Around two hours away from Birmingham is a charming and leafy village recently named among the best inland places in the UK. A survey, carried out by Which?, asked thousands of its members to rate their experiences of visiting towns and villages across the country in the last year.

Criteria included scenery, food and drink, peace and quiet, tourist attractions, and value for money. The village of Port Sunlight near Liverpool made the top 10, along with destinations such as Ludlow in Shropshire and Wells in Somerset.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: "From famed tourist towns to lesser-known villages, this year’s survey has captured the range of unique destinations the UK has to offer. While the picturesque South West took the top spots, there are beautiful towns and villages in Scotland, Wales and from across England in the top ten – meaning there is a fantastic place to visit on your doorstep no matter where you live.”

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Here's a look at why the peaceful village, founded by a Victorian-era entrepreneur to house his factory workers, made the list.

Life in the village

Which? said Port Sunlight was built by the Sunlight Soap mogul William Hesketh Lever to house his workers in a community of cottages and leafy boulevards. It continued: "This concept of an ideal village, just a 15-minute drive from Liverpool, continues to draw visitors with its fascinating mix of architectural styles across 900 listed buildings.

"Despite its small size – it has fewer than 1,500 residents – Port Sunlight got five stars for attractions. One to see is the Lady Lever Art Gallery, a beautiful, neo-classical building home to a fine collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings."

After being named as one of the best villages in the UK, a reporter from our sister website The Liverpool Echo decided to pay it a visit and discovered stunning architecture, a friendly community and idyllic scenery. She wrote: "I have become accustomed to the constant sound of car engines in the bustling city centre streets of Liverpool.

"In Port Sunlight, the only sounds I could hear at times were the scurrying of squirrels across the fallen autumn leaves and the distant buzzing of lawnmowers. A welcome change from the city clamour.

She added: "Each corner turned seemed to enlighten me to a new piece of history. Port Sunlight has a lot to boast about. The winding paths leading to fields and woodland seemed endless."

She continued that one particular highlight was The Lady Lever Art Gallery, regarded as one of the finest art galleries in Europe. She wrote: "As I spotted the gallery in the distance, I took a moment to admire the architecture of the building, which was art in itself.

"But nothing could've prepared me for the extensive beauty concealed within its walls. I had lost count of the breath-taking collections I had encountered during my visit."

Strict rules

As the Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) points out, the listed buildings sit within a Conservation Area which means national legislation exists to protect these from harmful changes. There are therefore a number of rules that many residents have to abide by - for instance, replacing a front door or installing a satellite dish requires permission from Wirral Council and PSVT.

And in most cases, planning permission is required for residents who want you to erect or add to a fence, wall or gate. The PSVT says: "The trust provides support for residents on the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of their listed homes.

"One of the most exciting aspects of Port Sunlight village is that it is an occupied heritage site, it is a vibrant 21st century community. Our objective is to help you live comfortably in a well maintained and conserved heritage property that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

"As residents and owners, you are the stewards and caretakers for these historically important houses."

How to get there

Port Sunlight is just over two hours away from Birmingham city centre if you travel via the M6.

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