As Sussex’s Wadhurst is voted the best place to live in the UK, which celebrities live in the top areas?

Winter seems to be dragging its feet to leave the UK with the Beast from the East recently hitting cities, but with the clocks going forward on Sunday highlighting the start of British summer time, people may be looking for somewhere to go to defeat the last winter blues.

For this purpose, judges from The Times have decided that a small market town in East Sussex is the best place to live in the UK in 2023 as it provides the ‘best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming.’

Wadhurst’s attractive countryside surroundings and friendly neighbourhood all amount to the town having ‘pretty much everything needed for modern life in miniature.’

Gary Shipton, the Editor of Sussex World, PeopleWorld's sister title, said: "Wadhurst could not be a more deserving overall winner. As the judges rightly said, it has good schools, terrific transport links, a great high street and its location is absolutely stunning...Who wouldn't want to live here?"

While judges at The Times have rated the West Sussex town highly, other famous faces seemingly agree as multiple celebrities call the area the home.

Gary added: "It should be no surprise that we have so many celebrities residing in Sussex - it's simply one of the best places in the country to live, with the seaside, the fabulous South Downs National Park, glorious countryside, beautiful towns and villages and Brighton at its heart. One celebrity who calls Sussex home includes actor Hugh Bonneville, and while he might be the rather grand Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey, he is a wonderful supporter of the local community and is really generous with his time ."

In light of Wadhurst claiming top prize for The Times' Best Place to Live, PeopleWorld have taken a look at other celebrities who reside in the other winning regions:

Wadhurst, East Sussex

Rock guitarist Jeff Beck moved to Wadhurst in the summer of 1975 and resided in his large stone Grade-ii listed country house until his passing on 10 January 2023 at the age of 78 after he contracted bacterial meningitis.

During his time in Wadhurst, Jeff Beck reportedly supported the local wildlife rescue charity and would be seen chatting to all the locals in the co-op.

You can explore where Jeff Beck used to call home in Wadhurst on SussexWorld.

Crouch End, London

While Wadhurst was voted the best place to live overall, The Times also judged regional winners with Crouch End coming out on top for London.

Numerous celebrities own property in Crouch End including Doctor Who’s David Tennant, Marvel’s James McAvoy and Taylor Swift’s long-term partner Joe Alwyn.

Chichester, West Sussex

East Sussex may have triumphed, but Chichester shone brightly for West Sussex with The Times stating: “Feel young at heart in historic surroundings in this cultured harbour town close to the South Downs.”

As The Times says residents will feel ‘young at heart’, one local’s heart definitely does ‘go on’ as Titanic’s Kate Winslet moved to the West Wittering area in 2015 after selling her New York penthouse.

Since moving to the Sussex area, Kate has thrown herself into helping protect the landscape and coastline and even teamed up with famous novelist Kate Mosse to support Chichester.

SussexWorld Editor Gary Shipton said: "A couple of years ago Kate Mosse and Kate Winslet joined forces to celebrate the Sussex landscape and coastline in Chichester. The harbour and its wildlife is under sever threat and their support was hugely important."

In addition, Kate Mosse, who 'is very generous with her time' spoke fondly of local places in her book The Taxidermist's Daughter which premiered at the glorious Chichester Festival Theatre last year.

Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Daisy May Cooper based her popular sitcom This Country on a small village in the Cotswolds and where better to draw inspiration from, than her nearby hometown Cirencester?

Daisy May, who has recently been lined up to play ‘M’ in James Bond, lives in the regional winning town with her younger brother Charlie Cooper.

Ruthin, Denbighshire

While Elton John has an extensive property portfolio including two mansions in Los Angeles, his half-brother Geoff Dwight leads a completely different life in Wales.

Geoff resides in an ‘alternative community’ in Ruthin, which has just been named as the Welsh regional winner in The Times, where he works odd jobs and organises music festivals.