DATA has revealed that Cumbria is one of the best places to move if you are an aspiring author.

Researchers from McGowan Transcriptions release the results of a new study, ranking the best counties for aspiring novelists. 

Cumbria ranked second, with a total of 5.3 bookshops per 100 000 people and 11 prolific authors. 

Unsurprisingly, Oxfordshire, traditionally associated with academia, earned the top spot. Surrey, Herefordshire and the Isle of Wight also scored highly. 

Please find below the best 10 counties for aspiring novelists, along with a data breakdown:

  1. Oxfordshire - 5.3 bookshops per 100 000 people, 11 prolific authors 
  2. Cumbria - 7 bookshops per 100 000 people, 4 prolific authors
  3. Surrey - 5.7 bookshops per 100 000 people, 5 prolific authors
  4. Herefordshire - 6.4 bookshops per 100 000 people, 4 prolific authors
  5. Isle of Wight - 6.9 bookshops per 100 000 people, 3 prolific authors
  6. Devon - 4.8 bookshops per 100 000 people, 7 prolific authors
  7. Dorset - 5.4 bookshops per 100 000 people, 5 prolific authors
  8. London - 3 bookshops per 100 000 people, 25 prolific authors
  9. Shropshire - 4.7 bookshops per 100 000 people, 8 prolific authors
  10. Cornwall - 5.1 bookshops per 100 000 people, 2 prolific authors