MIDLANDS

Uppingham, Rutland, named best place to live in the Midlands 2022

A discerning market town with art, heart and smarts — plus the magnificent Rutland Water

From boutique to basic: the market in Uppingham
From boutique to basic: the market in Uppingham
The Sunday Times

They say that beauty is only skin deep, but in Uppingham it’s built into the fabric of its honey-coloured houses. From the thatched cricket pavilion to the quaint old market square, there’s a feast for the eyes at every turn — cobbled alleys, pots bursting with bay and box, and immaculate front gardens. This is a place that cares about appearances. Life here is pleasingly traditional — and not just in November when the streets are full of sheep and cattle for the fatstock show, using temporary pens in the market square, or April when vintage cars gather for the Stilton Cheese Run.

There’s unspoilt farmland all around and the centre is full of lovely limestone houses. Everybody knows everybody else, and they all gather