Welwyn Garden City has been named among Hertfordshire's best places to live by Muddy Stilettos.

As part of the lifestyle website's Top 260 Best Places to Live series, 10 Herts locations were ranked, with St Albans coming out on top.

Tring, Hitchin and Hertford made up the top four, with Welwyn Garden City ranking fifth.

"Welwyn Garden City is bordered by green spaces, boasts a lively community scene, and with average house prices under £500k and being a 35-minute whizz by train into London, it’s got a lot to appeal to commuters and families," a profile of the town reads.

Voting took place between July 30 and August 15 this year, with readers given one vote each.

The Best Place to Live lists provided information on everything from eating out and best schools to the commute and local arts culture, but the final decision came from the readers’ own personal experience.

Hero Brown, founder and editor-in-chief of Muddy Stilettos, said: "When people move home, they’re searching for more than just a house, they want to find a new lifestyle that works for them.

"Our exclusive reader vote gives them a fresh perspective that can make their search easier.

"It’s hard to be confident on whether a location is the right place for you, but we’ve built our reputation on having first-hand knowledge on the in-the-know places to live and places to go.

"This reader vote gives a truly independent view on the towns and villages with the most popular postcodes, schools, restaurants and amenities."

James Cleland, head of country business at Knight Frank added: "With hybrid working promoting greater flexibility and an enhanced work-life balance, new hotspots are emerging nationwide as the demand for more space continues.

"When it comes to where to live, more than ever people want a vibrant and tight-knit community. It’s a trend that deepened during the pandemic and is likely to remain a leading factor for those looking to relocate. Excellent schools, ease of commuting, and access to local amenities also continue to be significant factors.  

"When planning a move, thorough research is crucial to finding a location that aligns with your lifestyle. The Muddy Stilettos Best Places to Live reader vote is an invaluable source of in-the-know information to guide these decisions.

"Knight Frank is excited to collaborate with the team over the coming year to provide this useful insight."