These are the best places to live in the UK in 2022 (2023)

FAQs

Where is the best place to live in the UK 2022? ›

Ilkley in West Yorkshire has been crowned the best place to live in the UK, according to the 2022 Sunday Times guide.

1. Glasgow. A port city on Scotland's River Clyde, Glasgow has spent its lifetime often being overlooked in favour of its sibling, Edinburgh, but, this year, with the accolade of the UK's friendliest city bestowed upon it, it's earned itself the well-deserved top slot.

Not only is the cost of living in the UK significantly cheaper outside the capital, but you'll also be much closer to all that sumptuous British countryside. You'll also be able to experience some of the many charming UK towns and cities, each with their own unique energy and personality.

No 1. East Hertfordshire. The picturesque historic town of East Hertfordshire is crowned the best place to live in the UK. Boasting “high life expectancy, high average earnings and reports of excellent health and happiness scores from locals.” , the high ranking comes as no surprise.

Its 2022 ranking for the best places to live looked at five metrics: job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration. The best place to live in America is Huntsville, Alabama, followed by Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The results are now in from our Startups Cities Index, and we can confirm that Sheffield is officially the best place for work in the UK in 2022.

The pros of living in England include: affordable healthcare, easy access to Europe and a diverse culture. The cons of living in England are that the country is expensive and there's not much work for those who don't speak English.

The 2021 Monocle Survey determined the world's most livable city was Copenhagen, followed by Zurich, Helsinki and Stockholm.

Where is the best country to live? ›

Culture. On top of the amazing history at your fingertips, upon moving to the UK, you'll be on the doorstep of some of the top museums, best music, and even greatest sports teams in the world. The UK is also a well-known melting pot, which makes for a unique and exciting place to explore.

The Better Life Index has described the UK as one of the best among developed countries for quality of life.

Migrants' reasons for moving to the UK are usually classified into four main categories: work, study, family, and asylum or refugee resettlement.

The Shetlands boast one of the lowest crime rates in the UK. In fact, a mere 452 crimes in total were reported here during the whole of 2020-2021. They remain one of the most desirable (and safest) places for escaping the pressures of mainland living.

Where is the best place to raise a family? ›

The job increases in Milton Keynes and Inner London are expected to be almost as great. Other names in the top 10 cities where employment will grow in 2022 include Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.

However, the cost of living in the UK can be higher than in most other countries in the world. The average cost of living as a family of four is around $3,135(£2,268) without house rent. As a single person or student, the estimated cost of living per month in the UK is $900(£651) without rent.

IS THE UK SAFE? The United Kingdom is generally a safe place to live. In terms of crime per 1,000 people, England and Wales rank 36th out of 193 countries. This means that the UK is safer than most countries in the world.

What is the No 1 city in the world? ›

Overall, Edinburgh, Scotland was named the best city in the world.

Without a doubt, London is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Before making the big move, do your research and ask people who have lived there.

The overall ranking of Best Countries measure global performance on a variety of metrics. Switzerland is the best country in the world for 2022.

Luxembourg. Known for high-income levels and a low unemployment rate, Luxembourg is the richest country in the world. While its inflation rate rose to 6.8% in August, 2022, its wealth stays stable.

The town with the cheapest house prices in the UK

Taking the top spot with the most affordable house prices in the UK so far in 2022 (and for the second year in a row) is the unassuming North East railway town of Shildon in County Durham, which offers a very affordable average house price of £80,299.

Where is the warmest place in the UK? ›

Hottest Places in the UK. The Isles of Scilly have the highest mean annual temperature in the UK of 11.5 degrees Celsius (52.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Not far behind are coastal parts of Cornwall, where many low-elevation sites average above 11 °C (52 °F).

Bibury was once described by William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England” and it's easy to see why. The typical Cotswolds village is home to Arlington Row, one of the most photographed locations in the country, if not the world.

Castle Combe, Wiltshire

No one can argue its reputation as "the prettiest town in England." Bursting with charm in the form of perfectly preserved houses built with honey-colored Cotswold stone and narrow laneways lined with fresh blooms, Castle Combe also tops the list of the best villages in the Cotswolds.

A friendly city encourages healthy aging by optimizing resources to improve the health, safety, and inclusion of older people in the community.

While a decent salary is an important reason to immigrate to the United Kingdom, the cost of living can be a drawback. In 2022 the UK is experiencing a “cost of living crisis”. Brought on by Brexit, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine inflation is at its highest rate in 40 years.

The lowest crime rate in England was in the relatively rural area of Wiltshire in South West England, with a crime rate of 55.8.

Is UK good place to live? ›

The UK is home to some of the best places in the world to raise a family. The country has a high quality education system, relatively low crime rate and plenty of job opportunities all over. Our top picks to raise a family are Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton, Reading, Manchester, Edinburgh and even London.

The UK has a long history of immigration which contributes to the diversity of its population. This is especially evident in the make-up of its major cities such as London, Manchester and Edinburgh. This means expats will be able to connect with many people who have similar experiences of moving overseas.

North Yorkshire, England

As a result, the city of North Yorkshire was determined to be the safest in all of England and Wales. This is noted by a crime rate of 49.9 crimes per 1,000 people, which is the lowest in those two countries of the UK.

Overall, the UK is considered a safe country to travel to. Even traveller sites deem the UK as a very safe country. However, the only main issue tourists should take note of is the high pickpocketing levels in the UK streets. Remember, low crime doesn't mean no crime.

London is undoubtedly the UK city that offers more career opportunities.