Revealed: Britain's top 10 rural areas with 'best quality of life' 2014

Uttlesford in Essex has been named as Britain’s most desirable rural area to live in.

16:43 24 March 2014

Uttlesford, the home of market town Saffron Walden, which has been hailed as one of the finest preserved examples of a medieval market, has been named as Britain’s most desirable rural area to live in according to a study conducted by Halifax.

The rural area, which is popular to both tourists and locals, was chosen after it ranked well on factors including health, personal wellbeing and life expectancy of residents and well as the area’s weather, crime rates, school results, employment, and broadband access.

Uttlesford came second on the same survey last year.

In Uttlesford, residents’ average weekly earnings are £819, which is well above the national average of £608. Its employment rate is at 84per cent while national average is only 74per cent.

Craig McKinlay, Halifax mortgage director, said: "Uttlesford has consistently reported positive scores across a wide range of indicators for a number of years. And taking a wide range of economic and social factors into account residents here can now lay claim to having the highest standard of living in rural Britain.

"In terms of personal well being and general good health, Uttlesford residents score among the highest in Great Britain."

The top 10 rural areas with the best quality of life in Britain in 2014 according to Halifax are as follows:

1. Uttlesford, East of England
2. South Northamptonshire, East Midlands
3. Waverley, South East
4. East Hertfordshire, East of England
5. Rushcliffe, East Midlands
6. South Cambridgeshire, East of England
7. Vale of White Horse, South East
8. Chiltern, South East
9. Mid Sussex, South East
10. South Kesteven, East Midlands