DORKING is one of the best towns to live in the country, according to a national newspaper.
Although it's nothing we didn't already know, or appreciate, it's now been confirmed by The Times' 30 Best Villages in Britain list which was published today.
The list relied on expert views and the latest price data as well as looking at schools, transport and everything that forges a good neighbourhood.
Dorking came in 16th out of the 30 listed with the town being 40 minutes from both London and the coast being one of the strong reasons for its entry.
The Times also said the schools are popular and that Dorking is "no dull commuter town" as it has a good programme of cultural events, a cinema, good shops and the "lovely" Box Hill on the doorstep.
The Times is expected to publish lists in three more categories over the next three days.
Here is what The Times had to say about Dorking:
Why is it so great? It is 40 minutes from both London and the coast. Schools are popular and this is no dull commuter town: there's a good programme of cultural events, a cinema, good shops and the lovely Box Hill on the doorstep.
Who lives here? Commuters with families rub shoulders with downsizers from the rest of Surrey.
House prices: The town has lots of Victorian homes. Emma Neill of Haart recommends Rothes Road and Wathen Road (birthplace of Laurence Olivier), where homes cost about £450,000. The town's average price is £361,600.
Here is the top 30 towns list:
1 Arundel, West Sussex
2 Bakewell, Derbyshire
3 Cranbrook, Kent
4 Keswick, Cumbria
5 Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
6 Alnwick, Northumberland
7 Saffron Walden, Essex
8 Hay-on-Wye, Powys
9 Hitchin, Hertfordshire
10 Marlborough, Wiltshire
11 Clitheroe, Lancashire
12 Liskeard, Cornwall
13 Grantham, Lincolnshire
14 Tetbury, Gloucestershire
15 Melbourne, Derbyshire
16 Dorking, Surrey
17 Amersham, Buckinghamshire
18 Uppingham, Rutland
19 Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
20 Bungay, Suffolk
21 Lewes, East Sussex
22 Downham Market, Norfolk
23 Kingsbridge, Devon
24 Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
25 Bridport, Dorset
26 Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
27 Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
28 Altrincham, Greater Manchester
29 Axbridge, Somerset
30 Thirsk, North Yorkshire
