HASLEMERE and its surrounding villages have shot close to the top of the annual Halifax Quality of Life survey.

Waverley borough has leapt from 17th place in 2016, to seventh place this year. In 2013, it topped the survey.

Overall, the south of England did very well, with 35 places in southern England within the top 50 best places to live.

A total of 17 were in the South East, a further nine areas in the East of England, five in the South West and four in London.

The Quality of Life index aims to quantify where living standards are highest in the UK by ranking local performance across a range of indicators covering the labour market, the housing market, the environment, education, health, personal well-being and leisure.

This year’s number one destination was still Hart, but its quality of life comes at a price – as it does in Waverley.

The average house price in Hart is £419,231 and it is now £503,125 in Waverley.

Halifax managing director Russell Galley said: “Along with Hart, many areas in southern England score strongly in categories including the labour markets and health.

“Northern areas tend to perform well on education and benefit from more affordable properties with lower house prices to earnings.”

Top seven: 1) Hart 2) Orkney Islands, 3) Rutland, 4) Wychavon 5) Winchester 6) Wokingham 7) Waverley