Do you live in one of the 50 best places in Britain, asks Halifax

An remoted group of islands off the north east of Scotland which are famed for his or her spectacular landscapes have been named as the very best place to stay in Britain.

The Orkney Islands got the title after scoring effectively on a number of components. These embody excessive employment ranges, a low crime fee, sturdy examination outcomes, smaller main class sizes and good ranges of well being and happiness.

It has lastly been topped the very best to position to stay after being the runner-up within the Halifax high quality of life survey for the previous two years.

Orkney scored effectively on a number of components, together with excessive employment ranges, low crime fee and good ranges of well being and happiness

Richmondshire in North Yorkshire took second place this 12 months, up from ninth place, adopted by Rutland within the East Midlands, Hambleton in North Yorkshire and Eden in Cumbria in fifth place.

Greater than half of the highest 50 greatest locations to stay in Britain are outdoors of the South of England, with eight within the East, together with St Albans in ninth place, East Hertfordshire in 14th place and Uttlesford ranked 18th.

The Orkney Islands embody Neolithic websites, tall sandstone cliffs and seal colonies

Fishing boats at Stromness, Orkney Island

The Orkney Islands got the title after scoring effectively on a number of components

The East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber every have 5 areas, together with Rutland, Hambleton, Ryedale and the Derbyshire Dales.

The North West and Scotland each have two areas – Eden, Ribble Valley, Orkney and Shetland – whereas Wales has one – Monmouthshire.

The South East has probably the most areas within the prime 50 with 18. These embody South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, Waverley and final 12 months’s greatest place to stay Hart, which is now ranked thirteenth.

London has simply two areas within the prime 50 – Westminster and Richmond-upon-Thames – and the South West one – the Cotswolds.

The Cotswolds have been ranked seventh within the survey of the very best locations to stay

Rutland within the East Midlands additionally scored effectively within the survey and is ranked in third place

St Albans within the East of England takes the ninth place within the survey

Richmondshire in North Yorkshire strikes into second place from ninth in 2017, a place boosted by excessive scores in wellbeing, which incorporates happiness and low anxiousness.

It additionally scores effectively on a low crime fee, site visitors flows, inhabitants density and first class dimension.

It additionally has one of many highest ratios of pubs to inhabitants, which is an added attraction for these visiting the Yorkshire Dales.

Hambleton in Yorkshire and The Humber is ranked fourth within the high quality of life survey

Ryedale in Yorkshire and The Humber is ranked in eighth place within the survey

There continues to be a transparent distinction between the South and North of the nation, with native authority districts within the South being notably sturdy on employment and common earnings and lengthy life expectancy.

Within the North, most areas have comparatively higher housing affordability circumstances with a low home worth to earnings ratio.

Additionally they profit from city surroundings components comparable to low site visitors flows, crime charges and few folks per sq. kilometre. 

Russell Galley, managing director of Halifax, mentioned: ‘Orkney has constantly been thought-about among the finest locations to stay within the UK and Orcadians shall be delighted to listen to they’ve now taken the crown. 

‘Its distant location will not be for everybody, however this comes with the advantage of having excessive employment, low crime charges, smaller class sizes and extra inexpensive housing.

‘Whereas the South East continues to have probably the most areas within the prime 50, we have seen Northern areas carry out notably effectively on training whereas in addition they profit from decrease home costs when in comparison with common earnings.’