The Sunday Times ranked the best spots to settle down in the country, but Sevenoaks was the only representative from the county.
Finn Macdiarmid reports...
Finn Macdiarmid reports...
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00:00You are in the most beautiful part of the country, and you're within striking distance of London.
00:06What is your favourite thing about Sevenoaks, sir?
00:09The independent shops, the people that live here.
00:14We feel very comfortable. I've lived in Sevenoaks for a very long time.
00:19Oh, I'd have to say La Manica, wouldn't I? Where the shop I work in.
00:24We are the champions of the county.
00:26That's what Sevenoaks locals can say after the Sunday Times ranked where in the UK was the best to live,
00:32and Sevenoaks was the only one on the list from Kent.
00:35The paper's guide says that excellent schools, a buzzing community and its medieval deer park,
00:40Noel Park, are all rewarding reasons to live in the area.
00:44People have been telling us all the things they like about their local town,
00:47but it can't be all sunshine and rainbows.
00:50So let's find out what they maybe don't like so much about Sevenoaks.
00:53And who would know better than Catherine and Prilla, who have worked in the town for most of their lives.
00:58I think it's a lovely place, you know.
01:02But it's sad that some of the places that were individual places are sort of dying out really now.
01:11And what else could make Sevenoaks even better?
01:14I would reduce the parking, please.
01:18It rather lacks a sort of dynamic compared to, say, even not so large of towns like Tunbridge.
01:27It's an endless stream of traffic and it's very narrow.
01:32Sometimes it's dangerous when you get to the other end of the high street.
01:36So, yeah, the traffic needs to be sorted out.
01:40But with concerns about local businesses, one of the best rated restaurants in the town
01:45say that Sevenoaks will only improve as the weather gets better.
01:49Obviously we were going through the Christmas period and things, so there was a lot of pressure to deal with.
01:54But since we're coming into the warmer weather, it seems to be smoothing out.
01:58I think because where we're a less of a busy area, I think people might be quite attracted to that
02:03rather than going to London where it's a bit overpowering with all the people and things like that.
02:10So I think it's a nice little spot, actually.
02:14On Sevenoaks, locals say they like its quiet nature, scenic sights and how close it is to London.
02:19But admit it does still have its issues, from high house prices to expensive parking.
02:24Now, despite all that and the fact it no longer has all of its Sevenoaks,
02:28it's still managed to earn a spot in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live in the UK.
02:32Finn McDermid for KMTV in Sevenoaks.