The three West Midlands villages named in the Which? list of UK’s best towns and villages

Consumer experts Which? revealed the rankings in September, with the results based on readers’ surveys.

Readers were asked to rate inland locations based on attractiveness, peace and quiet, food and drink, tourist attractions, scenery and shopping, with each being rated out of five. More than 9,000 Which? members rated the inland towns and villages they’d visited, and each area then received an overall destination score, as a percentage out of 100.

The top spots were awarded to Wells in Somerset and Avebury in Wiltshire, with 83% and 82% retrospectively.

Three West Midlands villages and towns have been included in the list. They include Church Stretton in Shropshire (78%), Great Malvern (76%) in Worcestershire and Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire (73%). Church Stratton is ranked in 11th place, with Great Malvern 23rd and Stratford 45th.

Stratford is only a short distance from Birmingham and is a great local location for a day out with the family. The medieval market town is of course the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare. Developed along the banks of the River Avon, this town has much to offer for tourists incluidng The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Swan Theatre, as well as a number of independent shops on the high street.

Great Malvern is a picturesque quiet village in north Worcestershire. It’s known for the Malvern hills as well as its number of great pubs.

And Church Stretton in Shropshire is the only town in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is renowned worldwide for its geology, with some of the oldest rock formations in existence. There are also lots of independent, locally-owned businesses which add to the community feel in the town.