Hebden Bridge: the coolest place to live in Britain
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Today, The Times listed the 30 coolest places to live in Britain. Number one is Hebden Bridge.
Totnes in Devon only managed number 4 with Bethnal Green at number 2, Stockbridge in Edinburgh at 3 and Folkestone at number five.
So what did The Times write about Hebden Bridge?
Why is is so great? A market town in the Upper Calder Valley doesn't sound that cool, yet Hebden Bridge has been voted one of the quirkiest places in the world thanks to its artists, musicians and New Agers. It is also reputed to be one of the most gay-friendly towns in the country. The music scene is great - the Trades Club is an institution.
Who lives here? Creative types and those with a hippy streak.
House prices. Buy an out-of-town country house or barn with a couple of acres from £600,000, or a family-sized stone-built semi in the town centre from £250,000. Smaller terraces start at about £150,000.
In 2005, the HebWeb reported that Hebden Bridge was the 4th funkiest town in the world (May 2005) and in the same year it was declared the UK town with most local identity.
In November 2010, Hebden Bridge won the 'Great Town Award' given by The Academy of Urbanism. Barnsley Bard Ian McMillan wrote a poem about Hebden Bridge for the award ceremony.