Acclaimed luxury lifestyle site Muddy Stilettos asked its readers to vote for the best local village, town or city to call home in 2024 using its Top 260 Places to Live guide.

In a regional vote across 29 counties, Marlow topped the poll of 10 potential candidates in Buckinghamshire.

From towns to villages, hamlets to commuter favourites, each of the initial 260 locations were independently researched and picked by the in-the-know Muddy Editorial team, and then over 27,500 readers went on to vote. 

The results revealed passion for each town or village’s sense of community, quality of access to schools, restaurants,  shops and culture, plus their feeling towards their overall immediate surroundings.

In Buckinghamshire, the elegant town of Marlow won top spot with its characterful riverside location, speedy London commute, excellent shopping and Michelin-starred foodie scene.

Recent new restaurants, bars, cinema and recent Pub in the Park Festival have added to the already lively high street of this buzzy market town in south Buckinghamshire.  

With outstanding independent schools nearby (Godstowe, Caldicott and High March) along with outstanding state primary and secondary/grammar schools, Marlow is a great location for families. The average house price is costly at £953,465 (over the past year), but for those living in the area the results of Best Places to Live vote shows that locals think it’s worth it!

Hero Brown, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Muddy Stilettos says, “When people move home, they’re searching for more than just a house, they want to find a new lifestyle that works for them. Our exclusive Reader Vote gives them a fresh perspective that can make their search easier.

"It’s hard to be confident on whether a location is the right place for you, but we’ve built our reputation on having first-hand knowledge on the in-the-know places to live and places to go. This Reader Vote gives a truly independent view on the towns and villages with the most popular postcodes, schools, restaurants and amenities.”

Voting took place between July 30 – August 15 2024, and readers were given one vote each. The Best Place to Live lists provided information on everything from eating out and best schools to the commute and local arts/culture, but the final decision came from the readers’ own personal experience.

The Top 10 most popular towns and villages in Buckinghamshire for 2024 are:

  1. Marlow
  1. Amersham
  1. Beaconsfield
  1. Great Missenden
  1. Olney
  1. Brill
  1. West Wycombe
  1. Chesham
  1. Turville
  1. Gerrards Cross

 

 

James Cleland, Head of Country Business at Knight Frank comments: “With hybrid working promoting greater flexibility and an enhanced work-life balance, new hotspots are emerging nationwide as the demand for more space continues.

"When it comes to where to live, more than ever people want a vibrant and tight-knit community. It’s a trend that deepened during the pandemic and is likely to remain a leading factor for those looking to relocate. Excellent schools, ease of commuting, and access to local amenities also continue to be significant factors.