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'World's finest water' - why Malvern was named best place to live

Tammy Gooding,BBC Hereford and Worcesterand
Oprah Flash,West Midlands
BBC A woman with a darl brown bob is wearing hoop gold earrings a pearl necklace with a starfish pendant and has a brown shawl on. She appears to be standing in a clothes and gift shopBBC
Tina has lived in Malvern for more than 25 years and described it as 'just a lovely place to be'

"Malvern's got people, hills, culture, the outdoors and the finest water in the world", says Michael Singleton, a proud resident of the Worcestershire town.

It was recently named the best place to live in the West Midlands in an annual guide and locals have rushed to share their love for their hometown.

A panel of judges for the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide picked Malvern as this year's winner over runners-up Shrewsbury, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Birmingham's Bournville.

For the people that call it home, "it's just a lovely place to live".

A man with short dusty blonde hair is wearing a blue long-sleeve top while sitting on a bike with a child seat on the front. A blue helmet is in the seat
According to Michael Singleton, the town has the 'finest water in the world'

Singleton, of Happy Bike Malvern, said: "Malvern is a lovely celebration of all characters and people of all sorts being outdoors, having fun and leading good healthy lives."

Tina, who runs the Tina Iacovelli boutique in Bellevue added: "I've lived in Malvern for 25 years and there's so much interest and lovely things to do here. We've got the theatres, we've got the gorgeous hills to walk on which change all seasons, it's just a lovely place to be.

"We've got Morgan motor cars, beautiful independent shops in Malvern town and it's a really good day out."

For the guide, the judges looked at dozens of locations and judged them on several factors, including schools, transport, broadband speeds and the health of the high street.

Getty Images A series of large green hills on a sunny but cloudy day with a small reservoir at the bottom of one hill and to the right of the image.Getty Images
Judges said the Malvern area had a "majestic setting"

In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the best of Britain, with Norwich, Norfolk, named the overall national winner.

A third proud resident said: "You've got fantastic architecture, great restaurants and pubs, the hills are beautiful this time of year and it's just a lovely place to live.

"There's a low crime rate and just a fantastic environment."

Lina Vaughan, of Belle Vue Cafe added: "It's an amazing location. Absolutely touristy, offers amazing theatre and shows, walks for ramblers, the Three Counties Show, diverse population, fantastic schools and in general the public are very warm and supportive."

A woman with a light brown bob is wearing a stripped orange and brown top with an apron and is smiling at the camera. She is standing in a cafe
Lina Vaughan says the community is 'warm and supportive'

Tim Palmer, one of the judges and Chief Writer of the Sunday Times Best Place, praised the town for its popular beauty spot and unique theatre.

He told BBC Hereford and Worcester: "There's so much to love about Malvern, everyone knows about the hills, they are very special. Some of the great views in the country you get from up there.

"It's famous for being quite high brow for the Elgar connection, there's a good music festival.

"The thing that really put it on our radar this year, was the the reopening of the Theatre of Small Convenience.

"It's a fantastic 16-seat theatre - smallest in the country - in what used to be a public toilet, next to Waitrose.

"It's a sign of a place with a bit of creativity, with a bit of buzz, where interesting people can do interesting things."

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