When it comes to a home, it has to be Harborne.

That's the result of an annual survey which has again named the leafy suburb Birmingham's best.

The southern enclave has long been a favourite for its character properties and array of eating and drinking options.

Its latest nod was revealed today, Friday, April 12, in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2019 study.

But the area's attractions are no secret.

Harborne also took top spot in the Sunday Times study in 2018.

Scene pictures from the High Street, Harborne, Birmingham, with the Plough Harborne

It said then: "There’s a good choice of Victorian terraces, as well as larger interwar semis and detached houses.

"Neighbour of highfalutin, highly priced Edgbaston, Harborne has always been the go-to area for academics at the university and doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

"Nobody would call it beautiful, but it’s got all the right bits in the right places.

"There’s a handy shopping street, bookended by Waitrose and M&S, and a range of restaurants, from the new Harborne Kitchen to the Plough, a much-loved local pub offering up-to-date touches such as a gluten-free brunch.

"The biggest draw here, though, has to be Moorpool, an idyllic enclave of Arts & Crafts homes built around a pond, a bowling green and a tennis court, with allotments."

Last year, Sally England Kerr, from England Estate Agents, told BirminghamLive: “The area has everything you could need - easy access to the city centre, a wonderful high street, beautiful parks and lots of jobs with the QE hospital and University of Birmingham nearby”.

Harborne High Street
Harborne High Street

Andy Thomas, from Hunters Estate Agents, said: “Harborne is a wonderful place for families to live with excellent schools, varied ethnicities, parks, lots of clubs, activity centres and of course the recently rebuilt Harborne Leisure Centre."

The latest Sunday Times study said a starter home in Harborne would cost £190,575, or £683-a-month, to rent.

A mid-market property would cost £343,310 or £1,015 pcm to rent and a top-of-the-range £720,330, or £1,445-a-month.

Other West Midlands gems picked out in the study included Leamington Spa, praised for its architecture, coffee scene and hi-tech reputation as the home of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Historic Kenilworth also made the list following the long-awaited opening of a new railway station.

Harborne has some of the most luxurious homes in the West Midlands.

The detached 79 Lonsdale Road sold recently for £860,000.

79 Lonsdale Road, Harborne, sold for £860,000

These are our picks for Harborne's top attractions

With a dazzling array of food and drink choices, it's easy to see why Harborne has been chosen by the judges.

There's bread from heaven from the Peel & Stone bakery, at the top of the High Street, on the corner of Albert Road.

Last year the acclaimed Brum bakery gave up its lease on its cafe and, in its place, The Basement Cafe and Bakery has opened.

The new cafe offers a varied range of savoury and sweet treats, but still stocks Peel & Stone bread.

The Green Man pub, Harborne
The Green Man pub, Harborne

Meanwhile, the stoned-baked pizzas at the other end of the High Street at The Plough are legendary.

This pub, bar and restaurant - one of Britain's 50 best places for breakfast according to The Guardian last year - is a Harborne institution.

Harborne's pubs give this area its heart and soul. But in recent years, some cool independents have popped up to pump up the street cred.

Scott's of Harborne

Scandi-style coffee shop Caffiened opened on Gordon Road, next door to award-winning barbers Barberology, in December 2017 - and is a very, very cool hangout.

It was a sad day when they shut up shop Harborne High Street is once again home to chicken wing ecstasy, courtesy of Wok Chi.

Hong Kong born Chinese Alfie and Linda Choi’s High Street restaurant serves up modern Chinese and South East Asian dishes as well as mouth-watering flavours of crispy chicken wings.

Harborne Kitchen, owned by Jamie Desogus, has attracted numerous plaudits.

Lordswood Road in Harborne.

Most recently, it was named as as Best Local Restaurant by readers in the Good Food Guide 2019.

The Guide editors said: "This stylish bar-restaurant in a suburb of Birmingham ticks a lot of boxes – it’s independent, friendly, seasonal, and loved by locals.

Harborne Kitchen serves up stunning food and drink in a super chilled atmosphere. You simply can’t get much cooler than that.

Moorpool in Harborne.

And there is the fantastic list of pubs including The Plough.

The pub has a lovely welcoming villagey vibe, as well as a fabulous garden at the back.

The wine menu is extensive and includes seven varieties of natural, biodynamic organic wines available to buy by the bottle.

Foodwise, their stone-baked pizzas are legendary.

Other top pubs to visit include the historic drinking hole The Bell.

The Bell was built over 300 years ago, giving it a very traditional, country pub feel.

A little bit of a walk from the High Street but well worth it. It's also the start of the Harborne Mile pub crawl.

And then there is The New Inn. A pub that was made for winter evenings. Cosy up by the fire and enjoy a warming glass of red.