Rawtenstall is one of the best places to live in the North West

Rawtenstall has been hailed for its bar and restaurant culture, alongside winners Liverpool, and other runners-up, Manchester and Penrith.

What is the guide saying about Rawtenstall?

"An improving town centre that’s home to interesting bars and restaurants and a buzzing weekend street food and bar scene –- as well as Mr Fitzpatrick’s, believed to be the last temperance bar in Britain — mean this old shoemaking town is a worthy rival to fashionable Ramsbottom a few miles to the south, especially among first-time buyers and young families who are snapping up the good-value two-up two-down cottages."

Lee Wall, from Rawtenstall, said: "I’ve lived here eight years and the town centre has a real buzz about it.

"There’s new bars, restaurants and shops springing up all the time and I think for a night out it is better than Ramsbottom.

"The market is a real gem with loads of independent food and drink businesses too."

Councillor Steve Hughes, who represents Longholme ward, said: "It's absolutely fantastic news.

"A lot of work has gone into making Rawtenstall and the wider Rossendale area a fantastic place to live, work and visit, and this is testament to that work paying off.

"The people who live there and have lived there for a long time know it's a great place to be.

"We get people coming in from the cities to live there, there's some fantastic new bars and restaurants and the local economy is now thriving - long may it continue."

Rossendale Council leader, Cllr Alyson Barnes, added: "This is absolutely fantastic news and I am not surprised at all being someone who lives close by.

"The council and traders and people live civic pride have put so much into making Rawtenstall what it is today and it's good to see it's finally being recognised."

Liverpool took the top spot in the North West, with Sunday Times judges praising the city for its 'booming science and tech scene', Everton FC's new football stadium rising from the docks, and the neighbouring Ten Streets area that is emerging as a creative district, as well as its community spirit, watersports, boot camps on the beach, independent shops, and quirky places to eat and drink.

Rawtenstall in bloom (Image: Agency)

“There are lots of reasons to be optimistic about Liverpool — not just Eurovision, but also the booming reputation for science and tech and grand projects such as the new Everton Stadium and new film studios.

“Good-value houses are the big attraction – this is one great city where you can buy a house without breaking the bank – but you also get a lively city centre and beautiful beaches close at hand.

“Our top districts in the city this year are both affordable: Waterloo for seaside, sunsets and independent shops, and Toxteth for its cultural and community vibe.”

Six other locations across the Northwest are featured in the comprehensive guide.

Published by The Sunday Times, it includes 72 locations across the UK. An abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement on Sunday.

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.”

Wadhurst in East Sussex was named the overall winner of Best Places to Live.

It was praised by judges for its “good schools, convenient transport connections, an amazingly well-stocked high street and stunning scenery”.

They said that it offers “pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature”.

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).

Locations which feature in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2023 for the North West are:

• Liverpool - cheap housing, a lively city centre, and booming science and tech industries.
• Manchester - sets the benchmark for urban living and culture.
• Penrith, Cumbria - windswept scenery makes it a go-to location for outdoors-lovers and also has highly selective schools.
• Rawtenstall, Lancashire - an improving town centre rivalling nearby neighbours and good value housing.
• Sale, Greater Manchester - excellent state schools, public transport links and a bustling town centre.
• Stockport, Greater Manchester - a funky, family friendly suburb with housing for every budget.
• Tarporley, Cheshire - well-heeled with a high street packed with independents.

This year’s guide – the 11th – features more new entries than ever before.

The Sunday Times’ expert 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.