A "CHARMING" village and a "mini town" near Andover have both been named among the best places to live in 2024.
For the second year running, Lifestyle magazine, Muddy Stilettos, has named both Overton and Stockbridge in its list of the 'Best Places to Live in 2024'.
The magazine draws upon its insight into the 28 most sought-after counties in England, guiding potential buyers to the local hot spots and up-and-coming areas.
Famed for being home to CarFest and the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Overton has been named as the tenth best place to live in Hampshire, featuring among a list of the 260 'best places to live'.
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Also included on this year’s list is Stockbridge, which ranked at number six, describing the town, the website said: "The beating heart of Stockbridge on the River Test is its fishing past. Local produce is a big pull in the various foodie pubs, cafés, delis and butchers. Throw in a healthy number of stylish boutiques, smart coffee shops and chocolate-box thatched cottages and you have one seriously desirable locale."
The article praises Stockbridge's coffee shops, pubs and restaurants, giving shut outs to Kudos Coffee, Thyme & Tides, The Greyhound on the Test, the Peat Spade Inn, The Grosvenor Hotel, Prego Deli and Purbani.
The website describes Overton as: "A well-kept secret sitting quietly near the source of the River Test, the charming North Hampshire village of Overton is very well connected (but doesn’t like to shout about it) and even lays claim to a Jane Austen connection: Hampshire’s First Daughter was born a stone’s throw away in the village of Steventon."
The article explains how Overton is "unlike other towns and villages," in the sense that it has "hung on to many essential local shops and services, like the doctors, pharmacy, vets, library, butchers, bakery, Post Office, greengrocer. There’s even a wine merchant (bonus)."
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Talking about the village's history, it mentions that "from the 18th Century right up until 2022, Overton made banknote paper for the Bank of England at nearby Laverstoke Mill – now the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, with its iconic intertwining glass houses offering tours, tastings and gin cocktail shaking."
The website names a 'best kept secret' for each place on the list, for Stockbridge, it says: "Brilliant Bigglesesque fun with fascinating stories and artifacts, the Army Flying Museum is a 10 min drive from Stockbridge," while for Overton, it reads: "The annual Overton wheelbarrow race, held on and off over the last 30 years. Those who aren’t taking part come out in force to cheer them on and have a pint afterwards."
Other nearby areas that made it into the list include Alton, Alresford and Winchester.
Readers can find the full list of the 'Top 260 Places to Live in 2024' by visiting: https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/
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