The UK has been a fantastically popular destination worldwide for decades, and this is set to continue into the future. It is renowned for being a melting pot of different cultures, a truly global city. Experience the exhilaration that only London can provide, every day!
This small island nation of the United Kingdom has some of the best vibrant cities, rich history and heritage and extremely welcoming people. Every city has a unique identity which makes them the most popular destinations for expats, singles, and families.
It also depends on whether you are looking for places offering better employment opportunities or cities with higher health and happiness scores. The South East of England has some of the best cities which have entered the top 50 places to live list in the United Kingdom.
They can definitely steal your heart with their beauty! So, if you are doubtful which city you would like to move to yet, this article might help you in making your decision! So let us find out which are the best cities to live and work in the UK and what each one can offer.
1. London – Score 87.92
London, the capital, is renowned for being one of the world’s most famous and known as the best place to live in the UK. This city has diverse communities, and vibrant scenes, and covers a huge area making it the largest city in the UK. London has been one of the world’s leading financial hubs for many years now and is quite famous for its technological innovations.
This large city has streets filled with amazing restaurants, great pubs, and cafés worldwide. A major drawback to opting for a living in London is that it has unsurprisingly increasing property prices day by day and therefore if you want flats to rent in Londonit can become quite expensive.
London is literally the best choice in the UK when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, seeking work, and enjoying serene environments. London is the hub for economic growth in the United Kingdom and gives you ample opportunities to learn, grow and gain experience.
However, if you’re moving into this beautiful city without concrete job security the competition for jobs is high as the population has been stable for many years now. However, London really stands out when it comes to witnessing the flourishing trend of co-working spaces. We bet you will never get bored in London!
Why chose London?
- It’s an enormous city with amazing nightlife and remarkable food diversity
- London is the home to some of the highest-paid work sectors globally.
- It is a city where you can find the best of the UK’s culture and history.
- It has a huge transport network and is a top destination for work-life balance.
- London offers ample work opportunities for many ambitious ex-pats.
2. Manchester – Score 86.50
This beautiful city is located in the north of England and has been representing British culture and identity for decades. It is a fantastic option to work in the United Kingdom if you are interested in pursuing a career in media. Manchester is quite cheaper than the capital city of London and considered as one of the best place to live in the UK.
The city is filled with the best of arts, music, performances, theatre and architecture. It is one of the most vibrant cities in the UK to live in and is developing really fast. It is filled with some amazing restaurants, nightlife and shopping districts which are the best and unmatchable.
The Manchester City Centre is a dynamic metropolitan city having work opportunities in areas such as finance, digital media, biotechnology and law. It is not only a great city to live and work in, it is also one of the best cities in the UK for the student population. This culturally diverse city has some really welcoming people who are amiable and are eager to engage in conversations.
The employment rate in the city is high and what are the best places in the UK if you want to build a career and raise a family. The pandemic has not really affected the housing market of the city and ex-pats can make big savings at the same time. You will also witness some of the best public transport networks in the UK.
Why chose Manchester?
- A stunning variety of job opportunities and high employment levels.
- Affordable cost of living.
- It’s a fantastic place for nightlife and stunning restaurants.
- An amazing city for students.
- A culturally diverse city showcasing modern British culture
3. Reading – Score 84.50
This city offers the best of big city, suburban, and countryside life, and is just 40 miles west of London reason to be one of the best place to live in the UK. Reading is best known to have a multicultural and welcoming vibe. It is a diverse and lively town in Berkshire and provides vast amounts of entertainment. You can definitely consider this beautiful city to live, study, and work in if you are trying to kick start a career in the UK.
The city prides itself with some of the best co*cktail bars, pubs and restaurants. From shopping to diverse art cultures, Reading has so much to offer. Reading is a university town and has a flourishing IT sector. This city also has stable economic growth making it one of the best places to make a living, raise a family and work in the UK.
Why choose Reading?
- Close to London, 30 minutes commute by train.
- Offers a warm community and great nightlife.
- Budget-friendly housing.
- Booming IT sector and has headquarters of many multinational corporations.
- Variety of employment opportunities.
4. Southampton – Score 83.70
Southampton is prominently located on the English south coast. This sea-side town is a happy fit for young professionals, who find it one of the best cities to live and work in the UK. Southampton also has well-established naval and maritime history. The city of Southampton has a strong connection to the sea and has been a major seaport for the UK for centuries.
