Ready to up sticks and move? According to Halifax's latest Quality of Life Index, these 20 locations are the cream of the crop when it comes to earnings and employment, education, wellbeing and even broadband speed. Find out what a slice of the good life costs and discover which idyllic rural region scooped the top spot for the first time.

Harborough is the largest district of Leicestershire, and in 2019 it is the 20th best place to live in the UK, up 11 places from 31st in 2017. The area has seen its anxiety score drop to 2.77 and its population's health is better than the English average, with longer life expectancies and low levels of childhood obesity.

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The average house price of £335,748 can get you a three-bedroom detached property here in Harborough. This traditional family home in picturesque Market Harborough is on sale for £315,000.

The 19th best place to live in the UK is this Worcestershire district, which includes the towns of Pershore, Droitwich Spa and Evesham. It's gone down 15 spots from its rather impressive fourth place in 2017, but still boasts long life expectancies averaging at 81.3 years for men and 84.8 for women. It is also the happiest district in Worcestershire.

This property in Wychavon comes in a bit below the average price at £300,000. Nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac with easy access to local schools and the town centre, it's located in the market town of Pershore.

This Essex district, coming in at 18th, has fallen seven places from 2017. While its strong life satisfaction score has fallen from an average of 8.23 out of 10 to 7.97, the health of the district is better than the English average.

This three-bedroom townhouse, located in the sought-after area of Saffron Walden, is what you can buy for just above the average price of £490,636 in Uttlesford. Ideal for those who prefer a period property to a new build, this Grade II-listed house is set over four floors and has an asking price of £499,950.

Rushmoor has had a meteoric rise in the rankings. The Hampshire district, which includes Farnborough and Aldershot, came in at 125th in 2017. It's not surprising as the district has the top life satisfaction score in the Office for National Statistics' Personal Wellbeing survey with an average of 8.59 out of 10 for life satisfaction in 2017-18. 

This quaint character house will set you back £310,000, which comes in at £4,789 less than the average home in Rushmoor. Located in the military town of Aldershot, it has plenty of space with three bedrooms and two generous reception rooms. 

The district of Winchester in Hampshire took fifth place in 2017, and the top spot in 2016's survey, but this year it has come in at 16th. Winchester living promises longevity, with life expectancy from birth reaching 82 for males and 84.8 years old for women.

A budget of £550,000 will buy you this two-bedroom terrace home in Winchester. Just under the average price for the area, it has open-plan living and is in a great location, just minutes away from Winchester city centre. 

It'll come as no surprise that Westminster has some of the highest weekly earnings in the country at £1,188 per week. However, it also has some of the smallest homes in the country, with less than four habitable rooms, compared to the average number in the UK of 5.5.

For the average price of £1,156,463, you won't get more than a flat in Westminster. This one-bed apartment overlooks Hyde Park, and benefits from a 24-hour concierge and private parking. On the market for £1,250,000, it also has access to communal gardens. 

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East Hertfordshire has risen three places to the 14th best place to live in the UK, contributing to an improvement in quality of life in the East of England, with eight places in the east coming in the top 50. It's an area that might be popular with those who hate English rain – eight of the 10 driest districts are in the east of the country.

For £470,000, this cottage in East Hertfordshire could be yours. With four bedrooms, a fitted kitchen/diner and master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, it's perfect for a growing family.

The tranquil district of Hart in northeast Hampshire scooped the top spot in 2017's survey, taking the crown for the fifth time in six years. Life satisfaction has fallen from 8.08 to 7.67 since the last survey, but Hart inhabitants are generally a healthy bunch, with 97.4% of households rating themselves in good or fairly good health.

This three-bed detached house is on sale for just less than the average selling price in Hart at £450,000. Backing onto woodlands, the property is only two years old and is located in the village of Church Crookham. 

The district of Waverley in Surrey has a few large towns including Godalming, Farnham and Haslemere. It comes in at 12th place, falling five places since last year. The area's inhabitants have long life expectancies, with 81.7 years for men and 85.3 for women.

Just over the average house price of £620,067 will get you a great-sized modern family home in the district of Waverley. This five-bedroom home is on the market for £625,000 in the historic market town of Godalming. The semi-detached property comes with two reception rooms and a stylish kitchen with quartz work surfaces.

The Vale of White Horse has entered the top 20, rising from 62 in 2017 to 11th place in 2019. Those who live in the Vale can expect to live fairly long, with life expectancy for males reaching as high as 82.3 years, and 85.4 years for women – much better than the national benchmark. The area also has a strong employment rate of 83.1%, beating nearby South Oxfordshire, which only scored 77.4%.

