Sefton Park named one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live

Sefton Park is nothing short of magnificent. The famous 235 acre park is a favourite amongst Scousers, and is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

Today, March 15, Sefton Park was named as one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live.

Sefton Park is one of Liverpool’s most picturesque green spaces, offering stunning views and a tranquil environment. Living nearby provides residents with easy access to lush greenery, beautiful landscapes, and serene lakes, perfect for relaxation and leisurely walks.

The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds to culture, as well as access to green spaces and the health of the high street. 

The chosen locations come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny Scottish island of Kerrera and the remote Welsh village of Presteigne to big, lively cities such as Belfast, Leeds and Liverpool. 

There are more new entries than ever before in this year’s guide and no place for previous winners such as York and Bristol – the judges looked for improving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices. 

Stockport, Greater Manchester, was crowned this year’s winner with six other locations in the northwest featured in the comprehensive guide.

Published by The Sunday Times, it includes 72 locations across the UK and is released online on Friday, March 15. An abridged version will be published as a magazine supplement on Sunday. 

Apart from the winner, they are not ranked but published in alphabetical order. 

Winner: Stockport, Greater Manchester 

·       Christleton, Cheshire  

·       Kendal, Cumbria  

·       Knutsford, Cheshire 

·       Prestwich, Greater Manchester 

·       Ribble Valley, Lancashire 

·       Sefton Park, Liverpool 

A snippet from The Sunday Times reads:

“Sefton Park, Liverpool: Choose one of the leafy streets around one of the loveliest urban parks in the country and you can guarantee that you’re in the best place to enjoy a city that’s definitely going places. As well as the park, you’re in pole position to enjoy the food, drink and boho atmosphere of Lark Lane, and the transport connections to both the city centre and the airport are impeccable.”

Here’s why we love this area of our city so much:

Lark Lane is a stone’s throw away

The Lane, as it’s more affectionately known by locals, is a hub for foodie’s, musicians, artists, and exudes a cool bohemian atmosphere.

Lined either side with funky shops, boss bars, and fantastic restaurants, Lark Lane is one of the most popular destinations for a good scran and bevvy in the city… Don’t forget to check out the farmers market every 4th Saturday of the month.

Aigburth Road is close by

Aigburth Road has to be one of the busiest in south Liverpool, linking town and the airport, and is on of the main routes to Sefton Park.

Like its Lark Lane neighbour, it’s also home to some great restaurants and cafes so if you’re looking for somewhere new to try you’re always spoiled for choice on Aigburth Road.

The Park itself

There’s so much to see in at Sefton Park. There’s playgrounds for the kids, cafes to stop off for food & drink – and if we’re lucky maybe even an ice cream on a warm day (although it never stops us) – not to mention some of the incredible festivals that take place there like LIMF and Africa Oye.

The Fairy Glen is a series of stunning cascading waterfalls. It’s a tranquil place and was traditionally used in Victorian times by courting couples. Surrounded by beautiful trees, and in the spring it hosts a colourful display of rhododendrons. 

Sefton Park is the perfect place to walk your dog, or get your fishing rod and see what you can catch (an angling license is required to do this!) in the Lake. Those old enough to remember will know that you used to be able to rent boats to row out onto the lake, hence the name, although we can’t do that anymore… it’s still one of the most beautiful areas of the park.

What do the locals think?

As is usually the case with most places in Liverpool, it is the people who are at the heart of everything.

We spoke to Charlie Oxley, who has lived around Sefton Park for roughly four years.

Charlie said:

“I think it’s brilliant that Sefton Park has been voted one of the best places to live in the North West.

“The area is very wholesome, it has tons of history, it’s cool and cosmopolitan… and there’s loads of green space!”

Charlie fell in love with the place when he moved there four years ago, having the park on his doorstep is very important to him to be able to get that much needed fresh air.

Charlie added:

“There’s lots of cafés and shops right around the corner. And it is a very open minded community that embraces family, individuality, and diversity.

“Sefton Park itself was a godsend during lockdown. I have explored it so much and even now, after knowing it basically inside out… it still has so much magic to it! It’s a privilege to live by here.

“We’re still close to the city centre, but all this green space just improves my standard of living and quality of life. it’s amazing!”

Alison Lockett-Burke, founder of Fig and the Wild, and Sefton Park resident, said:

“I’ve lived around here for almost 20 years.

“I think The Sunday Times are absolutely correct… this is one of the best places to live in the North West… I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else than here now.”

After moving away from the city centre, Alison wanted to find somewhere to live that was perfect to start a family.

Alison added:

“We just started hanging around Lark Lane, and when we saw how vibrant it was, and all of the green spaces around, we thought… this is it. So we stayed and decided to bring up our family here.

“Everyone probably says this… but the park is honestly my favourite part of this area. It’s a great location for family get togethers, we’ve done everything from picnics to family feats… it’s just fantastic.

“You have everything you could need on your doorstep. It’s like it’s own little village.”

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