Do you live in one of the best places in the UK? This pretty area with Cathedral city wins top slot

A reasonably a part of Hampshire that's stepped in historical past - and pubs - has been named as having the highest quality of life within the UK.

The district of Winchester - which incorporates the Cathedral metropolis of the identical title - obtained the accolade after scoring extremely on a variety of points, together with well being and life expectancy, private wellbeing, crime charges and climate. It additionally has good entry to leisure services for socialising and downtime.

The South East dominated the annual listing produced by Halifax, though the north of the nation was additionally properly represented, notably within the high 10 locations.

This graphic reveals the highest 10 locations to dwell in Britain, in accordance with the newest analysis carried out by Halifax

High spot: The district of Winchester in Hampshire has been topped as having the highest quality of life within the UK

The Orkney Islands in north Scotland take second place and have the lowers housebreaking charge within the UK

Wychavon within the West Midlands takes the third slot in theannual listing produced by Halifax

The Orkney Islands take second place, adopted by Wychavon in Worcestershire, Derbyshire Dales, and Hambleton in North Yorkshire - with all three places having risen sharply in comparison with final 12 months.

The analysis contains two new classes this 12 months - the variety of pubs and the provision of well being golf equipment and leisure centres - to assist in giving the survey a broader scope.

It has contributed to the previous winner of the previous 5 years - Hart in Hampshire - dropping to place 26, whereas Orkney has jumped up the rankings from place 83.

The Orkneys in northern Scotland carried out properly on employment and well being. It additionally has the bottom housebreaking charge within the UK and a comparatively massive variety of pubs to select from - 20 per 10,000 adults.

Folks dwelling within the unique London borough of Kensington and Chelsea earn the best common wage at £1,273 per week, adopted by the Metropolis of London at £1,106 per week and St Albans at £1,zero18 per week. 

It compares to a mean for the nation as an entire of £646 every week.

CATHEDRAL CITY THAT'S BRITAIN'S BEST PLACE TO LIVE 

Historic: Winchester's magnificent Gothic cathedral

Its residents are wealthier, more healthy and happier than most of the remainder of us.

And that has helped Winchester to be chosen because the UK's finest place to dwell in 2016 by a high quality of life examine.

The Orkney Islands took second place, adopted by the district of Wychavon in Worcestershire, which incorporates the cities of Pershore and Evesham.

The examine, by the Halifax financial institution, checked out a variety of things to find out the locations with the highest quality of life, together with life expectancy, well being, crime, training, broadband entry, inhabitants densities and the climate.

Halifax stated that among the many explanation why Winchester – famed for its magnificent Gothic cathedral – got here out high was that gross weekly earnings of £824 had been 27 per cent greater than the UK common of £646.

A excessive proportion (96.6 per cent) of residents of the Hampshire metropolis reported being in good or pretty good well being in contrast with a nationwide common of 94.6 per cent.

Life expectancy was additionally greater than the nationwide common. Males may anticipate to dwell to round 82, and ladies to 85.

Crime charges in Winchester had been among the many lowest within the nation, whereas Workplace for Nationwide Statistics figures indicated the grownup inhabitants was among the many happiest, most happy, most content material and least anxious within the UK.

The Orkney Islands took second place due to components together with low crime charges, low quantities of site visitors and low inhabitants densities.

The agricultural district of Hart in Hampshire – centred in town of Fleet – had topped the standard of life examine for the previous 5 years, however it fell to quantity 26 on this 12 months's survey.

Halifax stated one motive was the inclusion of two new classes in its analysis – the variety of pubs and the provision of leisure centres.

Thirty-two of the highest 50 finest locations to dwell are in southern England, the examine discovered. Locations outdoors southern England within the listing embrace Monmouthshire in South Wales, Harrogate in North Yorkshire and Rugby in Warwickshire.

