Country Life voted Devon as the best county to live in.... but you already knew that. If you don't live here, coming on holiday is the next best thing.
Devon's rolling landscapes, feted heritage sites and cosy fireside pubs have made it the best place in the country to live, according to a wide-ranging survey by Country Life Magazine.
According to Country Life, Devon is the best place to live in England
To those who live there, it's probably no secret, but the study found that those living in the county simply enjoy a better quality of life than anywhere else in England.
The third biggest county enjoys a greater number of farm shops and local butchers, has the best recycling rate and impeccable environmental credentials.
It has an array of good pubs and can boast the beauty of Dartmoor as well as National Parks.
The magazine rated each county on how they performed across 19 categories, including health, schools, environment, heritage. It also looked at village green, the quality of the local pubs and the number of residents in Who's Who.
Devon came top in five categories as the best for green credentials, local food, pubs, heritage and landscape. "Few counties can match the variety that Devon manages to pack inside its borders," said Mark Hedges, the magazine's editor. "Devon has always had a special place in many people's hearts as a favourite place for family holidays, to escape city life, and to retire. Our survey shows that Devon really does deliver the dream."
It is only the second time Country Life, which is published today, has carried out the survey. The previous occasion was in 2003, when Devon again took the top place.
