UPDATE: |Tiny but ‘timeless’ commuter village 50 minutes from Manchester named one of UK’s best places to live News

The area boasts beautiful canal-side homes, lush countryside and a bustling community spirit

A charming village in the north west is attracting attention after being named as one of the best places to live in the UK. With its picturesque landscape, thriving community and serene canal-side homes, Parbold has been recognised by The Sunday Times in its annual property guide.

As the only area in Lancashire to be featured on the list, Parbold joins the likes of Mossley, The Heatons, Knutsford and Malpas as some of the top-recommended north west locations to reside in 2025.

Rich in history, Parbold was once part of Wigan, Greater Manchester between 1894 to 1974, before becoming a civil parish in West Lancashire.

Albeit small, with a population of just 2,500, the village offers the perfect blend of rural tranquillity and a host of amenities, set amongst a backdrop of rolling hills, lush countryside and the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

In its area guide, The Times said of Parbold: “Classics are classics for a reason: this village is timeless. The local road sign reads ‘‘We’ve got it all in West Lancashire” and the village of Parbold, tucked away between Ormskirk and Wigan, delivers in the space of less than one square mile.

“There is justified pride in its industrial legacy: it is next to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, the 18th-century windmill, now an art gallery, dominates the village centre, while the Parbold Bottle, a monument on Parbold Hill, commemorates the passing of the 1832 Great Reform Act.

“Convenience? For sure. Local shops, two supermarkets (and two dog groomers), a dentist, doctor’s surgery and library, plus a railway station with direct trains to Manchester mean it’s easy to live here, and travel from.”

Parbold is known to be an ideal place for commuters working in Manchester and Liverpool, sitting just three miles from junction 27 of the M6. Manchester can be reached in 50 minutes, whilst Liverpool is 45 minute drive and Preston is 30 minutes.

The fastest direct trains to Oxford Road and Victoria take less than an hour, whilst a train to Wigan takes 14 minutes, Liverpool in under an hour and you can get to London Euston in two hours.

With an average house price of £350,999 over the last year, properties are priced slightly higher than the average of £268,321 in Greater Manchester, according to the latest data from Rightmove.

However, the majority of properties sold in Parbold in the last 12 months were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £280,785, and you can buy terraced properties for around £264,796 on average.

As expected, detached homes are priced much higher, selling for an average of £608,500.

There are a variety of mid-century period properties and modern mansions found on Chorley Road, Miry Lane and Lancaster Lane, which can fetch up to £2 million plus.

The Common is a popular area for families and retirees, with prices ranging from as low as £140,000 for a bungalow to £700,000 for a detached.

Also proving to be a desirable place to live is The Retreat, a former Convent of Notre Dame, which has been recently restored and transformed by developers P J Livesey into a collection of beautifully converted buildings and originally designed new homes.

“Parbold’s recognition as one of the UK’s best places to live is a testament to its vibrant community and stunning surroundings,” says Georgina Lynch, managing director of PJ Livesey.

“With The Retreat, we are preserving the village’s rich history while providing energy-efficient, beautifully designed homes that meet the needs of modern living.

“We’ve been blown away by the demand for our homes so far and its attracted a diverse range of buyers. We’ve seen a lot of downsizers and side-steppers, people looking for somewhere to enhance their day-to-day life without sacrificing quality and location, and Parbold definitely delivers on that.

“We’ve also seen a lot of families too, and no surprise given the great choice of schools and Parbold’s tight-knitted community.”

Georgina added: “Parbold really does give you the best of both worlds, the peace and beauty of the countryside with the convenience of urban amenities and it’s no surprise it’s getting recognised as one of the best places to live.”

Parbold offers a wealth of amenities from independent shops and cafes to traditional pubs. One of the village’s standout features of is its strong sense of community, also recognised by The Times during its visit.

“Community spirit also gets a big tick. From dance classes for parents, grandparents and babies at the Women’s Institute to bridge classes in the hall and poetry mornings at the library, there’s no shortage of things to get involved with,” the guide says.

“You really do get that feeling that everyone knows everyone here. It’s a brilliant place for families — we have three children — and there is always something going on.”