South Ribble: the best place to live in the UK – if you’re in your 20s
More proof- if it were needed of the impact of housing costs on people’s ability to live in rural places. This profile tells us South Ribble is good because:
Name: South Ribble.
Age: 43.
Population: 109,000.
Appearance: Non-metropolitan district in Lancashire.
Never been. What’s it like? It’s the best place to live in Britain.
Is it really? No, sorry – I meant, it’s the best place to live in Britain for people in their 20s.
Is it good for clubbing? It has an active Rotary Club branch, yes.
Are there lots of those coffee shops selling exotic lattes with no actual coffee in them? Not sure what you mean. But there’s a Starbucks in Walton-le-Dale.
Well, then, is it full of derelict buildings housing illegal pill factories? It doesn’t say anything about that on the council website. There are plans for an Ikea, though.
Why on earth would the young people of today be attracted to such a place? It’s cheap.
That’s it? That’s the main reason. The average house price in South Ribble is £157,000 – that’s £138K cheaper than the national average.
Are there any other reasons? According to Channel 4’s The UK’s Best Place to Live, South Ribble is bursting with employment and green spaces. And the area has a surprising number of residents in the 20-30 age bracket.
Lovely. Please tell me where came second. Warrington.
Are you being funny? Not at all. Eight of the top 20 places to live were in the north-west – it’s convenient for both Manchester and Liverpool, and it’s affordable.