Two North East towns are officially among the best places to live in the region and across the North (as well as the whole of the UK).
Tynemouth in Tyne and Wear and Morpeth in Northumberland were among six other locations listed across the North and North East.
Within the 2025 guide, the publisher declared Ilkley in West Yorkshire as the regional winner, complimented for its “get-up and go” of a community “that tackles every challenge with gusto”.
The Sunday Times’ expert judges have visited all the locations 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.
@sophinthenorth Saturday brunch in Tynemouth. A cold, frosty but sunny day is just so stunning. I understand why it’s called The View, people watching for days, ships on the horizon, what a beautiful spot! #tynemouth #northeast #brunchtime #coast #beautifulview ♬ Me and U No Relation Remix - No Relation
But what did The Sunday Times judges say about best-named places to live Tynemouth and Morpeth? Let’s find out.
See the new annual Best Places to Live guide by The Sunday Timesonline.
What did The Sunday Times judges say about Tynemouth and Morpeth?
Tynemouth was hailed for its “elegant and attractive streets” and visiting the town near Newcastle is said to “feellike another planet.”
The publisher explained: “Neither an overly gentrified hipster hangout nor a decaying, once-grand seaside town, Tynemouth is in a sweet spot between the two.
“Wander its elegant and attractive streets and you’ll find convivial coffee shops next to useful little corner stores; beatnik beach hangouts tucked in the shadows of its ruined priory and castle - but also a mobile library.
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“You might go for a walk on one of its curving sandy beaches, topped off with a pint in the pub on Front Street and although you’re only a few miles from Newcastle, it feels like another planet.”
Meanwhile, Morpeth was praised for being “the friendliest town in Britain”.
The Sunday Times shared: “This collection of handsome stone and brick shops and houses feels tranquil rather than sleepy and has all the shops and facilities you need within a few minutes’ walk.
“Best of all, it might well be the friendliest town in Britain: every shopkeeper treats you like a long-lost friend and everyone smiles."
@scranwithsmok This is one of my favourite newest finds for brunch! How beautiful is this place and it is dog friendly too! 🐕😍 It’s a small independent refillery shop and cafe. Their aim is to encourage sustainability at an affordable price. The Market Palce consists of 2 parts: THE SHOP: provides refillables ranging from shampoo, conditioners, household cleaning liquids and body wash to dried food goods including cereals, rice and pasta. 🛍️ THE CAFE: serves delicious dishes that look just as good as they taste! The quality of the food is amazing and the menu changes all the time so there is always something new to choose from! 🍳 We ordered the: - 🥚Turkish eggs - 🥓Market Breakfast - 💕Beetroot latte - ☕️Regular latte 📍 The Market Palce, Morpeth • • • #themarketplace #morpeth #morpethbrunch #brunch #breakfast #dogfriendly #dogfriendlybrunch #coffee #beetrootlatte #independantbusiness #sustainability #ecofriendly #northeast #newcastlefoodblogger #nefood #foodtok #foodtiktok ♬ Breakfast in the Cottage / Relaxing Bossa Nova(1306259) - CORN MUSIC
The full list of North and North East locationscrowned among the UK's best places to live are as follows:
- Ilkley, West Yorkshire (regional winner)
- Easingwold, North Yorkshire
- Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
- Horsforth, Leeds
- Morpeth, Northumberland
- Ripon, North Yorkshire
- Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, commented: “It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate as we look closer to home.
“From small gestures that lift the everyday like - verges blooming with daffodils and volunteer-run dementia cafés, to larger initiatives from repair cafés to new railway stations.”
She added: “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.
If you have been to Morpeth - what's your favourite thing about it? (Image: Getty Images)“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.
Recommended reading:
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“One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
Published by The Sunday Times, the guide which includes 72 locations across the UK has been released today (March 21) and will be in the paper on Sunday, March 23.
The guide has been sponsored by the mortgage lender Halifax.
