Two towns in Sussex have been named among the best places to live in the country.

Wadhurst and Hove are mentioned by the Sunday Times in its annual Best Places To Live Guide.

Wadhurst, east of Crowborough, won the overall title of best place to live in the UK last year.

This year,  the two Sussex towns are among the ten places in the South East to get a mention.

The Sunday Times’s judges visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street. 

They praised Hove for its tree-lined Regency avenues and cosy cafes.

The Argus: Hove seafrontHove seafront (Image: The Argus)

They said: “Hove has all the advantages of being by the sea and close - but not too close - to Brighton. The beach is dotted with hardy swimmers and ball-chasing cavapoos instead of boozy daytrippers.

“Inland Hove is home to tree-lined Regency avenues, cosy cafés, floating spas and yoga studios.

“As well as a gentler pace of life, Hove also has a better choice of homes than Brighton, from mid-century blocks to neat terraces and grand Victorian houses converted into flats.”

Last year, market town Wadhurst was praised for its “good schools, convenient transport connections, an amazingly well-stocked high street and stunning scenery”. 

The Argus: Wadhurst Castle in Wadhurst, which has been named one of the best places to live in the UKWadhurst Castle in Wadhurst, which has been named one of the best places to live in the UK (Image: PA)

“There’s definitely an extra buzz about Wadhurst’s tidy streets since the village was named the best place to live in the UK in last year’s guide,” judges said.

“Beauty is more than skin deep here. There are timber-framed and tile-hung cottages, all set against the stirring backdrop of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“It’s also a hive of activity with a proud, caring community.”

Helen Davies, editor of Best Places to Live 2024, said: “This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2024, from Dunkeld to Knutsford, Falmouth to Leeds. Wherever you are on the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.  

“These are all places where you can feel grounded as well as upwardly mobile: they have a mature sense of community, lively, supportive high streets and an eye to the future, whether that is eco-friendly measures, transport and regeneration, or imaginative inclusion of new housing.”

“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 might be fast commutes and high-achieving schools but also clean water to swim in, lively town centres with useful shops, the possibility of earning a living and being part of a friendly community. “

The full list of best places to live in the South East is:

  • Winner: Folkestone, Kent 
  • Wadhurst, East Sussex 
  • Hove, East Sussex
  • Chorleywood, Hertfordshire 
  • Farnham, Surrey 
  • Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 
  • St Albans, Hertfordshire 
  • Sevenoaks, Kent 
  • Stockbridge, Hampshire 
  • Winchester, Hampshire