EAST Hertfordshire has been crowned as the best place to live in Britain, according to a quality of life survey.
Boasting an array of popular market towns, such as Bishop's Stortford and Hertford, East Hertfordshire scooped the top spot after scoring well on several factors.
Its recognition was also due to strong exam results, high life expectancy, excellent health and happiness scores, and high average earnings.
It was followed by Fareham, Hart and Horsham — all in the South — in the annual Halifax Quality of Life survey.
The South East and the East of England both feature four times within the top 10, while the North also makes the line-up due to Selby and Hambleton, which are ranked sixth and seventh respectively.
Russell Galley, who led the survey, explained that East Hertfordshire was deserving of the top spot after 97% of respondents reported having good or fairly good health.
"With bustling market towns and picturesque countryside, East Hertfordshire has topped the table thanks to high life expectancy, good schools and health and happiness scores, with high average earnings," he affirmed.
"Everyone has different priorities when it comes to choosing a place to live, depending on time of life, and personal circumstances.
"Affordability will always be one of the most important factors, with getting a foot on the property ladder still difficult for some people."
Geographically, the South East of England — the most populous of the nine official regions — is the best part of the UK to live, with 18 spots cementing a place within the top 50.
But just two London areas make the top 100, Richmond upon Thames (placed at 64) and Kensington and Chelsea (79th).
Wales's highest placing is the Vale of Glamorgan at 126th.
Scotland's is Orkney at number 18 overall and Northern Ireland's is Lisburn and Castlereagh at 131.
The 50 best places to live in Britain
1. East Hertfordshire, East of England
2. Fareham, South East
3. Hart, South East
4. Horsham, South East
5. Maldon, East of England
6. Selby, Yorkshire and the Humber
7. Hambleton, Yorkshire and the Humber
8. Babergh, East of England
9. St Edmundsbury, East of England
10. Wokingham, South East
11. Ryedale, Yorkshire and the Humber
12. South Derbyshire, East Midlands
13. South Cambridgeshire, East of England
14. Tonbridge and Malling, South East
15. Rugby, West Midlands
16. Runnymede, South East
17. Wychavon, West Midlands
18. Orkney, Scotland
19. Woking, South East
20. Warwick, West Midlands
21. South Oxfordshire, South East
22. Rushcliffe, East Midlands
23. Huntingdonshire, East of England
24. Newark and Sherwood, East Midlands
25. Rushmoor, South East
26. Forest Heath, East of England
27. Elmbridge, South East
28. Wiltshire, South West
29. Gedling, East Midlands
30. North Dorset, South West
31. Rutland, East Midlands
32. Tewkesbury, South West
33. Rochford, East of England
34. Winchester, South East
35. Bracknell Forest, South East
36. Cherwell, South East
37. Central Bedfordshire, East of England
38. Charnwood, East Midlands
39. Forest of Dean, South West
40. Vale of White Horse, South East
41. West Berkshire, South East
42. New Forest, South East
43. North Warwickshire, West Midlands
44. Guildford, South East
45. Swindon, South West
46. Lichfield, West Midlands
47. Suffolk Coastal, East of England
48. York, Yorkshire and the Humber
49. Basingstoke and Deane, South East
50. Erewash, East Midlands