It has plenty of places to enjoy and plentiful trendy bistros, restaurants, and café-bars. The city is well-known for the place where the Titanic set sail and is an ideal location for those who love seaside relaxation and water sports.
Southampton has an excellent academic reputation and welcomes more than 30,000 students worldwide. It is one of the best cities in the UK to live and work happily.
Why choose Southampton?
- Southampton offers budget-friendly housing facilities.
- This city has two renowned universities.
- It is a developing cultural hub.
- It has strong marine, retail and hospitality sectors.
5. Bristol – Score 89.83
Bristol is surely among the top best places to live in the UK for families. It is nested the southwest of the UK and is home to many work sectors including IT, manufacturing and communications. Bristol is now a home for many start-up companies as well. It has also been labeled ‘Mini London’. Additionally to this, Bristol is quite popular amongst employers and employees as it has an excellent reputation in the educational field.
The growth of Bristol is continuing at a good pace making it an ideal choice to live and work in the UK. This place has some of the UK’s best scenic views and has an alluring beauty. Also, Bristol has gained the status of being one of the most eco-friendly cities in the UK. This city offers a vibe of the big city that is similar to London when it comes to living and work. The city is safe for everyone from students to young professionals.
Why choose Bristol?
- A city of rich history and heritage.
- Prolific and successful entrepreneurial opportunities.
- The city has superb transport links.
- Proximity to many blissful and beautiful English countryside places.
- Renowned for being one of the UK’s greenest cities.
6. Leeds – Score 87.83
Leeds is one of the best cities in the UK based on the cost of living, happiness, and employment. It is the largest city in the country of Yorkshire. Shopping in Leeds is an overwhelming experience as this city has a wide variety of some of the best retailers. This has helped in booming the economy of this beautiful city. Leeds can proudly claim to have some of the best hotels, nightclubs, food stalls, restaurants and co*cktail bars in the UK.
It Is a city with a lot to offer when it comes to higher education as it is home to three universities two of which are located right in the center of the city. While you are in the heart of Yorkshire, Leeds is frequently referred to as the best student city in the UK. The city is diverse and cosmopolitan having a peaceful atmosphere making it an ideal place for you to live and work.
Why choose Leeds?
- Home to three eminent universities.
- Leeds is extremely charming with some beautiful landscapes.
- Thriving work opportunities.
7. Oxford – Score 89.83
World-famous Oxford boasts incredible scenery and excellent amenities to live and work. It is home to one of the biggest and most reputed universities on the planet, Oxford University. Without a doubt, Oxford is a superb place that succeeds in the education and academic sectors and one of the best place to live in the UK. Teachers who live in Oxford have great work opportunities.
The small city is a renowned cosmopolitan destination and has a growing hi-tech community making it a perfect place for young students to live and work. The pubs, nightlife, live music venues, restaurants are legendary and offer a thrilling experience. In addition, its close proximity to the charming villages and market towns, and picturesque rolling hills of the Cotswolds makes it clear why the “City of Dreaming Spires” is a preferred location for expats.
Oxford has lots of events like music events, art and comedy along with a vibrant nightlife, keeping the feel of the city alive. If you desire a casual walk around Oxford, there are numerous beautiful parks and museums to explore. It is definitely a great place having some of the best landscapes, little rivers and scenic views. Oxford is one of the UK’s major tourism places. It is also rapidly building a strong reputation as a leading hi-tech city with computing and health tech being the best sectors to work in.
Oxford is home to over four thousand businesses and all-time high companies such as BMW, BT, the charity of Oxfam providing plenty of work opportunities. There are so many peaceful escapes in the heart of the city that never fail to surprise you.
Why choose Oxford?
- Home to one of the most prestigious universities in the UK.
- There are some impressive and notable examples of architecture throughout the city.
- Near the Oxfordshire countryside.
- Picturesque natural beauties which are pleasing to the eye.
- It has a high employment rate with the best companies having their headquarters in this city.
8. Cambridge – Score 82.87
Another beautiful city that is known globally as being home to one of the most prestigious universities, Cambridge is definitely one of the best places to live in the UK. It is a part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ alongside Oxford and London. Constantly being praised as one of the best places to live in the UK, Cambridge is a perfect blend of cosmopolitan and cultural heritage. The city boasts of having greenery and cleanliness all around.
Cambridge is not a typical University city with an abundance of nightclubs and bars selling low-quality vodka in disposable cups. Actually, there are only a few nightclubs here, and they have a unique style due to the artistic nature of Cambridge.
