The Kent towns of Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Ashford have all made the top 30 of the most desirable places to live in the UK.

The Halifax Quality of Life Survey named Maidstone 8th, Tunbridge Wells 12th and Ashford as the 27th most desirable place to live, ahead of Winchester (29th), Kingston upon Thames (30th), Kensington & Chelsea (31st), Sevenoaks (38th), and Woking (45th).

The survey studied all of the UK's 405 local authority districts, and ranks them according to employment levels, the state of the housing market, educational and health standards, and crime rates. Additional factors include the weather, levels of traffic congestion and access to broadband internet.

Ashford borough is the only East Kent local authority area to feature among the 50 overall best places in the UK to live. Six Kent local authorities made the top 50, and Ashford sits behind Maidstone (8th) and Tunbridge Wells (12th) and ahead of Sevenoaks (38th), Tonbridge & Malling (46th) and Gravesham (49th).

Leader of Ashford Borough Council Cllr Peter Wood said: "For Ashford to have been placed in the top 50 of the most desirable places to live in the UK is a tremendous achievement, particularly given current economic conditions."

"If Ashford can achieve 27th place nationally during such difficult economic circumstances, we can certainly expect great things from the borough as the economy picks up."

The tranquil Hampshire district of Hart has long been a desirable location to live and topped the annual Halifax Quality of Life Survey for 2011.

Top Thirty Towns

1 Hart, Hampshire
2 Elmbridge, Surrey
3 Wokingham, Berkshire
4 East Cambridgeshire
5 Brentwood, Essex
6 Wychavon, Worcestershire
7 St Albans, Hertfordshire
8 Maidstone, Kent
9 South Cambridgeshire
10 Epsom and Ewell, Surrey
11 Richmond upon Thames, London
12 Tunbridge Wells, Kent
13 East Hertfordshire
14 Waverley, Surrey
15 Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire
16 Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire
17 Guildford, Surrey
18 Uttlesford, Essex
19 Bracknell Forest, Berkshire
20 North Hertfordshire
21 Hertsmere, Hertfordshire
22 Rutland
23 Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
24 Rochford, Essex
25 Mole Valley, Surrey
26 Chiltern, Buckinghamshire
27 Ashford, Kent
28 Colchester, Essex
29 Winchester, Hampshire
30 Kingston upon Thames, London

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2012©