ALTRINCHAM has lost its crown as the best place to live in the north west, according to The Sunday Times.

The town won top spot in the national newspaper's 'Best Places to Live: North West' list last year, but it is among the runners up in Friday's latest list.

Trawden, a village in East Lancashire, is the winner for 2022, while Christleton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Prestwich and West Kirby are the other runners up.

In 2020, Altrincham was crowned the best place to live in all of the UK, so the town is on a downward trend.

But the judges were still effusive about Altrincham Market, as well as about the town's location and schools.

They said: "The magical food hall and market that transformed this former Cheshire market town from a dead-zone dormitory with the worst high street in Britain into one of Manchester’s best destinations goes from strength to strength.

"The schools are among the best in the north west, the tram offers a route to Media City and the city centre and parks and countryside are all within reach."

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The best place to live in the UK in 2022 is Ilkley in West Yorkshire, according to The Sunday Times.

The full list is available on its website from today (April 8), and in its print edition over the weekend.

Helen Davies, the property editor for The Times and Sunday Times, said: "The Sunday Times 'Best Places to Live list' is necessarily subjective – leave it to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place.

"For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling.

"Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?

"Ten years ago, when we launched the inaugural list, London’s gravitational pull was strong, the WFH revolution had not reached our doorstep and high streets were stacked with chains. How times have changed – and how welcome that change is.

"This year we have discovered new best places to live from resurgent city centres in the north, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the south west, and a commutable Scottish island. We hope there is something to suit everyone."