Ten stunning Welsh towns and villages have been named amongst some of the best places to live in the UK in 2019.
The locations that have been selected have been chosen based on a number of different factors which include; culture, internet speed, community spirit, employment, shopping and schools.
The Powys town of Crickhowell has topped the Welsh regional list this year, with Aberdyfi and Abersoch hot on its heels.
The Top Ten:
Crickhowell
A small community located in south-eastern Powys; Crickhowell has rocketed in popularity with tourists in recent years. The annual Green Man music festival takes place nearby and it attracts thousands of visitors to the area every single year.
Aberdyfi
A shore bet! The beautiful village of Aberdyfi was founded based on its spectacular harbour and the local shipbuilding industry. Today, it is a thriving seaside resort with self-catering accommodation like Aberdovey Hillside Village, giving stunning views over the estuary. There are also four miles of breathtaking sandy beaches on offer for visitors.
Aberdyfi
Abersoch
Originally a fishing port, it is now a surfing or water sports tourist hotspot in Gwynedd. Abersoch is jam-packed with tourists throughout the summer season. With a variety of local shops, bars and restaurants, and the close proximity to Snowdonia National Park it’s definitely earned its spot on the list.
Cardigan
The second largest town in Ceredigion, Cardigan was developed around a Norman castle that was built there in the late 11th and 12th century. The revamp of the 900-year-old castle has put this tidal town on an upward path. With an arts centre, library and a bustling high street. A lively and culturally aware community has driven this town from miserly to action-packed.
Carmarthen
Shopping isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the £74m St Catherine’s Walk centre has effectively saved this town from being ruined by big supermarket chains uprooting the local shops and businesses. The new lease of life provided by the centre can only do more great things for the town in the future.
Chepstow
Located near to the newly toll-free Severn crossings, this no-frills town has become a firm favourite with families. New buyers are being tempted by the pretty little streets beneath the magnificent 11th-century castle. The whitewashed buildings, colourful cottages and Georgian townhouses – there’s something to tempt everyone.
Montgomery
This affluent little piece of Wales isn’t just a museum relic. It might have a somewhat sleepy little village reputation, but it’s literally a living architectural masterpiece. With 141 listed buildings, majestic Georgian townhouses and the vibrant red brick town hall.
Penarth Pier Pavillion
Penarth
This town earned its upper-crust reputation back in the Victorian times when the local ship owners built their grand and imposing mansions to have the best view of their vessels entering and leaving the docks. The shipping millionaires have since moved on, but have been replaced with a generation of professionals who are doing very well. Penarth has a little something for the hip, and health-conscious high-flyer and the young millennials.
St David’s
With a friendly vibe and a welcome social conscience, this little hotspot is the perfect base for enjoying the offers of Wales’s Wild West. St David’s is the smallest city in the UK, and it has mercifully been unscarred by seaside garishness. The stunning setting in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is an undeniable draw – the excellent beaches for surfing and swimming, kayaking and bird-watching.
Mumbles
In last year’s Best Places to Live in the UK report, The Sunday Times listed Mumbles as the very best in Wales. It’s still just as swoony a year later – with gentrification in full swing, but we hope that Mumbles doesn’t lose its local edge as that’s part of the huge charm it holds.
