IT’S official - Farnham is one of the best places to live for scenery, strong sense of community, culture, food and drink, education and much much more.

The town came in at number two in The Sunday Times’ shortlist of the 15 most desirable locations in the South East in its 2017 guide, published at the weekend, and nearby Godalming also came up trumps in fourth place.

Mention is made of the town centre traffic problems but the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages, with special mentions going to Farnham’s 12th-century castle, its bow-fronted shops, artisan bakeries, pottery and the regular entertainments on offer.

“With a kiln, a darkroom and a youth theatre, Farnham Maltings caters for arty types,” the guide states. “As for parents, well, no wonder they have a reputation for being just a teensy bit self-satisfied here. There are music and drama groups on every street corner, the kids can run amok in a 320-acre medieval deer park, and good state schools include Highfield, South Farnham and Weydon - though liberal types send their kids to the independent co-ed Frensham Heights, where the mantra is ‘Think, create, explore’.

“Oh, and Farnham is in the borough of Waverley, where average life expectancy is a healthy 82 for men and 85 for women - diesel fumes notwithstanding.”