A little-known Cornwall town has been spotlighted as one of the best places to live in the UK, bypassing some of the more predictable choices. The famous Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide has singled out Penryn as a top pick within the South West. 

The guide describes Penryn as somewhat "a little rougher round the edges than neighbouring Falmouth", yet the judges were on the hunt for "thriving locations with a strong sense of community" over well-known spots with steep property prices. Penryn's vibrant "energy, creativity and community" were highlighted as key factors for its selection. The Sunday Times also suggests that Penryn is ideal for those seeking "endless adventures", thanks to its array of community groups.

This year's guide, featuring 72 UK hotspots, was unveiled last week. The judging panel made personal visits to each location, evaluating various aspects such as educational institutions, transportation links, internet and mobile connectivity, cultural offerings, green spaces, and the vitality of local high streets.

While the Chew Valley in Somerset took the crown for the best place in the South West, Saffron Walden in Essex earned the title of the overall best place to live in Britain, reports Cornwall Live. 

The Sunday Times judges praised Penryn, saying: "Penryn is a little rougher round the edges than neighbouring Falmouth, but what it lacks in arty-crafty knick-knack stores and beachside saunas, it more than makes up for in energy, creativity and community.

"Every old workshop, boathouse or ope - as the back alleys are known here - seems to be home to a local craftsperson or entrepreneur up to something forward-looking and fascinating, whether it's a pottery studio, an art gallery, a yoga studio, or the Cornish Poetry Library.

"There is the potential for endless adventures in the surrounding waters and countryside, and all kinds of community groups are doing good works or organising sports and activities."

Other cherished plaes that made the cut in the South West include Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire; Hotwells and Cliftonwood in Bristol; Malmesbury in Wiltshire; along with Ashburton in Devon, and the Dorset pair, Sherborne and Southborne.

Helen Davies, the authority behind these listings as 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."

Diving deeper into what sets their guide apart, she explained: "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."

Previous winners of the Best Places to Live in Britain title are Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017), York (2018), Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019), Altrincham, Cheshire (2020) Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021), Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022) Wadhurst, East Sussex (2023), and North Berwick, East Lothian (2024).

Read the full Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide here.