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 in 2023, 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 more than 6,000 residents of the UK’s new homes on HomeViews, submitted between July 2022 and June 2023, to create this list of the best places to live in the UK.
See the most popular locations to live in the UK in the map below, and scroll down to click through for more details on each area.
10 best places to live in the UK revealed
1. Aberdeenshire & Aberdeen
Taking top spot as the best location in the UK, according to the reviews of verified residents on HomeViews, is Aberdeenshire. Situated on the east coast of Scotland, the county combines rugged coastal landscapes and the spectacular hills and mountains of the Cairngorms. The city of Aberdeen is a vibrant, bustling place. Famous for its industrial heritage, with a history of shipbuilding and textiles, the city is Scotland’s third largest and is home to some of the highest-rated new build developments north of the border.
Average rating:
4.90 out of 5
Average asking price:
£211,205
Average rent:
£1,028 PCM
2. County of West Midlands
The West Midlands is a busy metropolitan hub in the heart of England, and it’s been voted the second place location by verified residents on HomeViews. With the second city of Birmingham and other large urban centres in Coventry, Wolverhampton and Walsall, there’s plenty of locations to choose from in this part of the country, which offers favourable property prices and rents, combined with excellent connectivity.
Average rating:
4.75 out of 5
Average asking price:
£254,875
Average rent:
£1,075 PCM
3. Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire takes third place with an outstanding location rating of 4.72 out of 5. While it’s prices are significantly higher than the UK average, and every other location on this list, Buckinghamshire makes up for this with its proximity to London and outstanding local transport connections.
Average rating:
4.72 out of 5
Average asking price:
£530,874
Average rent:
£1,815 PCM
4. Merseyside
Lively Merseyside notches up fourth place in our location rankings. With the ever-popular city of Liverpool and easy access to some beautiful coastline, the area certainly has plenty going for it. Prices in this part of the world are also far below the national average and the other locations on this list.
Average rating:
4.70 out of 5
Average asking price:
£212,746
Average rent:
£965 PCM
5. Leicestershire
Vibrant and diverse Leicestershire crashes the top five in our location rankings, with its competitive pricing and convenient central location. The county has the lively university city of Leicester, along with its fair share of rural locations, all with the M1 running close by and excellent rail connections.
Average rating:
4.69 out of 5
Average asking price:
£301,768
Average rent:
£1,131 PCM
6. Edinburgh
Historic Edinburgh is one of the culturally and politically most significant cities in the UK, and an ever-popular location among both residents and visitors. With its wealth of historic buildings, dramatic landscapes and thriving arts scene, it’s easy to see why Edinburgh remains a popular choice.
Average rating:
4.63 out of 5
Average asking price:
£328,956
Average rent:
£1,568 PCM
7. Greater Manchester
Manchester is a popular choice among students, young professionals and families. The city is home to five universities and two of the world’s most famous football teams. It’s also a centre of industry and commerce, promising strong job opportunities for residents. And to top it all off, property prices in Manchester remain extremely competitive compared to the national average.
Average rating:
4.67 out of 5
Average asking price:
£257,240
Average rent:
£1,143 PCM
8. Essex
Flying the flag for the home counties, Essex takes an average location rating of 4.61 out of 5. While the county is perhaps most famous from its bustling London-adjacent suburbs, it’s also very rural, with miles of rolling farmland and countryside, and a wealth of delightful villages to explore. You can get to the capital with ease, while the coastlines and countryside of East Anglia are also right on your doorstep.
Average rating:
4.61 out of 5
Average asking price:
£424,946
Average rent:
£1,589 PCM
9. Shropshire
Occupying a large chunk of the rural English landscape on the border with Wales, Shropshire is a popular location for those seeking a quieter life. It’s home to the stunning Shropshire Hills and historic Shrewsbury. With property and rental prices hovering around the national average, it’s easy to see why Shropshire rates so highly among residents.
Average rating:
4.60 out of 5
Average asking price:
£305,038
Average rent:
£1,007 PCM
10. Somerset
Rounding off the top 10 with another beautiful rural county, it’s Somerset. This county in South west England offers miles of beautiful coastline, combined with stunning inland landscapes including Exmoor, the Quantocks and the Mendip Hills. Bristol is within easy reach, while the M5 provides access towards Exeter and Plymouth beyond.
Average rating:
4.57 out of 5
Average asking price:
£392,808
Average rent:
£1,353 PCM
Aberdeen: No.1 in the UK
The city of Aberdeen and the wider county of Aberdeenshire blows the competition out of the water in 2023. It ranks as the best location according to the reviews of new build residents on HomeViews over the past 12 months. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire scored a whopping average location rating of 4.9 out of 5.
