The town was chosen by the Sunday Times for being a “thriving location with a strong sense of community”.
A surprising town with a famous neighbour is one of the top places to live in the UK. The Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide chose it as one of the top spots, beating more predictable choices.
The guide described the town of Penryn near Cornwall as being a “little rougher round the edges than neighbouring Falmouth”, but the judges were looking for “thriving locations with a strong sense of community” rather than well-known areas with steep property prices.
Penryn’s “energy, creativity and community” were highlighted as key factors for its inclusion. The Sunday Times also says it’s a hub for “endless adventures”, boasting “all kinds of community groups”, reports Cornwall Live.
In their description of Penryn, The Sunday Times judges noted: “Penryn is a little rougher round the edges than neighbouring Falmouth, but what it lacks in arty-crafty knick-knack stores and beachside saunas, it more than makes up for in energy, creativity and community.”
They continued: “Every old workshop, boathouse or ope – as the back alleys are known here – seems to be home to a local craftsperson or entrepreneur up to something forward-looking and fascinating, whether it’s a pottery studio, an art gallery, a yoga studio, or the Cornish Poetry Library.
“There is the potential for endless adventures in the surrounding waters and countryside, and all kinds of community groups are doing good works or organising sports and activities.”
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Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, remarked: “It is easy to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in the world, but there really is so much to celebrate as we look closer to home. From small gestures that lift the everyday – like verges blooming with daffodils and volunteer-run dementia cafés, to larger initiatives from repair cafés to new railway stations.
“What makes our guide unique is that we actually visit all the places we choose and talk to locals to find out what life is really like there. That means we can see what people really love about the places they live. That could be anything from exceptional schools and fast trains to beautiful houses and countryside.
“The health of the high street is important, but more than anything else, what we are looking for are towns, villages and cities with strong communities who work hard to make the best of where they live, and play hard too.
“We also consider affordability. High house prices are no barrier to inclusion – as long as they provide value for money. Different people will be looking for different qualities when they are choosing a place to live. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
Past recipients of the Best Places to Live in Britain accolade include North Berwick, East Lothian (2024), Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017), York (2018), Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019), Altrincham, Cheshire (2020) Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021), Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022) Wadhurst, and East Sussex (2023)