In Vale of White Horse you can get this modern detached family home for £400,000. The four-bed property is located in a popular part of the town of Faringdon and has a Japanese-style landscaped garden. 

A new entry to the top 20, the Derbyshire Dales have jumped from 75th in 2017 to a very respectable 10th place for 2019. Situated in the Peak District, the area is best known for its astounding scenery.

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A townhouse will set you back £209,750, which is just below the average house price in the Derbyshire Dales. This three-bedroom mid-terrace house is in a quiet cul-de-sac in the town of Ilkeston.

People living in this charming commuter town enjoy some of the highest average earnings in the country, at £1,112 per week. The area also scores strongly for employment levels, education and low crime levels. It also has the one of the highest proportions of adults with higher level qualifications.

For just a touch under the average house price in St Albans, you could buy this four-bedroom detached house for £570,000. With an office, spacious living areas, and primary and secondary schools nearby, it's the perfect family home. 

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Ryedale in North Yorkshire has risen four places to 8th in 2019. Boasting one of the lowest anxiety rates at just 2.35, the district also has one of the lowest population densities at just 35 people per square kilometre – the perfect place for some peace and quiet.

This charming stone townhouse in Ryedale could be yours for £260,000. Located in the bustling, vibrant town of Pickering, the end of terrace property has four bedrooms and is spread over three floors. 

The Cotswolds has jumped 39 places from 46th in 2017 to 7th in 2019. Anxiety levels are some of the lowest in the UK, at 2.24, while overall life satisfaction is at a good level, totalling 7.92 out of 10. For an area that offers beautiful walks through the hills and plenty of picturesque villages, this isn't too surprising.

This three-bed quaint country cottage is up for sale at £500,000 in the Cotswolds. It comes with a generous five acres of land, a stable, barn and workshop. 

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South Oxfordshire has risen eight places this year. The area, which includes Wallingford and Henley-on-Thames, boasts higher than average weekly earnings, good employment rates, longer than average life expectancy – 81.6 years for men and 85.5 for women – and high levels of personal wellbeing, with a very satisfied score of 8.06 out of 10 for life satisfaction.

In South Oxfordshire you could purchase this three-bedroom detached house for £420,000. Slightly below the average house price, it's located in sought-after Kirtlington and has undergone renovations over the last four years.

It's fitting that an area called Eden should find itself in the top five best places to live. The north-western pocket of Cumbria, which is named after the river that runs through it, has jumped in the rankings from 33rd place in 2017. The area is perfect for a walk, sitting just on the edge of the Lake District National Park and the moorlands of the North Pennines, as well as plenty of places to take a pit stop with 28 pubs for every 10,000 people – the most in the country.

At £226,995 this three-bedroom, ensuite detached house is a whole £25,346 under the average house price for Eden. This new build in Penrith is open-plan with French doors leading into the back garden.

Coming in fourth, this North Yorkshire district includes Bedale, Thirsk and North Allerton and has risen 24 places up in the rankings. The area is named after the Hambleton Hills (pictured), which are part of the North York Moors National Park, a protected area. Offering scenic views and walks, the area also has a higher than average level of health.

You can purchase this four-bed terraced home for £300,000 in Hambleton. The Grade II-listed property in the town of Thirsk has been refurbished by the current owners, with the interior boasting exposed beams that date back to the 17th century.

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The district of Rutland is one of the places in the UK that boasts the biggest homes, with a massive 6.4 habitable rooms in each house on average. The area also comes top for GCSEs, with 81.4% of students achieving a pass in English and Maths, compared to the UK average of 65.1%. It sits happily in third place, the same as in 2017.

This characterful stone property comes in a bit below the average price in Rutland at £350,000. A former schoolmaster's house, it has a myriad of character features including the old school bell, exposed beams and window seats. 

The second North Yorkshire district to hit the top five, Richmondshire flies the flag along with Hambleton. The area covers a large region of the Yorkshire Dales, including Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. It takes the number two spot for its picturesque scenery as well as low crime rates, good traffic and small primary class sizes. Unsurprisingly the area has high levels of life satisfaction.

This modern four-bedroom detached house could be yours for £269,950. Just over the average house price in Richmondshire, you'll get an ensuite bathroom, bifolding doors and off-street parking.

Rising from second place in 2017, the Orkney Islands in Scotland were boosted by the highest employment rate in the UK at 88%. It also has some of the happiest inhabitants with low anxiety rates. And Orkney is pretty affordable, with an average house price of £173,349, standing at 5.2 times the average annual pre-tax local income.

Looking to move? These are the UK's cheapest and most expensive places to buy a home

For £150,000, just under the average house price, you would be able to buy this one-bed house in Orkney. Located in a former church that still has the original wooden pews and pulpit, it would make the perfect fixer-upper. 

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