A NATIONAL newspaper has named Evesham as one of the top three happiest places to live in the UK.
The Guardian revealed its top three on Saturday (May 17), placing the town in second place to Berwick-upon-Tweed and ahead of Caernarfon.
Researchers rated access to parks, countryside and water a key criterion for judging, as well as ease of access to GPs and hospital appointments.
View of Workman Bridge, Evesham. Picture by Lise Evans
Data sets about drive times to medical care, together with information about air quality were contributed to by the Geographic Data Science Lab at the University of Liverpool.
The feature called Evesham the ‘asparagus capital of the UK’ and said for those who were not fans of the king of spears, that the town had ‘plenty of rural charm’ and ‘beautiful scenery’ on its doorstep.
The town’s built heritage of Georgian and Tudor architecture got a special mention as did family-friendly events such as the Battle of Evesham.
Prince Henry’s was namechecked along with a ‘good choice of schools’ and Port Street’s independently-run Regal Cinema was highlighted for entertainment.
Aimed at a Guardian audience, the ranking gave extra weight to the importance of culture and community, including the town’s proximity to cinemas, theatres and museums.
The star of the show, however, was the extensive town centre park area alongside the River Avon. Activities for children, including the water fountains are referred to as well as the annual regatta, Hampton Ferry and pleasure boats.
‘A walk along the riverside in summer, with its swans and pretty greenery, is a real treat’, the article added.
An avenue of trees along the river Avon at Workman Gardens, Evesham. Picture by Lise Evans
Wychavon district councillor Craig Reeves, who moved to Evesham with his young family in 2023, welcomed the news.
“Evesham being listed as the second happiest place is a great boost for our town. With the efforts to see our vacant shops brought back into use, there is a real feel of momentum by businesses and locals at the moment and it’s great to see.
“The accolade is a great reminder that despite our concerns, the town overall is a vibrant place with plenty of heritage and green open spaces.
“The pace here in Evesham is wonderful, especially at this time of year where a short walk out of the town centre reveals an orchard or a route along the river.
“We’ve a lot to be grateful for and especially with my two young children who are at their happiest playing at Abbey Park or eating an ice cream,” he said.
The findings also went down well with Mick Hurst, director of the Battle of Evesham events.
“To be recognised as one of the happiest towns to live in is a testament to how people see us from their own location.
“They can see the huge number of excellent festivals, which highlight the parks, our history and heritage – they see the local volunteers working hard to make things happen and they see the beautiful countryside right on our doorstep.
“In fact, at a recent Battle of Evesham Festival, a family approached me and said they had just moved here from Solihull because they had come to the Medieval Market in May and thought it made their hometown feel so boring.
“You never know, once the centre of the town is sorted out, we may even be in a shout for the number one spot,” he said.
Mick Hurst with volunteers from the recent Evesham Medieval Market. Picture by Lise Evans
Gill Pawson, chair of Vale of Evesham Civic Society, which has long been campaigning for the responsible care and maintenance of town centre buildings, spoke on behalf of the group.
“Members of the Vale of Evesham Civic Society welcome the findings of the recent Guardian survey that ranked Evesham as the second happiest place to live in England, Wales and Scotland.
“It has highlighted the importance of the town’s historic and natural heritage in making this a desirable place to live.
“Our river, open spaces, parks, historic buildings, and our unique history are features that residents enjoy and businesses can tap into to attract visitors to the town.”
The Guardian also ranked Worcester as the third happiest place to live in the West Midlands and placed it in the top 20 in the UK.
You can read the full Guardian article here.
