'Magical playground' Dartmoor listed in top places to live in UK guide

Dartmoor is one of the best places to live in the UK, according to a top guide.

The beauty of the national park and its ‘pretty villages’ and ‘appealing towns’ has won it a top listing in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

Malmesbury in Wiltshire won top billing as the best place to live in the South West.

But seven other locations in the South West are also featured in the comprehensive guide. In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the best of Britain, with Norwich, Norfolk named the overall national winner. 

Dartmoor and Exmouth were listed from Devon.

The guide says of Dartmoor: “Dartmoor is the country’s most magical outdoor playground, a bewitching patchwork of craggy tors, steep valleys, pretty villages and ancient thatched cottages.

“It also has some of our most appealing towns. Among the best are Chagford, which is pretty, arty and community-minded. It has great pubs, allotments, a primary school, an idyllic open-air swimming pool and lots of good shops, and a house-price premium to match.

“Ashburton is younger, busier and better connected via the A38 to both Plymouth and Exeter, with an outstanding town centre where you can get everything from fresh fish, bread and local meat to vintage clothes, comics and musical instruments.”

And of Exmouth: “Exmouth is changing fast. Quick trains to Exeter are attracting a younger crowd who like to wake up with the sea on their doorsteps. 

“Small enough to feel like home, big enough to have everything you need, it’s an ideal spot to put down roots, with useful housing stock and an improving range of shops and restaurants”

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, says: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. 

“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community. 

“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live. 

“These judges have traveled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”   

Credit: The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026  https://www.thetimes.com/best-places-to-live