'It's easy to see why our town is among the best'

People from Eccleshall, in Staffordshire, say they are not surprised their town has been named one of the best places to live in the country.

It has made it on to the 2025 Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, with a write-up that says it is "officially a town but a village in look, feel and community spirit".

The list picked out Eccleshall's cricket club, football club, primary school and year-round programme of community events for particular praise.

It is among a list of 72 places across the country to make it on to the list, which is drawn up annually.

"It's a lovely place to live," said parish councillor Peter Jones, who also ran the local newsagents for 25 years.

The town could, however, be set for significant growth in the coming years.

Plans are due to be submitted in the summer for a scheme of more than 500 new homes, as well as a primary school and health centre.

Mr Jones added: "We're a victim of our own success. People like to live here and we have to support those people."

Local photographer Ian Knight said the town had "everything" as he praised its shops pubs and restaurants.

"It's a small, rural town with a great sense of community," he said.

"You don't need to go very far to find what you want."

He added it was "great" to see it being recognised in the Sunday Times list.

Andy Guest, who runs a bed and breakfast with his wife Helen, said the high street was one of the best aspects of the town, along with the friendliness of local people.

"It really helps our business, because it makes people not only want to come back to our B&B but come back to Eccleshall, because everyone's so nice and there's so much to do here," he said.

Paul Herbert from Flour and Co Bakehouse said the town's recognition in the newspaper had helped put it on the map.

"Of course house prices are increasing as well, which is good for us, and I think the town itself has got plans on growth," he said.

"It's just a lovely place to live - everybody wants to live here."

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