Best Places to Live in the UK
The UK is a popular destination for those looking to relocate overseas. It offers a high quality of life, numerous professional opportunities, and a safe and stable environment in which to raise a family. There are also a wide variety of towns and cities from which to choose, depending on your particular circumstances.
The area of the UK which is right for you will depend on a number of factors. To learn more about the different options and how to get started on your relocation journey, contact London Immigration Lawyers today on 0204 502 8582.
Introduction
The UK offers numerous appealing towns and cities in which to settle down. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all offer a range of towns and communities, depending on what is right for your circumstances. Whether you are looking for a thriving cultural scene and city feel or the calm of the British countryside, there is likely to be a UK destination which is right for you.
In general, when deciding on your next UK location, you should make sure to consider a range of factors, such as budget, pace of life, culture, and local connections. While London is culturally rich and provides numerous professional opportunities, for example, its fast pace of life and more expensive average property prices may not be a good fit for everyone. On the other hand, while cities like Exeter and Edinburgh offer quick access to the local countryside and boast their own thriving cultural scenes, they can also take longer to access by road and public transport, meaning they may not be good choices for people looking to live centrally within the UK.
Overall, the UK offers numerous areas from which to choose, and with the right research you can find the location which is right for you.
Page Contents
What are the Best Places to Live and Work in the UK?
Overview
The best places to live and work in the UK depend largely on your specific preferences. What is an excellent fit for one person may fail to satisfy the preferences of another.
However, the Onefamily Index gives us an insight into some of the top UK destinations in which to live and work. According to the index, the following destinations take the top 10 spots:
- Norwich
- Liverpool and Edinburgh
- London
- Cardiff
- Bristol
- Manchester
- Southampton and Birmingham
- Glasgow and Leeds
- Sheffield, Brighton and Nottingham
- Belfast
This article will now consider the top 4 destinations in this list in more detail.
Norwich
Situated in the county of Norfolk, Norwich boasts numerous popular destinations. Areas of particular interest include Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Castle, the Plantation Garden, and Broads National Park.
According to Numbeo data, the average monthly salary after tax in Norwich is £2252 and average rent for a 1-bedroom city centre apartment is £934. This makes the city more affordable than cities such as London and Edinburgh, for example, while still offering numerous cultural and community opportunities.
Liverpool
Located in North-West England, Liverpool is a popular Northern city. Spots of particular interest include Royal Albert Dock, The Beatles Story Museum, Liverpool Cathedral, and the Walker Art Gallery.
According to Numbeo, the average monthly salary in Liverpool after tax is £2214 and the average cost of a 1-bedroom city centre apartment is £900. This makes Liverpool far more affordable than many other UK cities, with prices tending to be more budget-friendly in the north of England in general. Liverpool also has a thriving music and cultural scene, making it a top spot for individuals looking for lively Northern charm and a city feel.
Edinburgh
The Scottish capital, Edinburgh, boasts numerous benefits, such as beautiful architecture, many green spaces, rich culture, independent shops, and numerous nearby areas of stunning natural beauty. Combined, these numerous features make it an excellent place to live. Popular spots include Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat, and Carlton Hill.
According to Numbeo data, the average Edinburgh salary post-tax is £2751, while the average monthly cost of a 1-bedroom city centre apartment falls at £1172. This makes Edinburgh more expensive than many of the other locations in the Onefamily Index, although it is worth noting that average Edinburgh salaries are also higher than many of the other highly ranked cities. If you are looking for cultural richness and close access to the countryside, Edinburgh might be the right choice for you.
London
England’s capital and most populous city, London is a historic location with world-famous architecture, numerous independent shops, many coffee shop choices, beautiful parks, and a thriving cultural scene. While it is expensive compared to most other parts of the UK, it also boasts numerous opportunities for young professionals and the chance to live at the heart of the UK’s cultural scene.
Numbeo data shows the average monthly London salary post-tax falls at £3096 and that the average monthly cost of a 1-bedroom city centre apartment is £2329. Rent in London is therefore substantially higher than most UK destinations, as is the average property price, although the average salary also tends to be higher. While it is possible to find more budget options within the UK’s capital city, the cost of living is generally higher overall, an important consideration when deciding whether or not this choice is right for you.
