Chester has made it in to The Sunday Times’ top 50 urban places to live in Britain.

The national newspaper also included competitor cities Bath and York as well as neighbouring Liverpool’s waterfront and Aigburth.

Chester was described in the special supplement on city living as: “Small enough to get to know well, but large enough to meet most demands, Chester attracts compliments — and relocators. This Roman city is growing ever more cosmopolitan, thanks to the multinationals based nearby. The centre is dominated by the city walls, the cathedral and the two-tiered medieval galleries and shops of the Rows.

“A 10-minute walk away, across the River Dee, lies popular Handbridge, with a main street of independent shops. These include Ernest W Edge & Son, a family butcher established in 1937, which sells locally sourced high-quality meats and specialities including usugiri — wafer-thin slices of beef — to a growing number of Japanese customers. The racecourse attracts Premier League footballers and TV stars to its meetings, which double as a showcase for designer dressing.”

Average house price in Chester is said to be £231,533, up 6.8% on a year ago.

Two areas of Liverpool also made it into the top 50 city-living list, which was put together using a mixture of statistics around schools, house prices, crime and transport links as well as the writers’ knowledge and opinions.

Sefton Park and Aigburth was praised for its access to the city, choice of homes and good schools, with special mention of Sefton Park’s boating lake, palm house, cafe and children’s playground.

At the city’s waterfront, Mann Island came in for special praise as “the address of the moment”.

The Sunday Times article stated: “Footballers, TV actors and a surprising number of empty-nesters are swapping leafy surburban lanes for urban buzz. Even a few families have chosen to live by the river, perhaps lured by the preschool on Princes Dock. All love the stunning views – you can watch ferries cross the Mersey.”

There were no rankings within the Best Places to Live in Britain survey except for the overall winner which was Birmingham, Moseley. According to the article, Brummies describe the area as “bohemian”.