If you’re considering a move this year, there’s no doubt that you’ve asked yourself, ‘where are the best places to live in the UK’?
It’s a fair - and extremely common - question. Location is arguably the most important thing to consider when moving. You can always change your kitchen, but you can’t change the street that you live on.
There's plenty to consider, whether you’re thinking about safety, schools or how far away your favourite restaurant is. That’s why we’ve done some digging and built our list of the best places to live in the UK in 2025.
How Have We Decided on the Best Places to Live?
Before we jump into the full list, it’s worth running through why we’ve chosen the places we have.
Our recommendations are based on several criteria we’ve found our customers prioritise: safety, happiness, cost of living, future potential and amenities (schools/entertainment). We built out these criteria using data from both Zoopla and ONS local statistics.
As you might expect, some of these places ranked well in multiple lists, but what follows is a collection of our top picks in no particular order.
Here at Platform, we always want to help you make the right decision and that includes helping you find the ideal place to buy. We’re hoping that our ‘Best Places to Live in the UK’ list features a great mix of quality of life, strong value for money and some picks that you might not have thought about!
Best Places to Live in the UK 2025
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the best places to live in the UK by individual location:
Sutton Coldfield
Located just outside of Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield is one of the only ‘Royal Towns’ in the UK and an extremely desirable area with homebuyers in the West Midlands. A perfect combination of metropolitan amenities and countryside charm, Sutton Coldfield is home to one of Europe’s largest urban parks, exciting bars, restaurants, independent shops and a rich arts scene supported by both the Highbury Theatre and Sutton Arts Theatre.
In terms of schools, Sutton Coldfield has over 100 primary and secondary schools in and around the local area, 92% of which are rated either ‘Good’ or higher by Ofsted. There are 17 schools rated ‘Outstanding’ in the surrounding area, including Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, Four Oaks Primary School and Little Sutton Primary School.
Sutton Coldfield is also the area with the lowest crime rate in the West Midlands, making it extremely popular with families looking to settle down with peace of mind.
West Bridgford
Just outside of Nottingham city centre, you’ll find West Bridgford, a town of around 50,000 people that is sometimes referred to as an ‘urban suburb’.
West Bridgford is incredibly popular as it hosts several reputable schools and offers a community-led vibe just minutes from Nottingham city centre. West Bridgford Infant School, West Bridgford Junior School and The West Bridgford School, for example, are all rated outstanding by Ofsted.
The town features a range of independent shops and upmarket nightlife spots, whether you’re looking for an intimate bistro or an exciting cocktail lounge. There is also a range of top gastropubs serving the area, including Larwood and Voce, which is a firm favourite with locals.
Other notable attractions include City Ground - the home of Nottingham Forest football club - and Trent Bridge, which is where Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club play.
We have several developments throughout Nottinghamshire, with Edwalton Fields located in West Bridgford alongside Fernwood Meadows in Newark.
Mansfield
Mansfield is the second-largest destination in Nottinghamshire, sitting centrally between Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Home to around 110,000, it’s a popular destination with homebuyers in the area and one of the fastest-growing towns in the country, built on a rich mining heritage that has developed into a strong sense of community.
In terms of amenities, Mansfield has everything you need for day-to-day living - whether you’re looking for high-street shopping or a few drinks at a cosy pub. New bars, clubs and restaurants sit at the heart of the town while stunning countryside can be found in every direction. The area is steeped in history and linked to local legends, most notably Robin Hood.
The quality of education in Mansfield is relatively high, and there are plenty of opportunities for families looking to settle down or start a family. The town has around 84 schools in the surrounding area, 70 of which are rated either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.
You'll also find our Shirebrook development located in Mansfield.
Cheltenham
Despite being synonymous with the Cheltenham Festival, the town itself is one of the most popular places for people to call home, offering fantastic rail and road connections with London, exceptional culture and a bustling nightlife.
Cheltenham features an exciting shopping area which has almost become a tourist attraction, home to a range of boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops.
There are plenty of fancy places to eat alongside the posh shopping experience, with highlights including The Ivy, No. 131 and Kibou.
We couldn’t talk about Cheltenham without mentioning the festival line-up, which is one of the key attractions in the calendar. With a programme focused on the arts, music, literature and science each year, it attracts thousands of people and creates a thriving atmosphere.
Just outside of Cheltenham, you'll find Cleeve Gardens, our development available via shared ownership.
Telford
Telford is the largest town in Shropshire and one of the fastest-growing towns in the United Kingdom. Originally built throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Telford represents one of the most successful new towns in the country and is home to a range of tourist attractions, amenities and beautiful countryside.
Telford offers great connectivity, with Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Stafford and Birmingham all nearby, making it ideal if you’re working in a bigger city but looking to live in a more relaxed environment, surrounded by green spaces.
In the town itself, you’ll find plenty of modern amenities such as Telford Centre - a major retail hub that serves 300,000 customers a week and hosts a broad range of high-street brands. Outside of Telford Centre, you’ll also find public leisure centres, a recently refurbished library and plenty of entertainment, including an ice rink, a 10-screen IMAX cinema, a dry ski slope, theatres and renowned restaurants such as Mishu, Clays of Broseley and Restaurant 1840 amongst many more.
York
York is a popular pick due to its relative safety, exceptional educational institutions and compact size. Aside from having beautiful architecture and a range of great bars, pubs and restaurants, York also offers plenty to see and do in terms of tourist attractions.
In terms of schools, York is one of the most highly rated locations in the country. Out of 58 different primary and secondary schools, 93% are rated either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’, highlighting the strength of the education sector. In terms of higher education, the performance is similar, with the University of York ranked 12th in the entire country.
Despite this, York is also relatively affordable compared to similar destinations in the South, making it highly desirable to homebuyers.
Gloucester
Gloucester is largely recognised for its quality of life, all situated in a beautiful setting made up of both period and modern property. This same blend of old and new translates to the Gloucester lifestyle.
The town has an incredibly popular farmer’s market that opens every Friday, with seasonal craft markets running throughout the year. Outside of craft retail, you’ll find modern shopping centres that are home to high-street brands, outlet stores and independent, boutique shops.
Gloucester has some of the highest-ranked schools in the country, the highlight of which is Gloucester High School for Girls, which is ranked as the 30th best school in the UK.
Property in Gloucester has experienced steady price growth over the last five years - much like the surrounding county - but remains much more affordable compared to the wider South East, only adding to its popularity with homebuyers.
We have several developments coming soon near Gloucester - both Ashbrook and Ellwood Place.
Coventry
Coventry is the most central city in England and has exceptional links across the country, offering easy access to Birmingham, Leicester and Warwick. In terms of price, Coventry houses for sale tend to be more affordable than those in Birmingham and Warwick, with average property prices similar to those of Leicester.
As one of the largest cities in the UK, Coventry is home to all of the modern amenities you’d expect, including exciting restaurants, bars, entertainment and shopping. All of the major retail brands are present across two large shopping centres, while Coventry Market is a vibrant indoor market hosting different vendors selling fruit, produce, artisanal goods and second-hand items.
Finally, north of the city, you’ll find the Coventry Building Society Arena, which is the home of Coventry City Football Club and also hosts some of the largest music acts in the world.
Coventry is home to several exciting new developments, including The Spires and Loomcroft.
Where are the Best Places to Live by Region?
Based on our research, these are the best places to live based on the overall region. After running through our key criteria, we noted the regions that had the most winners by individual location:
West Midlands
Anchored by Birmingham, the West Midlands is well known for its connectivity, lower cost of living and excellent educational facilities. The major cities in the region - Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry - offer amazing opportunities, whilst larger regional towns such as Walsall, Sutton Coldfield and Telford have a fantastic quality of life and are rapidly growing into highly desirable areas to live.
The West Midlands is relatively unique, thanks to its mix of large metropolitan areas nestled amongst some of the most stunning countryside in the UK. This means residents have access to the best of both worlds - beautiful green spaces without giving up access to the exciting amenities of a major city.
East Midlands
Similar in many ways to the West Midlands but generally more rural, the East Midlands is rapidly growing in popularity due to the beautiful homes you can find amongst rolling hills and cosy villages.
The major destinations across the county are Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, however, we’re increasingly seeing homebuyers looking to areas outside of these urban areas, instead choosing larger villages, market towns or vibrant suburbs that offer a much more relaxed way of life.
This has created an extremely varied market that focuses on quality of life, affordability and crucially, plenty of great schools.
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is always a popular choice with homebuyers thanks to its mix of incredible natural beauty and strong cultural heritage. Like many places on this list, it offers a lower cost of living but an exceptional sense of community, whether you’re visiting Leeds, Sheffield or one of the many beautiful towns and villages across the region.
The county is also widely regarded as one of the best areas in terms of education, with the University of York and the University of Leeds both attracting students from across the globe due to the strength of their courses.
Gloucestershire
Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the top regions in our research is Gloucestershire. Home to major destinations such as Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, as well as unparalleled natural beauty in the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire is often seen as the ideal place to settle down, offering a relaxed way of life you might not find elsewhere.
Gloucestershire is extremely well-connected, with great links to both Birmingham, Bristol and London, and has a high percentage of schools rated ‘Good’ or higher by Ofsted, making it perfect for families or young couples looking to start their own.
