Bath named one of the best places to live in 2022

After another exceptional year for the property market, activity remains brisk, with buyers searching for the perfect location that offers everything they are looking for in a new home.

Bath named one of the best places to live in 2022
Check out this brief report compiled by Garrington detailing the market trends and criteria for each location
More space, somewhere comfortable to work and a better standard of life continue to be cited as top requirements on many buyers’ wish lists.

Offices may be reopening but the home-working genie is out of the bottle.

With millions of people keen to continue working remotely at least some of the time, many are reassessing what they want from their home – and this shift is transforming Britain’s property market for good.

selling and buying a house at the same time

In a year in which the COVID-19 pandemic was a trigger for around 630,000 home moves, the race for space, reassessment of ‘home’ and rising recognition of ‘green’ credentials among home movers has led to a significant shift in our top 20 Places to Live Index.

Just seven of our top 20 locations of 2021 remain there this year.

2022 has seen the Garrington Index update with additional criteria added to our quality-of-life category, and, reflecting the changing demands of buyers, sustainability criteria have been included.


Top 10 locations ranked Best Places to Live in 2022


Half of our top 10 locations rank in the top 5% of all locations for ‘Going Green’. With a move to hybrid working the new reality for many, access to fast broadband remains a prerequisite for inclusion.

Retaining its number 1 position in 2022, is Bath. Considered our top ‘next generation’ location of 2021, interest in the city has certainly not waned.

BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN 2022

Bath was named in TIME magazine as one of the world’s top 100 greatest places to visit, one of only two locations in the UK to feature; and is ranked in the Top 10 UK cities by Conde Nest Traveller to visit.
best places to live in 2022 league table
As the only UNESCO World Heritage City in the UK, and in 2021 joining a prestigious grouping of 11 towns across Europe to be awarded a Great Spa Towns of Europe categorisation by UNESCO, it is perhaps no surprise it has retained its top spot for architectural heritage.

Half of our top 10 destinations for 2022 are located in the South West.

Over the course of 2021 the region has seen a huge surge in buyer demand, an acute shortage of stock meaning property is flying off the shelves.

Top 10 locations ranked Best Places to Live in 2022§

The average time taken to sell here is the quickest of any region, with the exception of Scotland. 


Best places to live in 2022 by price bracket


As in 2021, using average prices per square foot achieved for property sales in each area over the past year, we have calculated the average price of a family home of around 1,500 sqft.

Then, segmenting the market to prime (£650,000+), mid £350,000-£650,000 and those hidden gems in areas where an average family home costs less than £350,000 provides a useful ranking for buyers looking at different budget levels.


The best places to live for prime buyers


For prime purchases, the stunning coastal resort of Fowey, Cornwall, is in second spot, the South West and South East making a clean sweep of the Prime hotspots of 2022.

Lewes retains third position in this category, with Winchester, Henley-on-Thames and Sevenoaks also retaining top 10 positions.
The market towns of Arundel, Farnham and West Malling, along with the famous pebble beaches of the culturally vibrant Brighton and Hove, make up the top 10. 

The best places to live for prime buyers


Best places to live £350,000 to £650,000


All top 10 locations for those looking for the best place to live within a budget between £350,000 and £650,000 are ranked within the top 1.2% of all locations.

In a similar vein to last year, small market towns dominate the listings.

best places to live in 2022 salisbury

Just three locations are home to more than 20,000 households.

Only Lyme Regis and Wilton featured in the 2020 top 10, Salisbury and Hadleigh in no small part making the top ten in 2021 due to their green credentials.


Best places to live in England, Wales and Scotland


For the first time in 2022 we have devised a Garrington Index ranking the best places to live in Scotland, to run alongside our Index for England and Wales.

Scotland has proved a sought-after destination for 2021, properties here selling quicker than any region of the UK.

The table below shows the top three locations for each of the three nations, along with the category criteria on which each location ranked highest.
best places to live by country
What is clear from our Index is that changing buyer demands, lifestyle choices and societal shifts all have a role in determining what locations top the buyer wish lists.

With 2022 hoping to bring a more settled return to normal life, will the current top spots head the rankings a year from now?

Looking to buy in the Bath and surrounding areas? Then register your details HERE and get to see the properties we are marketing BEFORE they go to the open market with our HEADS UP property alerts

Let us know your thoughts by emailing in to james@allen-residential.co.uk



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Meet Our Founding Director James

Meet Our Founding Director James

James Allen is the founding director and owner of Allen Residential. James started in estate agency back in 1997 and after working for a couple of strong independent estate agencies he established Allen Residential in 2005 Keen to invest back into his team, James is dedicated to ensuring that each team member at Allen Residential is a key part of the business, emphasizing the importance of their contributions. His leadership style highlights the significance of a cohesive and dedicated team, fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment. The business has flourished in recent years, thanks to the staff's commitment to excellence and the implementation of effective systems. James' appreciation for his team’s hard work and dedication is evident, making Allen Residential a thriving and dynamic company.

Why choose Allen Residential?

Why choose Allen Residential?

With an owner who has 35 number of years experience in the industry and 20 years of company history, we bring knowledge, reliability, and expertise to every property transaction.

Our approach is casual and professional, aiming to form personal connections with the people we work with instead of treating them as a number.

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