Petworth, West Sussex — Best Places to Live in the UK 2020

Highbrow but never aloof, last year’s regional winner continues to show the rest of the country how to do upmarket with charm. The whiff of wood smoke (for now, before everyone has to switch to government-approved pellets) hovers over the timeless jumble of tiled roofs, crooked cottages and courtyard gardens that make up the enchanting town centre. There’s not a chain store in sight, bar the Co-op and the pharmacy: instead, it’s all friendly bookshops, stylish florists and Austens hardware store, which has been meeting Petworth’s nail and broom-handle needs since 1812. The Hungry Guest deli and bakery (£1.50 for a fluffy cinnamon bun) and its relaxed but stylish siblings have breathed new life into the town in the past few years. These include a