A "picturesque" market town nestled in the Sussex countryside has been named one of the best places to live in the country.
Garrington Property Finders has revealed its guide to the best places to live in England and Wales for 2026.
The results come after following an analysis of almost 1,450 cities, towns, and villages across England and Wales.
Towns and cities on the list all scored highly in at least one of the following categories: natural environment, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, plus value for money.
Steyning in Sussex named among England's best places to live
The highest place in Sussex on the list from Garrington Property Finders was Steyning.
Steyning is in the Horsham district of West Sussex, at the north end of the River Adur gap in the South Downs.
It ranked 106th on the list out of 1,447 places across England and Wales, making it the highest place in Sussex on the list, with it ranking particularly highly on wellbeing.
Steyning's rankings across the criteria were:
- Natural Environment: 187
- Wellbeing: 47
- Heritage/Culture: 623
- Schools, Employment & Connectivity: 802
- House Price Quality & Value: 691
The lowest-ranked Sussex spot on the list was Peacehaven.
What are England and Wales' best places to live?
The top 10 best places to live in England and Wales are:
- Marple, Greater Manchester
- Rawdon, West Yorkshire
- St Albans, Hertfordshire
- Bramhall, Greater Manchester
- Long Ashton, Somerset
- Bowdon, Greater Manchester
- Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire
- Whitnash, Warwickshire
- Merley, Dorset
- Poynton, Cheshire
Garrington described top-placed Marple as a "perennial high-achiever" in its annual league table, adding that it has "understated charm and calm".
The website adds: "With a strong community spirit and two brass bands, a neighbourhood cinema and lots of independent shops, Marple sits at the foot of the Peak District and has miles of canal towpaths and wooded valleys that lifted it to 18th place in the natural beauty category of our ranking."
What makes Steyning a great place to live?
The Visit South East England website says Steyning can be found "nestling against the inspiring landscape of the South Downs," and is "well known as one of the most picturesque towns in Sussex".
It adds: "Steyning offers the visitor a fantastic selection of interesting shops (including the award-winning Cobblestone walk), a monthly farmers market and ample free parking.
"There are also restaurants, pubs and tea rooms offering delicious food and drink, plus a wide selection of great accommodation for the weary traveller."
Meanwhile, Visit Steyning highlights its "happy, market town atmosphere".
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It adds: "[There are] so many open spaces, shops, churches, historic buildings and even access to the South Downs National Park."
For visitors, it recommends a wander through the "picturesque historic high streets" to explore Steyning's array of independent shops, with the town having great places to have a drink or bite to eat.
If you are coming to visit the South Downs, Steyning's accommodation includes hotels, boutique bed and breakfasts, self-catering cottages and apartments.
Have you visited Steyning before? Let us know in the comments.
