City suburbs make list of best places to live in UK
Bournville and Stirchley named in 2021 national countdown
TWO Birmingham suburbs have been named as among the best places to live in the UK. Bournville and Stirchley feature in the annual list for 2021 compiled by The Sunday Times.
The newspaper described Bournville as “leafy, tranquil and historic”, while Stirchley was “an exciting upand-coming area.”
Both made the best eight places to live in the Midlands in the guide.
Top spot in Britain was Stroud in Gloucestershire, while Stamford in Lincolnshire was named as the best place in the Midlands.
The panel of judges assesses a range of factors, from schools, air quality, transport and broadband speeds, to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.
Judges said during the pandemic, attractive, well-designed homes and locations “bursting with community spirit” were the most vital qualities of all.
They chose Bournville and Stirchley as their “favourite places in Brum” for a variety of reasons.
They said: “Our favourite places in Brum are two contrasting but neighbouring suburbs.
“Bournville is leafy, tranquil and historic, while Stirchley is an exciting up-and-coming area that has some of the city’s most exciting shops, bars and restaurants.”
In Bournville, the judges admired the elegant houses built at the turn of the 20th century for George Cadbury’s “factory in a garden”.
Also singled out for praise were the cakes from the Bournville Bread Basket and “the parks, tennis courts, welltended gardens and wide, tree-lined streets that give it the look of an aspirational American suburb”.
A surprise choice was Stirchley – with judges admitting it lacked “Bournville’s looks, cachet or house prices – but was a lot of fun”.
They said: “It’s a lot of fun, with community art projects, including the
Stirchley Tapestry, an artisan baker and exciting food and drink.”
Singled out for praise was the runny egg pizza at Alicia’s Micro Bakehouse, the coconut caramelised pork belly at Eat Vietnam, as well as the moviethemed cocktails at Couch.
The average price of a house in these areas was £209,950, while the average rental is £750 per month.
Another Midland town in the guide was Stratford-upon-Avon.
Judges said: “With the tourists absent and the theatres dark, Shakespeare’s birthplace has been showing its strengths as an ideal place to raise
a family.” Earning particular praise were the schools – including the boys’ selective grammar, King Edward VI School, which has previously been named The Sunday Times’ state secondary school of the decade and West Midlands school of the year.
The average cost of a house in Stratford-upon-Avon is £350,000, while rentals are £850 per month.
Just eight miles south of Stratford is another entry in the list – Ilmington.
Judges described it as “one of our favourite villages, close to the Cotswolds but away from the crowds.”
They said: “There is always something going on in the village hall (when restrictions allow and there are two good pubs, including the Howard Arms, deservedly named one of the country’s best.”
Average house prices in the village are £355,000.