A town and a village in Gloucestershire have made it into the prestigious Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide.

Stroud and Charlton Kings were judged to be among the best places to live in the South West.

Each year, a panel of expert judges assess a wide range of factors ranging from schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.

They look to celebrate improving towns, villages or city centres, attractive, well-designed homes and locations full of community spirit.

The entry for Charlton Kings read: "Charlton Kings may sound more like a cover band or the name of the darts team, but don't let such assumptions fool you.

"This is one of the smartest moves an affluent and upwardly mobile family can make. The village is on the leafy western edge of the Cotswolds, two miles southeast of the festival-focused Regency beauty of Cheltenham.

"The poet laureate Cecil Day-Lewis lived in Bafford Lane in the 1930s and author Lewis Carroll was a frequent visitor with Alice, finding inspiration — allegedly — in a mirror in a house in Cudnall Street.

"This smart village is certainly well placed, though it's the stellar reputation of Balcarras School that makes it a magnet for upwardly mobile young families."

As for Stroud, the judges said that from its vegan football club to the farmers' market, it's all about country living with a radical edge in this Cotswold town with an eco-conscience.

"Stroud likes to celebrate everything local — it was one of the many reasons that the old-fashioned, new-age Cotswold town was named the overall Best Place to Live winner in 2021.

"A few locals might have treated themselves to a Plant Power vegan pizza (£11) with a pint of Big Cat stout — all organic and "very Stroud" at the Stroud Brewery Taproom — others liked to point out the fact that Extinction Rebellion was founded here as grounds for disqualification.

"As a mill town in the Cotswolds, Stroud means different things to different people. For some, it's Barbours and bridles, muddy wellies and yomps on the commons with the labradors; for others it's mung beans and beanies, changing the world one sustainable soya latte at a time.

"Everyone likes to celebrate everything local, especially at the brilliant Saturday farmers' market, the schools are good and there's a strong cultural offering too."

Chalke Valley in Wiltshire was named as the best place to live in the South West while Ilkley, West Yorkshire was named as the overall Best Place to Live in the UK. The guide includes 70 locations across the UK.