The 3 best places to live in the East Midlands revealed by Sunday Times - but no Nottinghamshire on the list

The best places to live in the East Midlands have been revealed by The Sunday Times' Best Places to Live 2025 list.

The East Midlands features on three out of the seven spots on the Midlands list but not one place in Nottinghamshire has made the grade this time around.

Over here at NottinghamWorld we think our county has many of the best places to live. Get in touch with us to share where you live in the county and why it’s so great here: [email protected]

Here are the three best places to live in the East Midlands in 2025, according to the Sunday Times.

Market Harborough, Leicestershire

Set in a pretty countryside known as the Notswolds — like the Cotswolds without the pretentiousness or the price tag - Market Harborough is hard to beat.

It is historic, well-connected by road and rail; well-educated thanks to its roster of good schools; and well-appointed, with a fine selection of independent shops, upmarket chains and a market that has been going strong for more than 800 years.

Oakham, Rutland

The county town of Oakham is both pretty and practical.

As well as offering slightly more house for your money than you will find elsewhere in England’s smallest county, Oakham has excellent restaurants, a fine selection of independent shops and a growing wellness scene, plus a railway station and the glorious expanse of Rutland Water on the doorstep.

From the twice-weekly market to the monthly cinema in the Rutland County Museum and the regular art exhibitions, performances and classes in Victoria Hall, there’s plenty going on in Oakham’s handsome streets.

Wirksworth, Derbyshire

Wirksworth more than lives up to its Quirksworth nickname. It’s home to a boho collection of families, downsizers and creative types, attracted to its artsy, alternative, almost-anything-goes community-centred vibe, and a scenic view around every corner.

The high street is dotted with cool independent shops, cafés, and restaurants, a Tuesday market (with a farmers’ market first Saturday of the month), and some rollicking pubs.

The Red Lion, an 18th-century coaching inn, hides a micropub/record shop, the Feather Star, which holds synth nights, blues nights and a cheese night every Tuesday. There’s also the Northern Light Cinema, for arthouse movie nights.