Most Desirable Places to Live in the UK
Are you thinking about moving to a new city or town in the UK? Perhaps you’re not happy with the area you currently live in or you’re being priced out of it?
When it comes to the most desirable places to live in the UK, several factors help to determine how desirable an area is, including the cost of living, diversity, transportation modes, pollution, educational attainment, and so many more.
Here are the top nine most desirable places to currently live in the UK. Plus, what makes each one a great place to live.
- Edinburgh
The Scottish capital and home to the world-famous Edinburgh University, Edinburgh ranks consistently highly both in terms of the happiness of its residents and how much pride they have in where they live. The job market is strong in this city, and the average yearly salary is a respectable £34,000.
- Bath
Bath is a small but impressive city that has a buzzing culture and stunning landscape. It’s one of the safest cities in England and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city has been voted as the third happiest place to live in the UK on multiple occasions, and it’s a big tourist hotspot. If you’re thinking of buying a property in this city, here are the best places in Bath for both investors and families alike.
Bath comes below the national average for unemployment in the UK, sitting at around 3%, and the average annual salary is £30,000.
- Norwich
Norwich was the first city in the UK to be designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2021, and has been repeatedly named as the best city to live in by The Sunday Times. Residents in Norwich rate their city highly in areas such as overall quality of life, day-to-day happiness, and value for money. The job market is strong and the average salary per year is £29,000.
- Liverpool
The hometown of The Beatles, Liverpool has a rapidly growing economy, high-quality education, and a thriving music scene. It’s also widely regarded as one of the friendliest cities in the UK, as well as one of the most affordable, especially for students. The employment rate in Liverpool is 69.8% and the average salary per year is £33,000.
- London
Although there’s no denying that living in London is expensive, what it lacks in affordability, it makes up for in other areas. Most notably, this city scores highly in terms of career opportunities, as well as overall quality of life. There’s also an abundance of green spaces in London, and plenty of culture for residents to soak up and enjoy. As mentioned, the job market is one of the strongest in the UK, and the average salary per year is £37,000.
- Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and also the largest city in the country. As a desirable place to live in the UK, Cardiff scores highly when it comes to residents’ emotional connection with the city. They’re also happy with where they live and feel optimistic about the future. Cardiff’s employment rate for people aged 16–64 is 76.1%, and the average salary per year is £30,000.
- Bristol
Bristol boasts a vibrant cultural scene and a long maritime history. It’s frequently rated by residents as offering a good quality of life and great career opportunities. The city is the UK’s only European Green Capital and is consistently listed in The Times Best Places to Live in the UK. The job market is strong in Bristol, and the average annual salary is £35,000.
- Manchester
Manchester was the birthplace of the industrial revolution and also home to the world’s first railway line and working canal. In terms of being a desirable place to live, the residents of this thriving city are happy and optimistic about life and proud of where they live. House prices are less than the national average, the transport links are excellent, and there are lots of highly rated schools. Employment has increased in Manchester from last year, and the average annual salary is £31,180.
- Brighton
Brighton is one of the happiest places to live in the UK and is famous for its quirky shops and thriving music and arts scene. The city is popular with families and professionals, as well as expats. It’s known for being a tolerant place to live due to its diverse communities. The job market is good, and the average annual salary is £31,000.