The Safest Cities in the UK
Numerous factors go into calculating how safe a location is. What is more, safety levels may vary between areas within the same city. However, according to Reolink’s Safety Index, the following 10 locations are generally the safest within the UK:
- York
- Edinburgh
- Bath
- Cambridge
- Brighton
- Exeter
- Plymouth
- Norwich
- Chelmsford
- St. Albans
The data which Reolink uses to create this index is shown in the following table:
| Location | Violent crime rate (per 1000 people) | Property crime rate (per 1000 people) |
| York | 8.2 | 22.1 |
| Edinburgh | 9.1 | 24.3 |
| Bath | 9.5 | 25.7 |
| Cambridge | 10.3 | 27.4 |
| Brighton | 11.2 | 29.8 |
| Exeter | 11.5 | 30.2 |
| Plymouth | 11.8 | 30.9 |
| Norwich | 12.1 | 31.5 |
| Chelmsford | 12.4 | 32.1 |
| St. Albans | 12.7 | 32.8 |
Cities in the North and the South West of the UK are especially well-represented in the list, including York, Edinburgh, Exeter, and Plymouth. Plymouth and Exeter, both located in Devon, provide a city feel while still offering close access to the UK countryside, with Devon itself boasting numerous beautiful beaches and also only being one county along from Cornwall’s rural charm and rolling hills.
If you are looking for a location which is near London but provides some distance from the hustle and bustle, St. Albans may be a good choice, just a quick train ride away. Alternatively, Brighton provides easy train access to London while also offering a seaside location, a lively music scene, and a rich tapestry of independent businesses.
While it is possible to achieve a good quality of life in any of the places in this list, the choice which is right for you will depend on your preferred pace of life, budget, and lifestyle.
Cities with the Best Value for Money in the UK
Overview
Another factor which may be top of your list when choosing between UK locations is value for money.
There are numerous ways of understanding best value for money and cities which perform well according to one metric may perform poorly according to another. However, if you are considering moving to a new UK destination, one of the factors which is likely to be most important is the average house price in your preferred area.
According to the Homemove Housing Affordability Index, the following 5 locations take the top spots for UK housing affordability: Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Leeds.
Glasgow
Glasgow takes top spot for UK housing affordability, according to Homemove. But how expensive is it to live in the city more generally?
According to Numbeo’s Cost of Living data, here are the average costs of some common expenses within Glasgow:
| Item | Cost (in GBP) |
| 1 litre of milk | 1.24 |
| Cappuccino | 3.56 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 15 |
| Loaf of bread | 1.15 |
| 12 eggs | 2.75 |
Overall, then, Glasgow is a comparatively affordable city within the UK.
Newcastle
Newcastle takes Homemove’s housing affordability second spot.
How affordable is Newcastle more broadly> According to Numbeo’s Cost of Living data, here are the average costs of some common expenses within Newcastle:
| Item | Cost (in GBP) |
| 1 litre of milk | 1.10 |
| Cappuccino | 3.66 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 15 |
| Loaf of bread | 1.41 |
| 12 eggs | 2.57 |
In general, then, Newcastle is another broadly affordable UK city.
Liverpool
Next in Homemove’s list we have Liverpool.
Looking at costs within Liverpool more broadly, according to Numbeo’s Cost of Living data, here are the average costs of some common everyday expenses within Liverpool:
| Item | Cost (in GBP) |
| 1 litre of milk | 1.20 |
| Cappuccino | 3.55 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 17 |
| Loaf of bread | 1.20 |
| 12 eggs | 2.88 |
Liverpool is another example of a broadly affordable UK city, compared to many of its other city locations.
Sheffield
Sheffield takes the next spot in Homemove’s list. According to Numbeo’s Cost of Living data, here are the average costs of some common everyday expenses within Sheffield:
| Item | Cost (in GBP) |
| 1 litre of milk | 1.13 |
| Cappuccino | 3.34 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 14.50 |
| Loaf of bread | 1.12 |
| 12 eggs | 2.89 |
Leeds
Finally, we have Leeds. According to Numbeo’s Cost of Living data, here are the average costs of some common expenses within Leeds:
| Item | Cost (in GBP) |
| 1 litre of milk | 1.19 |
| Cappuccino | 3.47 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 15 |
| Loaf of bread | 1.27 |
| 12 eggs | 2.92 |
We see, then, that the North of England performs especially well for affordability, as do parts of Scotland. We also see that everyday expense prices are generally comparable in each of the listed cities, with some small variations between individual items.
In general, if you are looking to live in an area with affordable housing and budget-friendly everyday costs, the North of England tends to be more affordable than the South of England. Consider cities like Liverpool and Newcastle to keep the benefits of city life while also maximising your chances of finding budget-friendly options.
The Happiest Cities to Live in the UK
Overview
According to the Guardian’s 2025 Happiness Ranking, the top 3 happiest places to live in the UK are as follows:
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Located in Northumberland, this town can be found near the border of England and Scotland. It boasts a number of appealing features, such as the Berwick Elizabethan Town Walls, Berwick Castle, the Royal Border Bridge, Berwick Pier and Lighthouse, and Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre. With a thriving cultural scene, strong community, and beautiful architecture, it contributes significantly to the quality of life of its residents.