So what makes Aberdeen such a highly rated location? Verified residents at Aberdeen’s new build developments consistently mention the factors below in their reviews:
- Walking distance to local amenities
New build residents place great emphasis on proximity to local shops and amenities. The ability to walk to the shops and local facilities is not only good for your health, it fosters a sense of connection to your local community. - Transport connections
Easy access to great transport connections just makes life easier. It’s no surprise to see it rank highly among the reasons given for Aberdeen’s top ranking. As a small and relatively isolated city, it’s important for residents to have access to nearby road and rail links. - Safe, friendly community
Safety, a sense of community and the friendliness of local residents is also a key theme to emerge in reviews from Aberdeen and the wider Scotland region. Residents value these factors in making them feel at home, and creating a connection to the location in which they live.
New build developments in Aberdeen
Aberdeen is home to some impressive new build developments, including plenty of modern apartment buildings as well as single family homes. The highest-rated development in the region is The Point by Dandara Living. This build to rent development in the heart of the city currently has a near-perfect 4.91 out of 5 location score from residents.
Property prices in the UK’s best-rated locations
As of December 2023, the average price of a property in the UK is £285,000. Prices can vary widely, though, according to region.
According to Rightmove, the average asking price in Aberdeen is £185,000 (as of March 2024). This places it some way below the average for the UK. Aberdeen’s asking prices have decreased by 3.0% in the past year, compared to an average decrease of 1.4% across the UK.
The average property prices across the top 10 locations are as follows (all data is taken from Rightmove, covering the 12 months to March 2024):
- Aberdeen: £185,000, down 3% on the previous 12 months
- West Midlands: £258,000, similar to 2023
- Buckinghamshire: £497,000, down 3%
- Merseyside: £214,000, similar to 2023
- Leicestershire: £272,000, 1% down
- Edinburgh: £335,000, similar to 2023
- Greater Manchester: £254,000, down 1%
- Essex: £416,000, similar to 2023
- Shropshire: £286,000, similar to 2023
- Somerset: £371,000, similar to 2023
Worst places to live in the UK
Now that you know the best places to live in the UK, you might be wondering what our reviewers had to say about the worst locations to live in. Based on data from HomeViews’ latest Location Ratings Report, the North East of England was the UK’s lowest-rated wider region with an average score of 3.9 out of 5. London ranked second from bottom, with a still-respectable location score of 4.35 out of 5.
Best places to live in the UK – FAQ
Take a look below at some of the most commonly asked questions about the best places to live in the UK:
Where is the best quality of life in the UK?
Edinburgh was voted the best city to live and work in the UK, in a 2023 study. The study compared the cost of living, house price to income ratio, the cost of rent, safety, healthcare quality, air and water quality and the quality of green space in 15 cities across the UK.
What is the happiest place to live in the UK?
According to Rightmove’s 2024 ‘Happy at Home’ study, the happiest place to live in the UK is Richmond upon Thames. The study combined 26,000 survey responses from UK residents, with questions on the various factors that contribute to a happy life. The most important contributors to happiness were feeling a sense of pride, belonging and community. Winchester in Hampshire came second, with Monmouth in Wales third.
Where is the cheapest but nicest place to live in the UK?
Inverclyde in West Scotland is ranked as the cheapest place to live in the UK. This is based on the ratio of ‘price to earnings’, which compares property prices to the average salaries in an area. Another study rates Durham as the cheapest place to live in the UK, based on various cost of living factors.
What is the best city to live in the UK in 2024?
According to The Sunday Times, the best place to live in the UK in 2024 is North Berwick, East Lothian. Abergavenny in Monmouthshire and Clerkenwell in North London round out the top three. Another study of the best cities in the UK places Norwich in top spot, followed by Liverpool and Edinburgh.
Where is the safest place to live in the UK?
According to crime statistics for England and Wales, the safest place to live in the UK is Wiltshire. Devon and Cornwall take second place, with North Yorkshire coming third. Northern Ireland and Scotland report separate crime statistics to England and Wales, and their safest places are Mid Ulster and the Orkney Islands respectively.
Where in the UK has the most affordable housing?
Scotland dominates the list of the most affordable places to buy a house in the UK. Northern England is next, with the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West taking second, third and fourth place. Perhaps predictably, London is by far the most expensive place to buy property in the UK.
Where is the friendliest place to live in the UK?
According to a 2023 study, Cardiff is the friendliest place to live in the UK. Belfast, Liverpool and Manchester share joint second place, with Edinburgh coming third.
Where is the most peaceful place in the UK to live?
If peace and quiet is what you’re after, Iona in the Inner Hebrides is the place to go. In mainland Britain, the North York Moors is top of the pile. Another study of the most relaxing cities in the UK puts Derby in top spot.
What is the healthiest place to live in the UK?
According to this study, the South Hams district of Devon is the healthiest place to live in the UK. This is mainly thanks to low rates of alcohol and tobacco use, a low percentage of people with high blood pressure, and low rates of alcohol-related hospitalisations. In another study, Milton Keynes comes out in top spot, followed by Brighton and Hove.
Which part of the UK has the best schools?
The best state schools in the UK are spread across the country, but two schools from the North London suburb of Barnet feature in the top 10. If you’re looking for the best selective education in the country, Kent and Medway is a strong choice as it’s one of the few places to offer a widespread grammar school system. London and the South East dominate the list of the best private schools in the country.
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 is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
