Olney in Buckinghamshire has been named as one of the best places to live in the UK.

The Buckinghamshire town made it into the 2022 edition of the Sunday Times Best Places to Live list.

It was praised, with the newspaper writing: "It’s all about the charm of old-fashioned village life here: independent shops, clubs, and quirky celebrations such as the duck and pancake races. It’s quite the contrast to the modern practicalities of nearby Milton Keynes."

The pancake race for Olney is a specific part of its history, with the first one run way back in 1445.

Additionally, Cookham and Reading over in nearby Berkshire were also included.

In describing Cookham, the Sunday Times wrote: "Want to live like riverside royalty? Look no further than Cookham, described by the artist Sir Stanley Spencer as a “village in heaven”.

"It’s as charming today as when Kenneth Grahame first imagined Ratty and Mole messing about on its riverbanks. There are schools, shops and pubs to satisfy everyone and motorways and fast trains are just a few minutes away."

How did the Sunday Times create the list?

The Sunday Times’s expert judges behind the guide assess a wide range of factors, from schools, transport, and broadband to culture, green spaces, and the health of the high street. 

They look to celebrate improving towns, villages or city centres, attractive, well-designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit – which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all. 

An average house price for each location has been supplied by Halifax, the sponsor of the guide, and up-to-date information on broadband speeds has been provided by Thinkbroadband.com, the UK’s leading independent guide to broadband.

The comprehensive guide, which includes 70 locations, is released online today and an edited version will be available in the paper on Sunday.

Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times Property Editor said: “The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective. Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place.

“For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?

“This year we have discovered new best places to live, from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the Southwest, and a commutable Scottish island.

“We hope there is something to suit everyone.”

You can see the full list here.