bay as the backdrop, find out more about that here.

The Sunday Times judges said: "You get every type of seaside on the Gower - crashing waves, sandy coves, brooding limestone cliffs and smart urban promenades - along with easy access to the improving city of Swansea. We were most impressed, however, with the cool, creative and sustainable independent businesses springing up in the pretty villages and hamlets in the wilder corners of the peninsula."

Crickhowell, Powys

Nestled in an auspicious spot at the foot of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, yet within easy reach of Bristol and Cardiff, Crickhowell is small but perfectly formed. The Sunday Times judges stated that the schools are successful, the houses are beautiful and the back streets full of atmosphere.

They went on to say: "It may be mourning its cherished chain store-free status since the arrival of a Co-op, but there is much to celebrate in the independent shops on the neat high street. There are art galleries showcasing local work, friendly pubs, cosy cafés, sports clubs and even a tool-recycling charity. This hasn’t happened by accident, but rather by years of hard work from a fiercely proud population."

Maenclochog, Pembrokeshire

This tiny village stands out among west Wales’s muddy crowd of rural settlements for its picturesque location close to the Preseli Hills and plucky community spirit.

Judges comments included: "The population is fun, friendly and super-supportive and it has all the facilities you need: a much-loved pub, a village shop and a busy café where locals meet for breakfast baps and after-school teas on tiered cake stands. There’s an agricultural store and two petrol stations, as well as access to a choice of excellent English and Welsh-medium schools."

Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan

Nestled next to the Bristol Channel with a sea front packed with restaurants and a landmark Art Deco pier, Penarth is a favourite location for visitors but also to live commutable to Cardiff and yet with its own distinctive vibe.

The judges comments include: "It’s easy to live your best life in this smartest of seaside spots. Penarth is picturesque, thanks to its rows of beautiful properties and a Victorian pier; eminently practical, with good schools and quick links into Cardiff and a haven for foodies.

"But what makes it really special is how much is on offer that enriches the quality of life, whatever your age, from paddleboarding to joining one of the many clubs — such as the rowing and yacht clubs or the Dawnstalkers, who brave the water at the seafront at first light each morning."

Presteigne, Powys

One incredible aspect of Presteigne that maybe not many people know about is that the town is the only official Dark Sky town in England and Wales according to The Sunday Times guide, but there is much more besides to tempt you to relocate to this supremely community-minded town.

The judges said: "Volunteer drivers are on hand to take people for long-distance hospital visits, the wildflowers that brighten up every verge and roundabout are planted by guerrilla gardeners, and a new community orchard and veg garden is taking shape.

"There’s a repair café, toy hospital and regular litter picks, as well as sports clubs, concerts and film screenings. From the pharmacist who moonlights as a fire-eater to the wheelbarrow race down the high street, expect the unexpected in Presteigne. There’s an incendiary Bonfire Night celebration, and lots of music, from the highbrow to the homespun."

Rhiwbina, Cardiff

Wander to the northern suburbs of the capital and there are a number of thriving communities that can offer a home surrounded by a choice of amenities including independent cafes and restaurants, open spaces and great schools, but Rhiwbina has one selling point the other suburbs cannot match - it's Wales’s best preserved garden village.

The judges say that the garden village area of Rhiwbina was designed as a healthy alternative to the overcrowded inner city, with its simple, well-planned houses with gardens, fresh air and plenty of space - and it still offers a blueprint for healthy, happy urban living.

Comments about the suburb include: "Tree-lined streets, sports clubs, a friendly community, great independent shops and good transport links make Rhiwbina an enviable place to live."

Vale of Clwyd, Denbighshire

Opinions over whether or not the Clwydian Hills should be designated a national park are divided, often bitterly. But everyone agrees on one thing: this 20-mile stretch of gloriously lumpy, bumpy, wild terrain just across the English border — with its woods, heather-clad summits and lush green slopes — is a stunning place to call home. The guide judges consider the best places to live within the area include lively villages in the hills with community shops, pubs and schools or the lovely historic market town of Ruthin.

The guide has again been sponsored by the mortgage lender Halifax, which has provided an average house price for each location. Amanda Bryden, head of Halifax mortgages, said: "We know it can be daunting buying your first home, looking to move to your next home or even getting a new mortgage for your current home. There is so much to think about even once you’ve found the right house in the right area.

"The best thing to do is speak to a mortgage adviser as early as you can in the process. They will be able to help you understand the mortgages available to you and how to get the best deal for your circumstances to help you focus on the exciting things that come with buying a home too."

Broadband speeds were provided by Thinkbroadband.com, the UK’s leading independent guide to broadband. For the first time we’ve included mobile signal coverage, which is likely to be even more important with the shutting down of the 3G network, using network data from signalchecker.co.uk.

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