Skipton has been crowned the most desirable area in the country by The Sunday Times’s 101 Best Places to Live in Britain.

The accolade comes in part one of The Sunday Times’s annual Best Places To Live supplement, which is published today.

The authors of the list selected Skipton for its ideal combination of low crime rates, “top class” schools, great transport links, a “buzzing” high street dominated by independent shops, pretty and reasonably priced property, and beautiful surrounding countryside.

Second in the list is Newnham, a district in the city of Cambridge, with Monmouth in Wales is ranked third.

The Sunday Times’s home editor Helen Davies said: “The four places we have selected demonstrate the range of fantastic places there are to live across Britain. Skipton is a worthy winner for this year but each place featured deserves its spot on the list.”

The guide combines data and statistics such as crime rates, house prices and school performance with the local knowledge and expertise of Sunday Times writers to compile the definitive top 101 best locations to make your home.

The places were selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people, and combining desirable features such as a positive community spirit, good local shops, services and attractive outdoor spaces.

Part two of the guide is published with The Sunday Times next Sunday, March 23, and will focus on an A-Z of Britain’s cities.