Margate has been named one of the best places to live in the country.

The seaside town is the only Kent entry in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live in Britain guide.

It beat the likes of affluent Sevenoaks and cosmopolitan Canterbury to be among the top 15 spots to set up home in the south east.

The guide, which is published on Sunday, looks at factors including jobs, exam results, broadband speed, culture, community spirit and the quality of local shops, as well as crime and education statistics.

The judges also reflected on their own experiences of villages, towns and cities, such as local pubs, ease of transport and the range of property.

Home editor Helen Davies said: "This is the fifth year we have compiled the list, and this year's is even bigger and better - the guide is more personal, more detailed and more comprehensive than ever before.

"The list weighs up everything from considering the likely impact of the local plan, to whether the post office is still open, the range of housing, and the quality of the coffee.

"Numbers on a spreadsheet can only tell us so much, so we carefully balance statistics with our writers' decades of knowledge and expertise to create the definitive list of the best places to live in the UK."

Other towns on the south east shortlist include Crowborough in East Sussex, Farnham in Surrey and St Albans in Hertfordshire.

Johnny Morris from Countrywide plc, which provided the judges with average property prices, said: "Using extensive data from across our businesses, along with official statistics, we have been able to paint a detailed picture, not just of how much it costs to buy or rent in different places across the country, but what it is like to live there too.

"We've been able to do this for all types of people, from someone renting their first flat to a family buying their forever home."

The second instalment of the two-part series will be published on Sunday, March 19.