Every year, the Sunday Times newspaper releases its list of the ‘Best Places to Live’ across the UK, and there has been great news for the East of England in 2025 with two Essex locations taking the top spots. The market town of Saffron Walden was awarded first place, followed by Essex’s third largest city, Chelmsford.

We introduce you to the locations named as the best places to live in the UK for 2025, and the developments of new-build homes in Essex’s most coveted postcodes that you won’t want to miss out on.

Where are the UK’s best places to live?

Taking the top spot in the Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Live’ list in 2025 is Saffron Walden, a medieval town in north-west Essex that is as charmingly pretty as it is historic, yet with a thriving independent scene that makes it feel fresh and contemporary. The town is about 15 miles from Cambridge, and around 45 miles from London, which makes it popular with commuters, but with open countryside nearby it offers welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Just under 30 miles to the south of Saffron Walden is Chelmsford, the smallest of Essex’s three cities yet one that is vibrant and rapidly growing, which secured its place as a runner-up in the Sunday Times list. London is approximately 40 miles away from Chelmsford, or around half an hour on the direct train, while Essex’s county town of Southend-on-Sea is roughly a 40-minute drive away for that much-needed sea air.

How are the UK’s best places to live chosen?

The UK locations that make the Sunday Times’ list are chosen based on many factors that indicate the quality of life they offer – from practical considerations such as schools, local transport links, mobile signal and broadband connection, to the health of the high street, the availability of public green spaces, and cultural offerings such as art classes or even skateboarding facilities.

Judges visited each town, city and village that made the ‘Best Places to Live’ list and spoke directly to local residents to find out what they loved about living there, helping to build an authentic and diverse picture of each location. The focus for 2025 was on improving locations that have a strong sense of community, rather than ever-popular places like York that have topped the list in previous years.

Why Saffron Walden is the UK’s ‘best place to live’

Formerly a more traditional market town, Saffron Walden is undergoing a cultural transformation and the Sunday Times judges recognised the “fresh ideas, cool independent shops and tasty places to eat” that are now becoming its hallmarks. Locals have an incredible sense of pride to live there, with one likening Saffron Walden to the south of France during the summer months, and another claiming that the town is superior to their former home of Perth, Australia.

Holding on to its heritage, Saffron Walden’s market dates back to 1141, and still takes place every Tuesday and Saturday in the medieval Market Square. Celebrity chef and nearby resident Jamie Oliver is said to be a regular visitor to many of its stalls; in fact, Jamie has described Saffron Walden as being a “small town with beautiful small businesses”, and having a restaurant scene that is “on fire” thanks to the new generation of business owners setting up innovative and exciting eateries; he named Chater’s, a bakery, seasonal restaurant and café that also houses a distillery, among his favourite places to dine.

Among Saffron Walden’s other unique attractions – other than its iconic ice cream-coloured timber-framed houses – is a community cinema, Saffron Screen, which is not-for-profit and based at the local high school, as is Saffron Hall, a 740-seat concert venue that hosts all types of performers from the London Philharmonic Orchestra to the children of the surrounding primary schools.

As you might expect, families are well catered-for in Saffron Walden with a number of highly-regarded schools up to secondary age, and public amenities in the town range from swimming pools and a skatepark, to beautifully restored Victorian gardens and a maze. Transport links are great too, with the M11 nearby for Cambridge and central London, and Audley End train station offering direct services to London in under an hour.

With its name now firmly in the spotlight, homes in Saffron Walden are going to be in high demand. Bellway has two developments of new-build homes in Saffron Walden: Poppy View, a collection of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes within walking distance of the town centre, and Radwinter Gardens, a selection of 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom homes that offer great access to all of the town’s amenities.

Why Chelmsford is among the best places to live in Essex

The Essex city of Chelmsford took second place in the Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Live’ list and was described as ‘fast growing’ and ‘a commuter hub fit for the 21^st century’. This is in recognition of the excellent amenities that Chelmsford offers to its residents travelling to London, with great transport connections already in place and another train station currently under construction as part of the brand-new Beaulieu district, hailed as the ‘Great Neighbourhood’ of 2024 by the Academy of Urbanism.

Beaulieu presents thousands of brand-new homes in Chelmsford, and incorporates Bellway’s exciting Beaulieu Grange development, which has 3 and 4-bedroom homes still available to reserve. Situated to the north east of central Chelmsford, Beaulieu presents a vibrant new community with the Essex countryside on its doorstep, and all of the city’s attractions just over 10 minutes away by car.

While it might be Essex’s third-largest city, Chelmsford packs in a bustling high street plus two shopping centres, and a thriving and diverse independent scene that extends to dining, drinking, and nightlife too. Southend-on-Sea is around 30 minutes’ drive from Chelmsford, offering seven miles of magnificent coastline and a delightful contrast to the bustling city. With its proximity to both London and the seaside, and so much to enjoy close to home, it’s little wonder that Chelmsford has won recognition as one of the UK’s most coveted places to live.

Find your dream new-build home in Essex with Bellway

More than just a 5 star housebuilder, Bellway proudly builds communities in many of the UK’s most sought-after locations, with several developments of new-build homes in Essex to explore. From elegant apartments that offer you a slice of city life, to semi-rural family homes with space and flexibility to grow, Bellway’s energy-efficient new homes are always thoughtfully situated to offer excellent amenities in places you’ll love to live in.

Visit the Bellway website now and find your nearest development of new homes in Essex to begin your dream home journey today, and take a look at our ultimate house viewing checklist to help you find your perfect property.