Shrewsbury 'one of best places to live'

With picture-perfect streets, picturesque parks and a beautiful river, our county town has plenty going for it.

And now it is one of 10 towns in the West Midlands to feature on The Sunday Times Best Places To Live In Britain list – although its ranking on the list is still secret and yet to be revealed.

It is a plaudit that people in the town wholeheartedly agree with.

And its inclusion as one of only 101 towns on the list is likely to attract even more visitors to a town that is already bustling with tourists.

Helen Davies, who is in charge of the poll, believes Shrewsbury deserves its place on the list because it is a perfect blend of the quaint and the modern.

It is a formula that means the town is in demand, leading to rising house prices despite recent problems with flooding along the riverside.

She said: "People love Shrewsbury's past. It has a medieval heart, narrow alleyways and ancient timber-framed buildings."

She said judges for the poll were impressed by the River Severn at the heart of the town, as well as its entertainment and eating out venues.

But they also took into account the important aspects of comfortable living, such as schools, shops and the low crime statistics.

She added: "Within the last year, planning permission has been granted for new homes on the outskirts of the town, which will offer more options for incomers.

"Locals tell us that once people move here they only leave if they have to. Houses within the river loop often sell for £500,000, but there's a four-bedroom town house on the market for £370,000 in the town centre and prices drop outside the loop."

It is not the first time that Shrewsbury has scooped the prestigious position, having also made the list last year and its ranking is no surprise to people who live and work there.

Sue Pugh, 71, from Castlefields, who has recently moved to Shrewsbury from Cardiff, said: "Shrewsbury is great. It is very easy to get to and from places and the town is also steeped in history.

"There is the abbey and St Mary's Church alongside St Chad's.

"Plus there are connotations to Henry Tudor and the link to Wilfred Owen, and of course Darwin grew up here.

"It is a fascinating place and it's not too touristy, I am absolutely thrilled to have moved here."

Restaurant manager Julia Goodall also agreed, and thinks Shrewsbury benefits from a cafe culture more akin to a town in France or Italy.

Miss Goodall, from Belle Vue, said: "I can believe Shrewsbury has made the list.

"I think sometimes with all the cafes and shops it has got that continental feel."

Mr and Mrs Tyldesley, from Craven Arms, often come into Shrewsbury for a spot of lunch, and believe the town has an excellent range of restaurants.

Jonathan Tyldesley said: "We often come into town for lunch and there's a good choice of restaurants. We come about once a week.

"It's got that nice old-fashioned feel to it because of the history so it's pretty good here."

Shrewsbury has previously been dubbed a "little nirvana" by judges from The Sunday Times.

They named it as one of the top 12 places to live in the Midlands in 2013.

There is variety in the list this year, however, with inner cities competing against picture-perfect villages.

Mrs Davies said: "The Best Places guide is dedicated to celebrating Britain's abundance of great cities, towns and villages.

"We combine in-depth data with first-hand personal experience to produce an authoritative list.

"There are lots of places across Britain that are worth celebrating, and everyone has different priorities, so this year our supplements cover everything from the countryside to inner-cities."

The full Sunday Times Best Places to Live in Britain list will be released tomorrow, when Shrewsbury's place in the top 101 will be revealed.