A DORSET community fit for the King has officially been crowned one of the best in the south west. 

Poundbury has made the Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live top eight for the region and has been labelled ‘ahead of its time’.

Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, was declared the winner thanks to its ‘thriving high street and beautiful parks’ with the remaining seven locations not ranked in any particular order.

Judges were full of praise for Poundbury - created by, and with the keen endorsement of, the then, Prince Charles.

Construction of Poundbury has been ongoing since October of 1993, with an expected completion date of 2025.

Judges for the Sunday Times said: “Poundbury turns 30 this year, and it’s ageing gracefully. King Charles’s planned town was widely mocked when it was launched, but it now looks like Poundbury was ahead of its time. It has lots of affordable homes, renewable energy and a walkable layout that means you’re never more than 10 minutes’ stroll from buying a pint of milk.”

The prestigious guide is now in its 11th year and features more entries than ever before. The Sunday Times’ expert panel of judges have visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street.

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.” 

Previous winners of the Best Places to Live in Britain title are: Stamford, Lincolnshire (2013); Skipton, North Yorkshire (2014); Newnham, Cambridge (2015); Winchester, Hampshire (2016); Bristol (2017), York (2018), Salisbury, Wiltshire (2019), Altrincham, Cheshire (2020) Stroud, Gloucestershire (2021) and Ilkley, West Yorkshire (2022). 

The full guide can be viewed at thetimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive.