Best places in UK to live in 2026 revealed
The rankings of the best places to live in the country were once dominated by leafy towns and cities in the south; But those days seem to be behind us.
In a new list of the top places to live in England and Wales, Marple in Manchester has been named top; Three of the top ten places were in the city region and five were in the north of England.
West Yorkshire’s Rawdon took second place, with Hertfordshire’s St Albans third, Stockport’s Bramhall fourth and Somerset’s Long Ashton rounding out the top five.
The data is compiled by property services Garrington and ranks the best cities, towns and villages with more than 5,000 residents according to five key criteria: natural beauty, prosperity, heritage, schools and jobs, as well as value for money. You can use Garrington’s interactive tool to see how your district is performing. Here.
The winning town of Marple was praised for its close links to Manchester city centre, “strong community spirit” and proximity to the Peak District’s natural landscapes. While the cost of a typical family home in the area is well above the UK national average of £517,119, compilers of the list said costs were “competitive” for a popular area of Greater Manchester.
Ranked second in West Yorkshire, Rawdon was ranked highly for its “mix of great views, panoramic views and easy access to Leeds”. Property experts also said the price of the average family home here fell by 0.3 per cent last year to £451,094, making it a “good value” area.
Consistently ranked high in the table, St Albans is the best-performing place in the south of England; It is described as a popular, affluent suburban town with “schools and property prices to match”. The price of a typical family home in the city is £895,411, the highest price in the top 20 in 2026.
Missing out on the top 10 were Reddish, also from Stockport, Greater Manchester, Epsom in Surrey and Tring in Hertfordshire.
Jonathan Hopper, CEO of purchasing agents Garrington Property FindersHe said huge falls in property values in London had made headlines this year, but the rankings showed “many other highly desirable areas in England and Wales” where homes had become more affordable in the past year.
“The price of a typical family home has increased in 16 of the top 20 locations in our 2026 rankings, but all offer a strong combination of excellent amenities, high quality of life and value for money compared to the regional market,” he said.
While some places ranked higher than others, all 1,447 places ranked well in at least one category, it said.
“Mortgages have become more affordable with the Bank of England base interest rate falling below 4 per cent, giving potential buyers greater freedom to choose the property that is perfect for them,” he continued.
“If this is you, our 2026 Best Places to Live guide can help you identify places with the ideal blend of natural beauty, good schools and good living.”
