As a nation we’ve always been a bit obsessed with property, haven’t we? How much our homes are worth (remember those relentless mid Nineties dinner party conversations?), how to Air B&B, where to buy a fantasy second home, whether to buy-to-let… If anything, since the pandemic, we’ve become collectively even more preoccupied with bricks and mortar, as people look to replan futures, change their lives, and rethink what’s important – often away from London and towards the towns and villages that arguably offer a better quality of life.

If you’re a regular Muddy reader, you’ll know this is our sweet spot! Uniquely, our editors across 25 counties are true insiders, living, breathing and intimately knowledgeable in the areas they write about. This means we give the most accurate and genuine lowdown on the best schools, shops, social tips, travel routes and gorgeous pubs to help you make the right choice for you and your family.

‘And what about houses?’, I hear you ask (er, go on then). Ahh, we can help you with that too, because our new Best Places to Live 2022 is in association with none other than national estate agents Strutt & Parker. If you’ve bought or sold a house recently – I’m sure Strutt & Parker will have been on your radar (they have 53 offices, so the odds you’ve stood mesmerised at their window displays).

Quite aside from the fact that their properties are all high quality (check them out, you’ll be gawping for hours) and cover everything from residential, development land and country estate and farms, Strutt & Parker are also estate agents hell-bent on being super-approachable, helpful and lacking in snobbery – it’s no coincidence that S&P were the first estate agents we ever worked with back in 2013! They’re also quick on the mark with new technologies – they were the first national estate agent to introduce virtual 360-degree viewings.

So it’s a warm Muddy welcome to Strutt & Parker (come on in, take a seat by the fire and we’ll set you up with a hot toddy), and an excitable hellooo to our new intake of 200 fantastic places to live. Where will you be moving to in 2022?

See Muddy’s Top 200 Best Places to Live 2022 here.