Place 4 goes to Derbyshire Dales within the East Midlands, which has a excessive employment charge

A top quality of life is loved by residents dwelling in Hambleton in Yorkshire and The Humber, which is ranked in fifth place 

In sixth place is the district of South Cambridgeshire within the East of England

The South of England dominates the listing of finest locations to dwell within the UK and contains Purpeck in seventh place

St Albans within the East of England is ranked in place eight of the most effective locations to dwell within the UK

Residents in Winchester additionally earn properly above the common wage with a gross weekly wage of £824 and it has a excessive employment charge of 83.1 per cent.

The district, which is centred on the town of Winchester, is steeped in historical past, with its medieval Cathedral and an 18th century corn mill. The Nice Corridor of Winchester Citadel homes the medieval spherical desk linked to King Arthur.

Winchester is on the sting of the South Downs Nationwide Park, offering quick access to a big open area.

The district additionally has an above common variety of pubs at 12 per 10,000 adults, together with the cosy Wykeham Arms within the metropolis's Kingsgate Avenue, set in a 1755 teaching inn.

Different in style pubs embrace the Inexperienced Man, the Nook Home and the Mucky Duck, all a part of chain distinctive to Winchester.

It compares to a mean variety of pubs for the nation of 10.1 per 10,000 adults.

Eden in Cumbria has the best variety of pubs per 10,000 adults at 28.1, adopted by the Derbyshire Dales at 26.7.

For the energetic, Islington is the place to move to for well being and health golf equipment as there are 6.three golf equipment per 10,000 folks, which the nationwide common being only one.four golf equipment.

Wokingham within the south east climbs to ninth place, having been in 11th place a 12 months in the past

Chiltern within the South East is ranked in tenth place, dropping from third place a 12 months in the past

The listing revealed the highest 50 locations to dwell in Britain, with cities and villages inserting 11 to 20 proven above. Pictured: 11. West  Oxfordshire, 12. South Hams, 13. South Oxfordshire, 14. Tonbridge and Malling, 15 West Dorset, 16. South Northamptonshire , 17 Waverley, 18, Shetland Islands, 19, Horsham, 20. Metropolis of London

Winchester's residents are among the many healthiest within the nation, with greater than 96.6 per cent saying they're in good well being.

Ladies have a excessive common life expectancy of 85.three years, whereas for males it's 83.2 years - each among the many longest.

They're additionally among the many happiest, most happy and the least anxious within the nation.

The listing revealed the highest 50 locations to dwell in Britain, with cities and villages inserting 21 to 30 proven above. Pictured: 21. Stratford-on-Avon, 22. Eden, 23. Windsor and Maidenhead, 24. Malvern Hills, 25. Mole Valley, 26. Hart, 27. Mid Devon, 28. Rutland, 29. Ryedale, 30. Lichfield

The listing revealed the highest 50 locations to dwell in Britain, with cities and villages inserting 31 to 40 proven above. Pictured: 31. Richmond Upon Thames, 32. Rugby, 33. Yorkshire and the Humber, 34. Guildford, 35. Uttlesford, 36. Maldon, 37. Monmouthshire, 38. Babergh, 39. Vale of White Horse, 40. Rushcliffe.

Different components the place the district scores properly embrace crime, with 11.5 burglaries per 10,000 folks in comparison with a mean of 28.7 for the remainder of the nation. 

Martin Ellis, economist at Halifax, stated: 'Wanting throughout a variety of indicators thought of by our analysis, residents of Winchester in Hampshire take pleasure in the highest quality of life within the UK, benefiting from a mixture of above common weekly earnings, low crime charge and good well being. Then again, there's a price related to a top quality of life with home costs in Winchester 9.7 occasions the common annual native revenue - considerably greater than the UK common of seven.2.

'With an increasing number of emphasis being positioned on reaching an excellent work-life stability, the 2016 Halifax High quality of Life Survey features a leisure class for the primary time. This has had an impression on the rankings, particularly on the high.'

The listing revealed the highest 50 locations to dwell in Britain, with cities and villages inserting 41 to 50 proven above. Pictured: 41. Harrogate, 42. Mid Sussex, 43. Reigate and Banstead, 44. Westminister, 45. Wiltshire, 46. Harborough, 47. East Hertfordshire, 48. West Berkshire, 49. Wycombe, 50. Aylesbury Vale

Philip Blanchard, director on the Winchester department of the property brokers Jackson-Stops & Workers, stated: 'Winchester has all the attributes and facilities you'd anticipate of a metropolis, however it really has the accessibility and ambiance of a giant city, which is the core to Winchester's recognition.

