Cheshire’s Malpas, once a hidden gem, now shines as one of the UK’s top places to live in 2025, offering a blend of history, charm, and countryside beauty.Tucked away in the serene countryside of Cheshire, the quaint village of Malpas is no longer flying under the radar. Once considered one of the UK’s best-kept secrets, Malpas has now stepped into the limelight by earning a coveted spot on The Sunday Times “Best Places to Live in the UK” list for 2025.
Positioned among just seven destinations in the North West to receive this accolade, Malpas is turning heads with its charming blend of historical richness, rural tranquility, and community spirit.History Woven into the LandscapeDominating the skyline is the striking spire of St Oswald’s Church, which rises from the village centre where a medieval castle once stood. Although the castle itself has long vanished, its Motte still lingers—now covered in grass and foliage—offering a glimpse into the village’s storied past.
A walk around the churchyard reveals sweeping views stretching across Cheshire and Shropshire, and on a clear day, even the distant hills of Wales.Malpas, resting atop the southernmost tip of the Mid-Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, lies just five miles from the Welsh border and not far from the historic city of Chester.A Village with Deep RootsThe name “Malpas” is thought to stem from the French term mal-pas, which translates to “bad passage,” a reference to the area’s once-challenging terrai.
