Oxfordshire has been hit with a surprisingly underwhelming rating in a poll of the best counties in England.

Despite offering everything from gleaming spires to chocolate box villages, rugged rural landscape to cosmopolitan Michelin-starred restaurants, Oxfordshire has been voted a mere 18th best out of all of England’s 48 counties.

The Daily Telegraph measured all counties against 41 criteria in four subcategories: Natural Wonders, History and Culture, Luxuries, and Peace and Quiet.

Natural Wonders measured everything from the number of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural beauty (AONBs) to the average annual hours of sunshine and rainfall between 1991 and 2020, according to the Met Office.

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For History and Culture, the criteria were number of World Heritage Sites (Blenheim Palace), museums and galleries, National Trust listings and cathedrals with bonus points awarded if the county hosts Premier League football, Premiership Rugby or first class cricket.

Luxuries measured everything from the number of Michelin stars to Great British Pub award winners in 2024 and top-rated golf courses.

The Peace and Quiet category reflected each county’s population density (the lower the better) and looked at indicators from the crime rate to an airport that flew more than 200,000 passengers in 2023.

Bonus points were awarded for counties that do not possess a motorway, a high-speed railway (either in service or under construction) or a population greater than 150,000.

The final differentiator was an online poll among the newspaper's readers.

England’s best county was named as Devon with a staggering 61 point lead on second placed Cumbria. North Yorkshire meanwhile came third.