Gaining the nickname of the UK’s Silicon Valley, this city has diversity in fields like research and development, pharmaceuticals, tourism, creative industries and is also home to tech giants such as Microsoft and Huawei. It’s perhaps unsurprising to hear that Cambridge has become a hotspot for technology and artificial intelligence research.
This city has an amazing job graphical location as well and it takes only an hour’s train journey to London and East Anglia cities such as Norwich. Cambridge has a rich history and culture and a blossoming business and technology industry making it a bustling modern city.
Why choose Cambridge?
- Reliable transportation links to London.
- Low crime levels.
- Stunning landscapes close to the countryside are perfect for a relaxing stroll.
- A flourishing economy and plenty of employment opportunities.
- Home to one of the best and most prestigious universities in the world.
9. Edinburgh – Score 90.57
One of the fastest-growing and most innovative cities, Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is one of the best places to live in the UK. This city has all the essential elements to live peacefully with a thriving cultural scene. Edinburgh has been Scotland’s cultural and spiritual heartland for decades now. This stunning city is filled with museums, art galleries, medieval streets and some remarkable architectural examples. It is the home to the Royal Bank of Scotland, making it a great choice for financial services and banking in the UK. Thus, it is also known as Scotland’s financial heart.
Edinburgh is one of the best cities to live in as it has everything to offer including some of the best destinations, green spaces and hiking routes around the city. A port city, Edinburgh has some magnificent seaside towns beauty with vibrant vibes of a modern world city. Edinburgh frequently earns recognition as it has low crime rates and a high level of employment and educational opportunities making it one of the best places in the UK for young professionals and families.
It also boasts of hosting the best cultural services and art celebrations in the form of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. If you are looking to live in a place filled with a rich heritage, welcoming people, excellent career opportunities and a flourishing economy, Edinburgh is the best place for you.
Why choose Edinburgh?
- Financial hub and capital of Scotland.
- Excellent employment opportunities making it an exciting place to live and work.
- Edinburgh offers the best education having some of the finest contemporary courses.
- Low crime levels in comparison to the rest of the country.
10. Birmingham – Score 89.83
Birmingham resides in the center of the West Midlands of England and is known as the ‘second city. This city has some fantastic career opportunities making it one of the best cities to live in the UK. Birmingham is renowned globally for its booming industry, business and commerce sectors. It is the second-largest multicultural modern metropolitan in the UK, outside of London, all thanks to its lower average house price and cost of living.
As a city, Birmingham has so much to offer. For a start, The city is filled with shopping centers, or galleries and all sorts of entertainment to ensure you don’t get bored anytime soon. If you’re a big foodie, this stunning city has an area of restaurants with different cuisines to satisfy your taste buds. It has the best eateries in the UK. With A prospering ex-pat community, Birmingham is one of the best cities for people who are new to the country.
The nightlife is really good and there are plenty of pubs and bars around the city which are quite similar to London. The flourishing economic stature career opportunities attract many people who are looking to relocate to the UK making Birmingham one of the best cities for families.
Why choose Birmingham?
- Located in the middle of the UK.
- Living expenses are comparatively lower than in other cities.
- Home to multicultural and multi-ethnic society.
- Plentiful heritage and historical aspects.
- A growing business climate creates more opportunities.
11. Liverpool – Score 78.23
There’s so much to love about Liverpool. It is one of the UK’s most internationally famous cities with several heritage sites and some stunning architectural examples. Undoubtedly, Liverpool really does deserve to be one of the best cities to live in the UK. The city has a vibrant cosmopolitan culture and some amazing local amenities.
The cost of living is also quite attractive and the friendliness of people is always a plus point for the city. Liverpool has some spectacular places for entertainment, tourist spots and lush green spaces.
It has a great work-life balance and continues to grow and improve as an exciting city to live and work in. Liverpool boasts itself as one of the fastest-growing regional economies in the UK making it a popular place to settle. It is home to headquarters of a number of huge and reputed companies. The city is definitely a great place to explore at the weekend. It also has a good transportation link which provides quick access to the English Northwest. The city has three top universities which boost the level of education.
It has Why choose Liverpool?
- Rich culture and heritage.
- Vibrant vibes across the city.
- Proximity to other powerhouse cities.
These are just some of the best cities to live in the UK. Each city offers something unique and has great quality of life for those looking to relocate or settle down in the UK. So if you’re thinking about making a move, consider these amazing cities and check all the amenities of each area and pick one that fits your needs and lifestyle. Ultimately, living in any of these cities will be a great experience!
