Best Places To Live in the UK in 2025

Where is the best place to live in the UK? Everyone will have their own answer, but we have put together a list of some of the best places in the UK to live. Whether you are a homebuyer looking to relocate, or a budding real estate entrepreneur planning on investing in some property, here are our top ten UK locations. These are based on a variety of factors including affordability, surveys from residents, local amenities, transport links, green spaces, employment rates, and more.

Table of Contents

Bath and North East Somerset
Cirencester, The Cotswolds
Leigh on Sea, Essex
Sevenoaks, Kent
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Monmouth, Wales
Hexham, Northumberland
Richmond upon Thames, London
Woodbridge, Suffolk

10. Bath and North East Somerset

At number 10, we have Bath and the surrounding area of Northeast Somerset, which became combined following the abolition of the county of Avon in 1996. This area welcomes 6 million tourists per year, making it one of the most visited cities in England. Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Roman-built baths fed by natural thermal springs that you can still visit today. The small city of Bath offers well-preserved Georgian architecture made from golden-coloured Bath limestone. The surrounding areas have a rich historic significance too, featuring Iron Age hill forts, neolithic stone circles and barrow sites. Bath and North East Somerset is well-connected to the rest of the country including Bristol and the north Devon coast, and it takes just 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to London’s Paddington Station.

9. Cirencester, The Cotswolds

Cirencester is a charming town with a rich Roman history nestled in the Cotswold Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It features a wide range of high-end restaurants, independent boutiques, and local festivals including the free Phoenix Festival, plus a spring water-fed lido or open-air pool. You can easily travel by train to London and connect to the rest of the country via the M4 and M5 motorways.

8. Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

This historic fishing town in Essex often appears in similar top ten lists and offers a great mix of quaint seaside charm with modern amenities and transport links. On the northern side of the Thames estuary, Leigh-on-Sea includes Belton Hills and Two Tree Island nature reserves as well as a laid-back but well-appointed high street. Public transport is a breeze in Leigh-on-Sea and the area includes a great selection of primary and secondary schools, making it ideal for families.

7. Sevenoaks, Kent

Sevenoaks is a popular commuter town for London professionals, but it’s so much more. Surrounded by the gorgeous Kent countryside, Sevenoaks is home to the picturesque Knole Park famous for its herds of fallow deer, several sports clubs, a bustling town centre, and offers great options for private and public primary and secondary schools. Excellent transport links mean you can be in central London in 30 minutes and take a trip to the south coast within an hour. The town has a very low crime rate compared to the rest of the region and the country, making it a very safe place to live.

6. Skipton, North Yorkshire

In 2014, the town of Skipton in North Yorkshire was named ‘happiest place to live’ in the UK based on an ONS survey that reported area residents self-reported the highest levels of happiness and satisfaction and low levels of anxiety. This picturesque town is known as the ‘gateway to the Dales’ and is surrounded on all sides by countryside and woodland. Quaint cobbled streets are home to a mix of chain retail shops, independent stores, and a weekly farmers and crafts market. Commuters can be in Leeds in 40 minutes or in London in 3 hours, and a number of prestigious grammar schools are located very close by.

5. Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Another historic spa town, Harrogate is a popular tourist destination and place to live, and features stunning Regency, Edwardian and Victorian-era architecture. Harrogate is a very affluent area with many properties valued at £1 million or more. Often ranking in the top 5 of ‘happiest place to live’ lists, residents cite the low crime rate, good schools, and strong sense of community as some of their favourite things about Harrogate. The town has 4 train stations and is well-connected via road to nearby cities, Leeds, Bradford and York.

Ready To Build Job Replacing Income With Property?

4. Monmouth, Wales

This friendly market town is nestled between the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean where the River Minnow meets the River Wye. Built around Monmouth Castle, the small town near the English border is described as a serene haven but is well connected to other parts of Wales as well as the West Midlands and Bristol. Monmouth has a rich historical heritage, is close to many areas of natural beauty including Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and has a vibrant cultural identity, appealing to visitors and residents alike.

3. Hexham, Northumberland

Hexham is a small town on the banks of the River Tyne which boasts a rich history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times and is a stone’s throw from UNESCO Heritage Site Hadrian’s Wall. Conveniently located near the city of Newcastle as well as the North Pennines and Northumberland National Park, Hexham also features an excellent range of restaurants, bars and shops and house prices below the national average. Hexham is truly a hidden gem that is ideal for families, nature lovers and anyone who appreciates the relaxed pace of small-town life amid stunning scenery.

2. Richmond upon Thames, London

The London borough of Richmond upon Thames, commonly known as Richmond, is a hugely popular place to live and regularly tops ‘best place to live’ lists. Richmond is half parkland and is home to Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Kew Gardens, Old Deer Park and Hampton Court Park. Located in Outer London, residents can easily commute to the city centre and also enjoy a village-like community feel, with Richmond playing host to farmers markets, arts festivals and more.

1. Woodbridge, Suffolk

Our number one spot goes to Woodbridge, a port town on the River Deben estuary in East Suffolk. An incredibly picturesque market town, Woodbridge also tops ‘best place to live’ lists frequently and it’s easy to see why. The town centre includes a wide variety of pubs, restaurants and high-end boutique shops as well as quirky architecture that dates back to mediaeval times. History fans are spoiled in Woodbridge, as it is home to the most famous Anglo-Saxon archaeological site: Sutton Hoo. Woodbridge is popular with London commuters who can be in London’s Liverpool Street Station in 87 minutes.

Whether you’re considering your next property investment or exploring high-potential locations, this guide to the best places to live in the UK in 2025 offers valuable insights to help you make informed decisions.

Want to kickstart your property investment journey in 2025? Join me and other property experts at one of Assets For Life’s FREE property events – click below to learn more or sign up.