Rushcliffe is the northernmost English borough in this year's list. Located in the heart of the Midlands, rural tranquility and excellent transport links to major cities combine to create an attractive proposition for those looking for the best of both worlds in an overlooked part of the country.
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The Local Authority of Rushcliffe is a somewhat surprising entry considering its dodgy relative just the otherside of the river Trent - the city of Nottingham has been a regular on our previous worst lists. But its neighbour Rushcliffe has powered into our 20 best countdown thanks in part to its strong social conscience.
Virtually every house has three bins for separating their rubbish, and 50 per cent of all household waste is recycled. That's double the national figure. These eco warriors are fighting fit too: only 1 in 5 smoke; deaths from cancer, stroke and heart disease are low and residents here don't check in through those pearly gates until a ripe old age.
Located just to the south of Nottingham, a city that's being intensely redeveloped, Rushcliffe has largely avoided the slump in investment caused by the dismantling of the coal industries which sustained its Nottinghamshire neighbours. As Kenneth Clarke's constituency, it is also one of the few Conservative seats in a Labour-dominated swathe of the Midlands.
With an average house costing £234,000 in June 2007, the area is one of the more affordable English options in the Top 20. What's more, a 10 per cent rise in prices in the past year mark it out as one to watch for the future. Council tax rates slightly higher than the national average should not cause too much concern, either, when even a detached home averages some £25,000 less than the national average.
While its administrative centre, West Bridgford, is a leafy suburb of Nottingham itself, much of the rest of the borough lies in picturesque countryside typified by the Vale of Belvoir. Sites of historical interest are dotted across the area, with Belvoir Castle itself forming the centrepiece, and Sherwood Forest, Newstead Abbey and Chatsworth House all within reach.
There's easy access to both the M1 and A1, so you'll never be too far away from any of the major English cities, and nearby Grantham offers rail journeys to London in a little over an hour. And as, like other residents, you're likely to be earning almost 20 per cent more than the national average, you'll probably be travelling first class!
<< Go back to the index to read about more of the top and bottom 20
See what viewers are saying about Rushcliffe and the 433 other UK boroughs >>
Check out the 13th Best place to live in the UK >>
Local area information on Rushcliffe from upmystreet.com >>
Rushcliffe Borough Council >>
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