Redbourn, a picturesque village in Hertfordshire located less than 30 miles from central London, has been named the best place to live in 2025 across England and Wales. The village topped a ranking of over 1,400 communities across England and Wales, compiled by Garrington Property Finders. Redbourn excelled in multiple categories, securing 11th place in natural beauty and performing well in heritage, schools, and jobs. Its attractive rural location, combined with a rich history dating back to Roman times and its status as the site of one of the first-ever cricket matches in 1666, contributed to its top ranking. The village commands an average family home price of £767,501, which, although above the national average, has seen an 8.2% dip over the past year. Read more: UK house prices stall in March ahead of stamp duty hike Epsom, a Surrey spa town known for its horse racing heritage, is in second place on the list. Its ranking is supported by highly rated schools and lucrative job opportunities in the area. A typical home in Epsom costs £790,983, a 2.5% decline in prices compared to the previous year. The seaside village of Whitburn comes in at number three. It scored high for natural beauty and well-being. Known for its sandy beaches, nature plays a role in the village's appeal, as its coastal park boasts rare birds, while seals and dolphins can be spotted frolicking out at sea. The price of a typical family home in Whitburn fell by 1.6% to £328,699 at the end of last year. By contrast, the average property price in North East England rose by 6.7% in 2024. Hot on the heels of third-placed is Marple in Greater Manchester. The town is within easy reach of the big city — it boasts two train stations and is just 10 miles from central Manchester — but offers a gentler pace of life with a rural location and canalside walks, along with a farmer’s market, theatre and independent cinema. A house here will set you back £496,289. Official data from the Land Registry shows property prices in England rose by 4.8% and in Wales by 6% in the 12 months to January 2025. However, regional variations are notable. While London saw a modest price increase of 2.3%, North East England experienced a surge of 9.1%, and the North West saw a 6.8% rise. Several locations bucked these trends and performed strongly in the value-for-money category. For instance, Alnwick in Northumberland, a cobbled market town with a castle that starred as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, ranked at number six, boasts a typical family home price of just £327,246. In contrast, Whitnash in Warwickshire, ranked 16th, offers homes for £536,692 — both lower than their regional averages.