Evesham
Evesham is located in Worcestershire, in the West Midlands, and takes the second place in the Guardian’s ranking. Popular features include the Evesham Bell Tower, the Hampton Ferry, Abbey Park, and the Cotswold Vale Alpacas. The Cotswolds offer both beautiful architecture and easy access to the surrounding natural beauty, making Evasham a fantastic residential location.
Caernarfon
Located in Wales, Caernarfon offers a wide range of activities to its inhabitants. Highlights include the Caernarfon Castle, the town walls, and the GreenWood Family Park.
The town is also located close to Snowdonia, making it an excellent choice for prospective residents who enjoy hiking and areas of natural beauty.
How the Best Places to Live were Determined
The indexes used in this article are all based on different criteria. For example, the Reolink Safety Index uses a combination of violent crime rate and property crime rate for calculating which UK locations are the safest. The Guardian’s Happiness Index is based on a range of factors, including easy access to areas of natural beauty, average driving time to medical facilities, air quality, broadband speeds, public transport connections, and proximity to cultural and community resources. The Numbeo Cost of Living index uses participant data to collect the average price of different everyday expenses, such as rent and basic groceries.
When using indexes to help decide on your new home, it is important to pay attention to the specific measurement criteria which are used. What makes a town the happiest in the country, for example, is subjective, and so if the criteria used are not a good match for your own lifestyle preferences then the results of the index may not be a good fit for you. Similarly, a town which ranks highly according to one set of measurement criteria may perform poorly when measured using a different set of criteria. As such, it is important to consider a range of criteria when making your final decision, and look carefully at the methodology underpinning any rankings which you use.
Conclusion
In general, there are numerous locations within the UK which offer a high quality of life to their residents. Common options include London, Edinburgh, York, and Bath, but this is far from an exhaustive list of popular and appealing UK destinations.
When selecting the location which is right for you, you should pay attention to factors like cost of living, happiness levels, average salary, professional opportunities, and pace of life. While London has numerous professional opportunities and a higher average salary, for instance, the pace of life is also far faster, which may not be a good fit for everyone. Cities like Edinburgh and Newcastle may sometimes be a better middle ground. Additionally, as seen throughout this article, the cities which perform highly according to one criteria may perform less strongly according to another: Edinburgh ranks highly for safety and happiness but lower for affordability, for example. As such, choosing the city which is right for you will generally require striking a balance between your different selection criteria.
The UK offers a huge variety of residential areas, from the hustle and bustle of London to the quiet and beauty of the Scottish Highlands. With the right research, you can find a destination which is right for you.
How Can London Immigration Lawyers Help?
The UK offers numerous residential options to those looking for a new home within the UK. From popular cities like London and Edinburgh to more rural locations like Devon and the Cotswolds, there are numerous destinations from which to choose. When selecting which choice is right for you, you should consider factors like professional opportunities, pace of life, weather, and local amenities.
At London Immigration Lawyers, our experts are adept at advising on big lifestyle changes like this. We can assist you with the entire relocation process, from deciding on the right visa to navigating your arrival in your new home. For more information on our full range of services, and to start your relocation journey today, contact us today on 0204 502 8582.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at London Immigration Lawyers before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on September 16th, 2025 at 10:43 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
Numerous factors can go into measuring the safeness of a location. For the Reolink Safety Index in particular, violent crime rate and property crime rate are both used, using data from the UK Office for National Statistics (Crime Survey). However, the safeness of a location can also be measured using additional factors such as non-violent crime rate and resident perception of safety. Safeness may also vary between neighbourhoods within the same city, meaning that a city which is considered safe in some areas may be less safe in others, or a city with a low safety rating overall may still have some safe neighbourhoods available.
In general, you should consider a range of factors when deciding on the safeness of a new city. Contact London Immigration Lawyers today for specialist advice on your chosen destination.
The Numbeo Crime Index, which is based on resident perception of safety and crime levels in different UK cities, ranks the following 10 cities as the safest in the UK: Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Brighton, Newcastle, Cardiff, Bristol, Sheffield, Leeds, Glasgow, and Belfast. This data suggests that, generally speaking, the residents of these 10 cities feel safer than the residents of other UK destinations.
However, as this data is compiled using survey responses and depends on the location of respondents, it is not an inclusive data set and may exclude certain UK cities. As such, it is important to consider other metrics when looking into the safeness of different UK destinations.
According to Conde Nast’s Traveller’s 2024 Reader’s Choice Awards, the 10 friendliest cities in the UK are as follows, from 1st place to 10th place: Glasgow, London, Edinburgh, Oxford, York, Bath, Belfast, Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham. Parts of the North of England, Scotland, the West Midlands, and Northern Ireland therefore all rank highly for friendliness, making them good choices for people looking to move somewhere with a friendly culture and warm sense of community.
In general, there are community resources and activities available throughout the UK for those looking to build strong community connections. Contact London Immigration Lawyers today for help deciding which location is right for you.
