The different regions of the UK offer hugely varied lifestyles, from vibrant cities and suburban hotspots to picture-perfect rural locations. But which UK locations are the best to live in? We reveal the top 10 best places to live in the UK, according to thousands of ratings from verified residents on HomeViews.
What are the rankings based on?
HomeViews gathers reviews of the UK’s new property developments, with residents rating every aspect of their property, including its location. We compiled location ratings from almost 29,000 residents of the UK’s new homes on HomeViews, to create this list of the best places to live in the UK.
See the top locations in the map below and scroll down to click through for more details on each area.
10 best places to live in the UK
Map showing UK regions with the highest resident ratings – click on the image for the interactive map on our homepage
Bromley is our top-rated London location, with an average score of 4.62 out of 5 among reviewers in the borough. Bromley is the largest of the 32 London boroughs, stretching from Crystal Palace and Mottingham in the north right down to Biggin Hill in the south. It’s also a borough that transitions dramatically from suburban to rural, with farmland making up around 30% of its total area. The principal town of Bromley offers residents a 20-minute commute into central London and attracts families and young professionals seeking affordable housing and top quality schools.
In second place, Kingston Upon Thames’ location average score is a strong 4.54 out of 5. Kingston Upon Thames is a vibrant and dynamic town that has something to offer for everyone. It boasts an incredible range of shops, restaurants and pubs in its historic town centre. Meanwhile, the many parks and green spaces provide the perfect backdrop to Kingston’s famous Tudor architecture. With such a diverse range of attractions, it’s no wonder that Kingston Upon Thames continues to attract new residents from all over the country.
Richmond Upon Thames takes third place, with an average location score of 4.48. Consistently voted one of Britain’s happiest places to live, Richmond Upon Thames is an affluent residential district. And why wouldn’t its residents be smiling from ear to ear? This Zone 4 London borough connects to hotspots like Clapham Junction and Victoria. But, with its rural, riverside setting and fascinating royal history, it could easily be mistaken for somewhere like Windsor.
Sutton takes fourth place with an average score of 4.44. Sutton is a hugely popular commuter spot for young families seeking more space outside central London areas. Excellent schools add to its appeal, alongside plenty of open green spaces and good value homes. The town of Sutton offers a great selection of family homes, from 20s and 30s semis to large detached houses and Edwardian period properties, as well as some very popular new build developments.
In fifth place, Islington scores 4.41 out of 5 for its location rating. A borough of many faces, its mish-mash of neighbourhoods each have their own distinct personality, from the urban bars and pubs of Angel to the chintzy antique stores of Camden Passage. Its properties have many guises, too – there are in-the-thick-of-it luxury apartments, and period townhouses sitting shoulder to shoulder on sleepy backstreets.
Hackney comes in at number six in our London location rankings, scoring an average of 4.41 out of 5. Once upon a time, Hackney was topping lists of Britain’s worst places to live. But the borough has had a colossal transformation in recent years. and now, E8 is one of the capital’s most fashionable postcodes.
Harrow takes an average location score of 4.40 out of 5. Chances are, if you’ve never been to Harrow before you’ll have only heard of its famous occupant Harrow School. And you’d be forgiven. With ex-pupils including Winston Churchill, Richard Curtis and Benedict Cumberbatch, it’s easy to see why the establishment’s been given more column inches than the rest of the area over the years. But Harrow has lots more to offer. It’s located just 13 miles from Central London, close to sprawling countryside, and neighboured by Stanmore, Hendon, Wembley and Ruislip.
Croydon also scores 4.40 out of 5, but finds itself just below Harrow in eighth place. There are two great reasons to live in Croydon, these go hand in hand to make it a compelling choice; its relatively cheap property prices and its excellent transport links into Central London. On top of that, numerous initiatives are transforming Croydon and helping make its once dowdy image a thing of the past.
Located in North East London, Waltham Forest is our ninth highest-rated London location, with an average rating of 4.39 out of 5. Waltham Forest is one of the largest boroughs in the city. It comprises several distinct areas, each with its own unique charms. The population of the borough is diverse and vibrant, making it a great place to live.
Rounding off the top 10 of the best locations in London is Lewisham, scoring 4.38 out of 5. Lewisham lies just a few miles south-east of Central London. It’s a borough given a little more than just a fresh coat of paint in recent years. In fact, this area has seen plenty in the way of renovation, including, a transformation of the town centre and a brand-new riverside park. As such, it moved at lightning-speed into the ‘up-and-comer’ category a couple of years back. Then, in the blink of an eye, it became highly sought-after, courtesy of its affordable homes and fantastic transport links.
New build developments in the UK’s best locations
Many of the UK’s best-rated locations have seen a wealth of new property development in recent years. Whether you’re looking to buy or rent, if it’s stylish urban living or a more relaxed pace of life you’re after, there’s a property out there for you.
Our top-rated location of Edinburgh has a mix of city rental living at the highest-rated development, The McEwan, alongside thoughtfully designed suburban developments such as Persimmon Homes at Lang Loan. The diverse city of Bristol has a choice of trendy rental-only developments, such as top-of-the-class Box Makers Yard, while more rural settings, such as Worcestershire, offer a variety of larger suburban developments, perfect for families.
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Property prices in the UK’s best-rated locations
As of July 2022, the average price of a property in the UK is £292,000. Prices can vary widely, though, according to region.
In Edinburgh, the average price of a property for the 12 months to September 2022 was slightly above the national average, at £323,659. Second-placed Worcestershire averaged £296,591, while third-placed Aberdeen had an average property price of £197,738. The most expensive location in our list, Bristol, averages £372,027, while Aberdeen ranks as the cheapest.
Are you considering relocating to a different part of the UK? If you want to find out about any of the locations above, or any other UK location, read our comprehensive area guides. Click on the HomeViews homepage, select ‘Guides’ from the menu and choose which area you’d like to explore.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
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