Tonbridge and Malling has been named one of the best places to live in the country according to a study on quality of life.

The constituency was ranked 14th in the UK according to research by bank Halifax, which assessed how areas compare, taking into consideration 26 different factors which buyers may consider when choosing a place to call home.

The criteria included things like high life expectancy, good schools, health and happiness and high average earnings and put East Hertfordshire at the top of the list.

Tonbridge and Malling, however, which boasts a range of heritage assets and rolling countryside, was the highest-ranked in Kent and the fifth best in the south east.

Cllr Matt Boughton, who represents Medway ward on the borough council, said: “It is no surprise to me that Tonbridge and Malling has been named as one of the places with the best quality of life in the country.

“We have beautiful countryside, thriving towns and villages, and are a day trip from both London and the coast. Landmarks like Tonbridge Castle and Ightham Mote really put us on the map too.

“Like many residents I was not born here but love living in Tonbridge because of the access to the countryside, diverse nature of the town and strong sense of community.”

Lauren Jones from Halifax said: "Clearly what makes somewhere a good place to live for one person can be very different to what makes a great place to live for someone else.

"Even on an individual basis, what constitutes a good place to live will change depending on what stage in life you're at.

"What we try to do with our research is take a range of different factors that contribute to what we consider a good quality of life and we look at how an area ranks against each of those factors and score them accordingly."

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge

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