The UK's best places to live

Do you live along the coast in southern England, or near a north-western city? If so, you should stay put - you're unlikely to find anywhere better.

A new study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) for the Royal Mail has revealed the UK's most desirable places to live, and featuring heavily in the list are the northern suburbs.

The study rated neighbourhoods on the basis of schools, access to green spaces, good employment prospects, working hours, affordable housing and average commuting times.

And topping the chart in England is Bebington, Wirral. Located close to the River Mersey, Bebington's residents live close to work and have good schools as well as high employment rates.

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Unfortunately for people hoping to move there, though, the Wirral has seen prices rise by a whopping 16.6% over the last year.

In second place is Norwich, thanks to good local schools and falling unemployment, with Broadstone, near Bournemouth, third.

In Scotland, three-quarters of the most desirable places to live and work are around Glasgow, where residents have short working hours and short commute times, as well as access to good local services and schools. Meanwhile, crime rates here are low.

In Wales, more than half the most desirable places to live and work are near Cardiff, while in Northern Ireland, Belfast and Craigavon have easy access to local services, high employment rates and a strong education system.

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Top ten most desirable places to live in England
1. CH63 – Bebington, Wirral
2. NR6 – North and North West Norwich
3. BH18 – Broadstone, Bournemouth
4. M33 – Sale, Greater Manchester
5. PO32 – East Cowes, Isle of Wight
6. SO53 – Eastleigh, Hampshire
7. IP5 – Ipswich, Suffolk
8. LS18 – Horsforth, Leeds
9. S18 – Dronfield, North East Derbyshire
10. RG6 – Earley, Reading

Top ten most desirable places to live in Scotland
1. G78 – Neilson, East Renfrewshire
2. G64 – Bishopbriggs
3. G66 – Lenzie/Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire
4. G76 – Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire
5. G62 – Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire
6. G46 – Giffnock, East Renfrewshire
7. G61 – Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire
8. G77 – Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire
9. HS1 – Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
10. KW15 – Kirkwall, Orkney Islands

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Top ten most desirable places to live in Wales
1. CF63 – Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
2. CF24 – Cardiff Central
3. SA1 – Swansea
4. SA5 – Swansea
5. SA72 – Pembroke Dock
6. CF3 – Cardiff South
7. CF62 – Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
8. CF5 – Cardiff West
9. CF11 – Cardiff Central
10. SA6 – Morriston, Swansea

Top five most desirable places to live in Northern Ireland
1. BT65 – Craigavon, County Armagh
2. BT16 – Dundonald, Belfast
3. BT64 – Craigavon-Lurgan
4. BT66 – Lurgan, County Armagh
5. BT10 – Finaghy, Belfast