It's official! Charlton Kings, Cheltenham is one of the best places to live

Charlton Kings in Cheltenham has been included in the prestigious Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022 guide, featuring a list of 70 locations that represent the best of the UK. It was considered by judges to be among the best places in live in the South West.

The expert panel of judges were able to travel the country again this year to chat to locals to draw up the winning list. Many factors were assessed from school league tables, to the health of the local high street to internet speeds, deemed more important than ever in the working from home era. Choice of schools in an area remained an important factor although the most important factor for 2022 was community. The Sunday Times said – “If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is how vital it is to be surrounded by good neighbours happy to help out in a crisis. All the places on this list are full of people who are proud of where they live and keen to give their area a boost, whether by planting flowers, running a club or local event, or just supporting local businesses.”

Charlton Kings has long been a popular place to live, located just two miles southeast from the Regency town centre of Cheltenham, on the western edge of the Cotswolds and along the A40 with quick access to Oxford.

The write up for Charlton Kings focused in detail on the educational establishments in the village, summarising with - “It’s education, education, education here, but thankfully there’s plenty to explore beyond the school gates.”

The article continued with a more detailed look at Balcarras School – “…there are two words that sum up the principal appeal of CK: Balcarras School.

Even in an area with a stellar reputation for state, private and grammar schools, Balcarras School, a state comprehensive, stands out. It comes garlanded in top-class awards — in 2020 it won The Sunday Times Parent Power guide’s Southwest state secondary School of the decade title – and it is, say local agents, the “biggest single attraction” in Charlton Kings.”

Local attractions and the year-round programme of festivals in Cheltenham also received a much-deserved compliment – “There are more league-topping schools in Cheltenham, a ten-minute bike ride away, as well as all the benefits of this festival-focused town. The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival in October is just one of many annual cultural events, while sports are covered by several golf courses, a leisure centre, Sandford Parks Lido and the annual Cheltenham National Hunt festival in March.”

This is not the first time Cheltenham has featured in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. In 2020 it was voted the best place to live in the South West with its education, culture and connectivity highlighted amongst its best attributes.