'Winchester isn't an city sprawl and as such there are a extra restricted variety of properties positioned within the centre in comparison with different UK cities. Given the realm's enchantment properties come to market solely sometimes however, after they do, they're in a short time purchased by consumers who've been fastidiously watching the market and coveting specific enclaves.'

He recognized St Cross as a extremely sought-after space that's regarded domestically as a 'mini Fulham', which is notably in style with commuters to London as a result of it's inside strolling distance of the station. 

And he described Hyde as 'Nappy Valley', with London households relocating for the proximity of the Excessive Avenue, railway station, major college and open countryside at River Park leisure centre and Winnal Moors Nature Reserve.

He added: 'Broadly talking we're seeing three varieties of consumers drawn to Winchester. The primary is households presently based mostly in certainly one of Winchester's satellite tv for pc villages who want to transfer into the centre, so their kids can take pleasure in quick access to facilities and the town's wonderful state and personal faculties. The jewel within the crown is Peter Symonds School which sends important numbers of its pupils to Oxbridge, 43 obtained gives earlier this 12 months. Households shifting out from London additionally goal the realm as a result of mixture of metropolis facilities, quick access to the capital and to the coast and countryside. On the opposite finish of the spectrum we're additionally seeing numerous downsizers within the space, who wish to attempt metropolis dwelling however in an space that is not too frenetic.

'I'm not shocked to be taught that well-being is excessive amongst Wintonians. Winchester is a peaceable metropolis with some splendidly fairly historic areas. It isn't bisected by a significant street, so is much less busy than different UK cities, however equally there is superb entry to move routes together with the M3, A3, M25, main airports and trains to London. 

'Winchester has all the things you'd anticipate from a metropolis when it comes to retailers, eating places and facilities, in addition to the gorgeous Hampshire countryside, which is correct on the town's doorstep, with Winchester sandwiched between The New Forest, South Downs Nationwide Park and The Solent. It truly is the most effective of each worlds.'

HALIFAX QUALITY OF LIFE 2015 RANKINGS - THE TOP 50 LOCAL DISTRICTS

Native Authority	Area	Rank
Winchester	South East	1
Orkney Islands	Scotland	2
Wychavon	West Midlands	three
Derbyshire Dales	East Midlands	four
Hambleton	Yorkshire and The Humber	5
South Cambridgeshire	East of England	7
Purbeck	South West	6
St Albans	East of England	eight
Wokingham	South East	9
Chiltern	South East	10
West Oxfordshire	South East	11
South Hams	South West	12
South Oxfordshire	South East	13
Tonbridge and Malling	South East	14
West Dorset	South West	15
South Northamptonshire	East Midlands	16
Waverley	South East	17
Shetland Islands	Scotland	18
Horsham	South East	19
Metropolis of London	London	20
Stratford-on-Avon	West Midlands	21
Eden	North West	22
Windsor and Maidenhead	South East	23
Malvern Hills	West Midlands	24
Mole Valley	South East	25
Hart	South East	26
Mid Devon	South West	27
Rutland	East Midlands	28
Ryedale	Yorkshire and The Humber	29
Lichfield	West Midlands	30
Richmond upon Thames	London	31
Rugby	West Midlands	32
Richmondshire	Yorkshire and The Humber	33
Guildford	South East	34
Uttlesford	East of England	35
Maldon	East of England	36
Monmouthshire	Wales	37
Babergh	East of England	38
Vale of White Horse	South East	39
Rushcliffe	East Midlands	40
Harrogate	Yorkshire and The Humber	41
Mid Sussex	South East	42
Reigate and Banstead	South East	43
Westminster	London	44
Wiltshire	South West	45
Harborough	East Midlands	46
East Hertfordshire	East of England	47
West Berkshire	South East	48
Wycombe	South East	49
Aylesbury Vale	South East	50
Supply: Winchester

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