Usk picked best place to live in Wales
The Sunday Times judges say they picked Usk because of its 'attractive setting, convenient location and, above all, an impressive sense of community'
The Sunday Times judges say they picked Usk because of its attractive setting, convenient location and, above all, an impressive sense of community.
The report detailed how volunteers are involved in everything in the “Town of Flowers” from planting the 2,500 plants to secure its latest Britain in Bloom gold award to running the annual Usk Show.
"It’s a place where nesting boxes are provided for swifts, where wild swimmers campaigned for a £10 million wastewater upgrade to combat river pollution and where more than 60 community groups - covering subjects such as astronomy and philosophy - keep the calendar full to bursting".
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the best of Britain, with Norwich, Norfolk named the overall national winner.
Six other locations in Wales are included in the comprehensive guide.
The full list of locations in Wales is:
- Usk, Monmouthshire
- Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
- Anglesey
- Cardiff: Pontcanna
- Cowbridge, Glamorgan
- Crickhowell, Powys
- Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, says:
“This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
"Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live.
"These judges have traveled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
There are more new entries than ever before in this year’s guide. And, we're told, the judges looked for thriving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.