Expected entrants including St Andrews didn’t make the list.

The town placed 14th in the UK overall in the Times newspaper’s top 30 hotlist which was decided by a panel of experts.

Factors making Helensburgh ‘so great’ according to the list include having a Waitrose supermarket and ‘stunning’ architecture by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The experts wrote: “This affluent seaside town on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde is great value for money and is one of the few places in Scotland to have a Waitrose.

“There’s some fabulous architecture from Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the stars of the Arts and Craft movement, who built handsome villas for wealthy Glaswegian merchants, and it’s only 45 minutes by train to Glasgow.

“You can get a five or six-bedroom sandstone Victorian villa for £500,000 that would have cost £850,000 pre the crash in 2007.” The national list is topped by Rhossili, South Gower, Wales, which was also voted the UK’s best beach by TripAdvisor. Darrel Hendrie, convener of Helensburgh Community Council, said that the ‘Waitrose effect’ may be making the town a better place to live.

He said: “It’s nice to see Helensburgh being recognised as a good place to live. We have some great architecture in this town, Hill house is internationally famous. We have great views over the Clyde estuary, and really good transport links with the rest of Scotland — especially Glasgow.

“The crime rate is fairly low and it’s a safe place to live. We could do with better weather though. When Waitrose was first proposed a lot was said about the so called Waitrose effect, it was claimed that it would make the town a more desirable place to live, maybe it’s starting to come true.” Helensburgh Central councillor Aileen Morton said it would be ‘unlikely’ anyone would move to the town because of the list – but hopes it could lead to more visitors.

She said: “Considering Helensburgh was the first Scottish town to appear on the list I would hope that the article may have a positive effect for the town – for retailers and ultimately for residents.

“I think it’s unlikely that anyone would move to the town just because of comment by a newspaper but hopefully it will prompt people who wouldn’t otherwise have considered visiting Helensburgh to come to the town to see why the Times thought so highly of us.

“In my opinion, it would be difficult to find a better town to raise a family – Helensburgh brings together the advantages of small-town seaside living with easy access to the rest of the world. With short travel times to Glasgow city centre and Glasgow Airport, Helensburgh is potentially very attractive to a wide range of people.” Helensburgh Central councillor Vivien Dance said that the inclusion of the town was likely to drum up tourism, but added the newspaper missed out the ‘great sense of community’ — which she believes is the ‘real Helensburgh’.

She told the Advertiser: “Like all business people in the town I am very pleased Helensburgh continues to get excellent reviews from the UK press, this is the kind of advertising that we need and rightly deserve and no doubt it will bring additional tourists to Helensburgh.

“It was interesting that the article highlighted the positive information that we are one of the few Scottish towns to have a Waitrose, a development vehemently opposed by our council, and of course our impressive architecture specifically Hill House. “Because of the readership of The Times it emphasised the wealth of the town in monetary terms completely missing what makes Helensburgh a great place to live and that is the people who live here and create a great sense of community by their commitment to the real wealth of this town, the caring, hardworking voluntary groups, this is the real Helensburgh. “Many of us have always known we have a great place to live, work and play, that is why we make Helensburgh our own, and I am delighted that the rest of the UK is realising this through The Times.” Councillor James Robb added: “Helensburgh is a great place to live and bring up a family. A beautiful town on the river, with a rural feel and a vibrant community and only a short distance from Glasgow and all that offers.” Councillor Gary Mulvaney, chairman of the local area committee, said that although the town made the list, the next step would be encouraging more people to move into the area.

He said: “We are indeed very fortunate to live in Helensburgh. “We have great road and train links to Glasgow and are just minutes away from Loch Lomond and the scenic beauty of rural Argyll.

“There are two excellent modern secondary schools with superb facilities, a pedestrian friendly environment with a variety of independent shops and businesses, great community spirit, all against an unspoilt green backdrop on one side and the Clyde on the other.

“Our next step collectively must be to encourage more people to visit and to build more homes for those that wish to stay.” A spokesman for Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce said it was a ‘magnificent accolade’ for the town to be named on the list, and gave credit to the residents of the town for ‘creating a delightful place to call home’.

He said: “Those who are fortunate to live in Helensburgh know it is a great place to make a home and bring up a family but it is a real boost when other people recognise that.

“To be top in Scotland and 14th in the UK as a coastal place to live is a magnificent accolade and a tribute to those who have put so much work into bringing Helensburgh into the modern world and creating a delightful place to call home.

“It is hoped this news will encourage more people to make their home here and encourage holiday makers to visit Helensburgh to see and enjoy all it has to offer for themselves.” Paula Bailey, manager at Allen and Harris estate agents, said Helensburgh was a ‘fantastic place to live’, as the range of properties in the town means there is something for everyone.

She told the Advertiser: “Helensburgh can have any type of property, you can go from a one-bed flat to a mansion.”