This beautiful Peak District village has been named among the best places to live in the UK by lifestyle experts

Hathersage has been named as the best place to live across Derbyshire in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

Expert judges travelled the length and breadth of the UK to compile their latest guide, with The Malverns in Worcestershire being ranked as the best place to live in the Midlands and Norwich securing the overall national title.

The guide says: “Hathersage offers the best of both worlds. You’re close to all Sheffield has to offer, and within an easy hike of some of the Peak District’s finest scenery.

“Hathersage celebrates outdoor living at its most fulfilling, nowhere more than at the 30m outdoor swimming pool. Built in 1936, it’s open all year and heated to 25C in winter.

“It is a fantastic community and the people who have lived here a long time are welcoming,” says Nicola Briers, 56, a former police officer who now owns Grey Goose Interiors in the heart of the village. “Hathersage has turned into a really creative place. It’s still a traditional Peaks village but it’s almost got a cosmopolitan feel.”

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and best places to live editor for the Sunday Times, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.

“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live. These judges have traveled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”

A number of factors were used to determine the best places to live across the country, from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to amenities – as well as access to high-quality green spaces and the health of the high street.

The chosen locations come in all shapes and sizes, from the best bits of big lively cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff and London to the tiny, rural villages of the Vale of Eden in Cumbria and the Vale of Belvoir in the Midlands. The whole country is covered, from Falmouth and Penryn in west Cornwall to Braemar in the Scottish Highlands and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland.

There are more new entries than ever before in this year’s guide. As always, the judges looked for thriving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.

The guide has been sponsored by the mortgage lender Lloyds Banking Group for the first time this year, which has provided an average house price for each location.

Kate Townson, Lloyds relationship and customer development director, added: “For many, navigating the housing market can feel overwhelming.

“At Lloyds, our aim is to support all home buyers, including those taking their very first step onto the property ladder, with clear guidance, practical tools and tailored products that help them move forward with confidence and clarity.

“Our partnership with The Sunday Times Best Places to Live aims to give trusted insight into communities across the UK, helping homebuyers to make confident, informed decisions about their future home.”