NORTH Yorkshire towns are among the best places to in the country, according to a Sunday Times list to be revealed this weekend.

The newspaper's 101 Best Places to Live in Britain includes 15 Yorkshire and North East towns, but these are dominated by the north of the county with York, seven North Yorkshire towns, plus Beverley in the rankings.

Highest placed is Skipton, which is named fourth best place to live in the UK, but elsewhere in the top 101 are Malton, Helmsley, Harrogate, Richmond, Easingwold, Beverley, York and Masham.

The guide combines data like crime rates, house prices and school performance with the local knowledge and the winning places were selected for offering the best quality of life to the widest number of people, and combining community spirit, good local shops and services and attractive outdoor spaces, a Sunday Times spokesman said.

Sunday Times Home Editor Helen Davies said: “The Best Places guide is dedicated to celebrating Britain’s abundance of great cities, towns and villages. We combine in-depth data with first-hand personal experience to produce an authoritative list.

"There are lots of places across Britain that are worth celebrating, and everyone has different priorities, so this year our supplements cover everything from the countryside to inner-cities.”