A pretty commuter town half an hour from London is named among the UK’s best places to live. Leighton Buzzard is a delightful market town in Bedfordshire, brimming with pubs, cafés and independent shops.

This town’s winding high street, adorned with listed 18th-century buildings, is like stepping into a different era. While often overlooked by Londoners looking to leave life in the city for the commuter belt, the town is now getting the recognition it deserves, being named one of the best places to live in the country by Muddy Stilettos. According to Rightmove, the average house in the town will set you back around £366K. Compare that to London’s average price for property altogether – including flats – of £663K, and Leighton Buzzard is suddenly even more of an attractive proposition. Whether you arrive by car, train, or bus, this small town offers an array of attractions that far exceed its size. As you stroll into Market Square, the medieval market cross, one of the few survivors of the Reformation, immediately catches your eye. It stands alongside the 16th-century timber-framed old town hall, which now houses a Pizza Express.

It’s along High Street that the town truly sparkles come evening, with illuminated pubs casting their glow across the cobblestones. Facing St Mary’s parish church is The Golden Bell, a charming former coaching inn. Moving further along High Street, The Black Lion presents exposed brickwork and timber-framed interiors.

Meanwhile, one of Leighton Buzzard’s most beloved draws is its Light Railway, a narrow-gauge line that proves a treat for families. Close at hand lies the village of Heath and Reach, where guests can explore Rushmere Country Park and Stockgrove Country Park. 

The former grand residence of the de Rothschild family – Ascott House, managed by The National Trust – is just a stone’s throw away in Wing, Buckinghamshire.

The town of Leighton Buzzard is crisscrossed by waterways: the River Ouzel and the Grand Union Canal, where boats are docked and a delightful footpath runs alongside. 

Upon exiting the train station, visitors find themselves immediately across the river from the heart of Leighton. This area, known as Linslade, was once an independent village in the neighbouring county of Buckinghamshire before being incorporated into the larger town of Leighton Buzzard.

While it may not be as prosperous as the main town, Linslade has its own charm with its winding old streets. A leisurely stroll through Linslade Woods or along the Grand Union Canal will bring you to the 13th-century St Mary’s Church of Old Linslade, largely deserted since Victorian times.

For those journeying by car, Leighton Buzzard is encircled by idyllic villages – Hockliffe, Eggington, Stanbridge, Tilsworth, Heath and Reach, Wing, Billington and Mentmore.