Chichester named 'best place to live’
Chichester has been named as the ‘Best Place to Live in the South East of England’ in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The Sunday Times judges praised Chichester for its mix of history and modern culture, its excellent schools, convenient transport connections, proximity to the South DownsNational Park and shopping that meets most budgets. “Chichester has both class and a heart.
"The beautiful historic town has welcomed the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per head in the country. It has good schools and transport links but it’s the easy access to both the South Downs and Chichester Harbour plus a healthy dose of culture from the Festival Theatre and Pallant Gallery that elevate it far above the south coast sprawl.” the list said.
Helen Davies, the editor of Best Places to Live 2023, said: “When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever. Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.
“This guide is a celebration of towns, cities and villages that are each a fantastic place to live in 2023 from Orkney to Felixstowe, the Chew Valley to Manchester city centre.
"Whether you’re downsizing, trading up or getting onto the property ladder, there will be somewhere to suit you.” The Bishop of Chichester, the Right Rev Dr Martin Warner said: “Few cities in England have so much sense of history, an atmosphere created by Roman walls still largely intact and walkable; the remains of a motte and bailey fortification within the walls; a 13th century cathedral and bishop’s house still in use; a collection of fine Georgian townhouses built on the medieval pattern of streets, like parts of the City of London. A long-standing partnership between Church and the arts (going back at least to the work of the artist Lambert Barnard in the early 16th century) is now evident in the work of Pallant House, one of the best art galleries outside London, and alongside that we have the Chichester Festival Theatre and its reputation for innovative productions that regularly transfer to the London stage."