As one of the largest housing associations in the country, we’re often asked where the best places to live in the UK are.
It’s a common question for a good reason; location is arguably the most important thing to consider when you’re buying. After all, you can always change your kitchen but you can’t change the street you live on.
But what makes a location ‘good’? Some people prefer having amenities nearby, while others prefer a more remote, peaceful destination. Likewise, many buyers prioritise good schools and safety, while others want transport links for regular commuting.
There’s plenty to consider, which is why we’ve done some digging and come back with our list of the best places to live in the UK in 2027.
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).
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!
Where are the Best Places to Live in 2027?
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the best places to live in the UK by individual location:
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a historic market town that sits between Nottingham and Lincoln, offering a wide variety of independent shops, cultural hotspots, beautiful architecture and historical landmarks.
Like most of the UK, house prices in Newark have risen over the last decade, increasing by around 46% since 2015, especially as the area has become more popular with homebuyers looking for an exciting, vibrant place to live in the East Midlands.
Despite this significant increase, Newark’s average price of £234,760 is still incredibly affordable based on the quality of life and amenities you can expect in the area. It’s also a hotspot for buyers thanks to its future potential. At the time of writing, the East Midlands, which incorporates Newark, is expecting price rises of 18% over the next four years, which would translate to around £42,000.
Newark-on-Trent has 21 schools in the immediate area, both primary and secondary, 86% of which are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
Similarly, a major draw for buyers is how well-connected Newark is. It has two stations, Newark Northgate and Newark Castle, which offer direct links to major cities across the UK. It also has links to several key roads including the A46, A1 and A17, which offer easy access to Nottingham, Mansfield, Loughborough and Derby.
Take a look at our most recent development in Newark, Lockview at Middlebeck.
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.
Coventry
Coventry is the most central city in England and has exceptional links across the country, offering direct connections to major destinations including Birmingham, London and the East Midlands. What sets Coventry apart is its affordability. The average house price in Coventry is around £227,679, making it nearly 60% more affordable than neighbouring Solihull, Warwick and Stratford, whilst still offering an exceptional quality of life.
Thanks to its status as one of the largest cities in the UK, Coventry is home to a huge range of modern amenities including exciting restaurants, bars and entertainment as well as household high-street names, designer shopping and independent retailers. Coventry Market is a vibrant indoor market hosting different vendors, all selling fruit, produce, artisanal goods and second-hand items.
In terms of safety, Coventry’s crime rates are lower than the West Midlands average and significantly lower than other cities of its size, with the city recently awarded the Purple Flag in recognition of its efforts to make the streets safer after dark.
For families, Coventry’s educational sector has a broad range of nurseries, primaries and secondary schools, 84% of which are rated either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Take a look at our most recent shared ownership development in Coventry, The Spires.
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.
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.
Mansfield is incredibly popular due to its affordability and the increasing number of quality residential developments being built in and around the town. That said, this rising popularity is directly impacting property prices and the town has seen the fastest growth across the East Midlands over the last year.
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’.
Take a look at our latest shared ownership houses in Mansfield, The Pines.
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.
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.
Tamworth
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.
Market Rasen
Market Rasen is a market town rapidly growing in popularity with growing families thanks to its low crime rates, excellent schools, surrounding natural beauty and range of amenities, all of which combine to deliver an exceptional quality of life for local residents. Market Rasen is also noted for its connectivity, as one of the only destinations in the area with direct rail links to Lincoln and thus, several other major cities including London.
There are seven schools in the immediate vicinity of Market Rasen, all of which are rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, highlighting the strength of education on offer.
In terms of things to see and do, Market Rasen has plenty on offer, including several key areas of outstanding natural beauty and Market Rasen Racecourse, the only course of its kind in the entire county.
Some of our Lincolnshire developments near Market Rasen include Chantrey Park and Witham Gate.
Where are the Best Places to Live in the UK 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.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is the second largest county in the country and has a huge range of villages, market towns and cities that all have different identities, meaning there’s something for every homebuyer.
Some of the safest places in Lincolnshire include Holbeach, Market Rasen and North Hykeham, which are 21%, 22% and 39% safer than the wider county average.
Since 2015, the average house price has increased by around £69,500, with the average property price in Lincolnshire now sitting around £219,900. This represents exceptional growth but still highlights a relative level of affordability that makes Lincolnshire so popular with homebuyers.
Lincolnshire has 382 schools serving over 110,000 pupils and out of those 382 schools, 61% are rated either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, with the majority being primary and 33 being secondary.
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.
