A picturesque village in Warwickshire, located just an hour from Birmingham, has been declared the top place to live in the Midlands and one of the finest in the entire UK.
A Sunday Times Champion
Ilmington, a charming settlement on the fringes of the Cotswolds, has secured the title of Best Place to Live in the Midlands in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2025 guide. The prestigious annual list is the result of thorough inspections by expert judges who assess locations on a wide range of criteria. These include house prices, school quality, transport links, broadband speeds, culture, green spaces, and the vitality of the local high street.
The village, with a history of continuous habitation stretching back at least 3,000 years, is praised for its quintessential English charm. It features twin village greens, winding lanes, and an ancient church. However, residents consistently highlight the exceptional community spirit as the defining feature of life in Ilmington.
The Heart of the Community
Central to this spirit is the Ilmington Community Shop & Café, which is operated by more than 100 volunteers from the village. Since its launch in 2015, it has become the indispensable hub of daily life. The shop offers local produce, including the Spirit of Ilmington cider brandy, and provides a space for free Wi-Fi, knit-and-natter sessions, a book club, and communal meals.
The village is also served by two popular pubs: The Howard Arms, a highly-regarded dining pub with an AA Rosette for its seasonal, locally-sourced menu, and The Red Lion, a relaxed, family-friendly venue known for live music.
Connectivity and Local Amenities
Despite its rural idyll, Ilmington is well-connected. The nearest mainline railway station is at Moreton-in-Marsh, roughly eight miles away, offering regular services to Oxford, Reading, London Paddington, Worcester, and Great Malvern. For road travel, Banbury provides access to the M40 motorway and is about a 35-minute drive away.
Nearby towns like Stratford-upon-Avon (20 minutes) and Leamington Spa (30 minutes) offer further leisure, shopping, and commuting options. The village benefits from excellent local schooling, with Ilmington CofE Primary School rated 'Good' by Ofsted in 2024. Outstanding and top-ranked selective secondary schools are also accessible in the wider area.
The property market in Ilmington is characterised by homes full of character, many with names rather than numbers. Prices for charming cottages on streets like Back Street, Middle Street, and Front Street start from around £400,000, while larger detached family homes can reach up to approximately £1.5 million. The average property price in the village is about £458,100.
Ilmington's recognition places it alongside the Coventry suburb of Earlsdon in the Midlands rankings, cementing its status as a blissful and highly desirable location that successfully blends timeless appeal with a vibrant, modern community.
