The UK is home to many lovely towns that have their own unqiue identity and offer special experiences, so when it comes to deciding which is the best its not that simple. However, according to Google there is one town that is often noted as the “best town” in the UK for a number of reasons. North Berwick is a beautiful seaside town nestled on the south shore of the Firth of Forth in Scotland and it is recognised for its high quality of life, coastal charm and natural beauty – also why it is a popular holiday destination.
The town’s streets are lined with an incredible blend of shops, cafes and bars and it is home to a number of attractions including the Scottish Seabird Centre, the East Lothian Yacht Club and Tantallon Castle located to the east of the town. But North Berwick isn’t just pleasent for its visitors, the locals have it great too which is why last year, The Sunday Times named the seaside resort as the best place to live in the UK.
The town which was assessed on factors such as schools, transport, broadband speeds, access to green spaces and high street health, earned top spot among the list of 72 locations. Its high street, great school, lush outdoors and family-friendly houses are what made North Berwick shine from the other neighbourhooods.
Another great feature of the town is its close proximity to Scotland’s capital. The North Berwick Line has provided a rail link with Edinburgh since 17 June 1850 which currently only takes 33 minutes. There are also regular buses that connect the town to Edinburgh city centre.
Yet, despite having such easy access to the capital, there is more than enough to keep both residents and visitors entertained in the town. North Berwick’s two sandy bays, both boasting 18-hole putting greens at the end of them is just one thing that draws people to the town.
You can also enjoy boat rides around the islands and neighbouring ones which is a great way to explore all the natural beauty the town holds.
According to Visit Scotland, the town has won multiple awards for its gardens, floral displays and wildflower gardens credited to the North Berwick in Bloom – a group of volunteers who meet weekly to tend the town’s gardens with the aim “to keep the town looking beautiful.”
And when it comes to North Berwick’s natural beauty, the amazing wildlife present in the town can’t be forgotten. The Scottish Seabird Centre offers the perfect seaside day out observing and learning about different wildlife through its Discovery Experience which containing wildlife cameras as well as informative storyboards and exhibits.
For those who do not live in the North Berwick or may not have the chance to visit it, the UK is fortunate enough to have a many incredible towns that are also sometimes recognised as the “best”. Google’s AI overview mentions Norwich which is praised for its “cultural scene, quality of life” and the fact that it is UNESCO City of Literature.
Kent’s coastal town Folkestone is also a contender thanks to its “rengenerated waterfront” and “attractive scenery”, as per the AI overview, which in fact does draw hundreds of thousands of visitors during the summer months.
Abergavenny, Momouthsire is highlighted for its “vibrant community and beautiful Welsh countryside setting”. The reasons as to what makes each and every town stand out is a testiment to the diversity of the towns the nation is graced with.