A glowing report from the Sunday Times says Chester is one of the best places to live in Britain.

Praised for its ‘booming economy and top schools’, the city was only beaten to the leading spot in the north west by Cartmel in Cumbria after making the country's top 50.

The newspaper based the rankings on stats such as school performance, house prices and crime rates along with the opinions of its writers and the community.

Picturesque Tarporley also made the region’s top 12.

The Sunday Times said: “Chester has been drawing people in since Roman Times, though in those days the main attraction was the strategic position on the River Dee, rather than the booming economy, top schools and great transport links that now make it the north west’s answer to Bath or York.

Check out our gallery of reasons why Chester is one of the best places to live in Britain:

“You can still visit the old amphitheatre, but entertainment these days is provided by the city’s many bars and restaurants - and at the riverside racecourse."

Despite a slight on Chester’s increasing number of Costa coffee shops, the city was also celebrated for holding on to its history and charm.

The Sunday Times said: “The shops just get better and better and if you need a break, there’s no shortage of places to grab a coffee.

“At the last count, there were said to be 17 Costa and Costa Express outlets, though you’ll find good independents too.

Tarporley also made the Sunday Times list

“Other attractions include the cathedral and the medieval rows, the distinctive half-timbered shopping streets.

“For the best (and quietest) residential districts, head south of the river, where a four-bedroom detached house will set you back about £450k.”

What the locals say: If it was good enough for the centurions wives

Why we love it: It’s all there in black and white

Do you agree with the Sunday Times? Should Chester have been higher? Let us know in the comments below.

Other inclusions in the north west list were Liverpool’s waterfront and Hale in Cheshire.

Winchester in Hampshire topped the nationwide poll, following previous winners Newnham, in Cambridge (2015), Skipton, in North Yorkshire (2014) and Stamford, in Lincolnshire (2013).

Sunday Times Best Places To Live In Britain North West Top 12:

1. Cartmel, Cumbria

2. Chester

3. Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Greater Manchester

4. Crosby, Merseyside

5. Hale, Cheshire

6. Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria

7. Liverpool waterfront

8. Lytham, Lancashire

9. Manchester: Castlefield

10. Saddleworth, Greater Manchester

11. Tarporley, Cheshire

12. Whalley, Lancashire