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The Sunday Times has now recognised what we've known all along - Bedford's Castle Quarter is one of the best places to live in the East of the UK.

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide revealed that Castle Quarter was named the second best place to live in the East subcategory. The town was only beaten by Chelmsford, Essex.

The third best place to live in the East was Bourn, Cambridgeshire, followed by Bungay, Suffolk and Cambridge, Chesterton.

The honour of the title 'best place to live in the UK' went to York.

The Times said Bedford has been 'unfairly overlooked' in the past and said although it may not be known for its beauty, it offers period properties at a much more affordable price than in neighbouring areas. The county town also boasts easy access to London by train.

The newspaper said the best addresses in the area are the streets off Castle Road leading down towards the Embankment.

It was given such a hot spot on the list because of its affordable houses.

The Times advises home buyers to "get in while it's still underrated."

Read below to learn about other regional winners.

(Image: ElenaMorgan)

Top regional locations

East

Chelmsford, Essex Bedford, Castle Quarter Bourn, Cambridgeshire Bungay, Suffolk Cambridge, Chesterton

South East

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire Chadlington, Oxfordshire Deal, Kent Guildford, Surrey Hambleden Valley, Buckinghamshire

Midlands

Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire Birmingham, Harborne Buxton, Derbyshire Fiskerton-cum-Morton, Nottinghamshire Lincoln

London

Bermondsey Clapton Fulham Furzedown Herne Hill

North West

Altrincham, Cheshire Chester The Heatons, Greater Manchester Heswall, Wirral Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria

Wales

Swansea, Mumbles Abergavenny, Monmouthshire Abersoch, Gwynedd Colwinston, Vale of Glamorgan Laugharne, Carmarthenshire

Scotland

Melrose, Scottish Borders Aberdour, Fife Aboyne, Aberdeenshire Black Isle, Highland Dundee

North and North East

Tynemouth, Northumberland Alnwick, Northumberland Beverley, East Yorkshire Durham Leeds, Chapel Allerton

South West

Frome, Somerset Bodmin Moor, Cornwall Bridport, Dorset Bristol, Bishopston Falmouth, Cornwall

Northern Ireland