Britain’s most desirable places to live in 2026: Sheffield among best cities in the country
New data reveals Britain’s top destinations for the best quality living.
New research by property information site Property Buyers Today created five categories based on data from the Home Office and Tripadvisor. These include a culture score (based on shopping, nightlife, and more), a green score (based on the count and rating of nature and parks), a housing score (based on housing affordability), a utility score (based on energy and gas), and a violent crime score (based on the annual increase or decrease of reported incidents).
The five categories were given a score out of 100, which contributed to a final index score. The locations with the highest final index score have been named the most desirable places to live in Britain.
Sheffield's findings
Sheffield ranks 12th overall among the best places to live in 2026. Located in South Yorkshire, the city records a culture score of 61.93 out of 100, reflecting a solid range of leisure activities and community attractions.
It also achieves a green score of 61.61 out of 100 alongside a strong housing score of 66.69 and utilities score of 66.99, indicating relatively favourable living conditions across infrastructure and affordability. These factors contribute to a final index score of 62.30 out of 100, placing Sheffield comfortably above the national average of 50.90 out of 100.
Britain’s most desirable places to live in 2025
| Rank | Local authority | Culture score (/100) | Green score (/100) | Housing score (/100) | Utilities score (/100) | Violent crime score (/100) | Final index score (/100) |
| 1 | York | 78.36 | 100.00 | 44.84 | 66.99 | 42.90 | 70.75 |
| 2 | Nottingham | 73.89 | 46.03 | 63.59 | 80.98 | 46.65 | 69.48 |
| 3 | Blackpool | 77.36 | 46.62 | 96.64 | 42.54 | 46.35 | 68.61 |
| 4 | Edinburgh | 79.72 | 50.27 | 62.13 | 69.27 | 12.17 | 67.93 |
| 5 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 67.25 | 42.75 | 79.31 | 72.58 | 41.41 | 66.07 |
| 6 | Lincoln | 62.73 | 57.67 | 74.59 | 78.39 | 46.26 | 65.81 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 72.23 | 46.34 | 87.73 | 43.49 | 58.82 | 65.77 |
| 8 | Doncaster | 59.58 | 65.23 | 95.36 | 64.40 | 46.09 | 65.10 |
| 9 | Glasgow | 70.44 | 51.67 | 62.13 | 69.27 | 10.54 | 63.19 |
| 10 | Leeds | 66.61 | 47.98 | 64.80 | 64.40 | 49.80 | 63.15 |
| 11 | Oxford | 79.52 | 85.78 | 13.52 | 52.44 | 45.30 | 63.08 |
| 12 | Sheffield | 61.93 | 61.61 | 66.69 | 66.99 | 44.37 | 62.30 |
| 13 | Norwich | 65.80 | 71.06 | 54.48 | 52.24 | 65.83 | 62.05 |
| 14 | Manchester | 65.51 | 14.34 | 58.53 | 60.69 | 100.00 | 61.69 |
| 15 | Kingston upon Hull | 59.27 | 29.71 | 97.89 | 66.99 | 27.64 | 61.46 |
York takes the crown as the best place to live in 2026. Located in Yorkshire, the local authority has a culture score of 78.36 out of 100, including a 4.75 out of 5 rating for fun and games, such as family-friendly miniature golf and the prestigious York Racecourse.
There are also 43 nature and park landscapes, such as Rowntree Park and Museum Gardens, resulting in a green score of 100 out of 100. These factors culminate in a final index score of 70.75 out of 100, which is 38.9% above the national average of 50.90 out of 100.
Nottingham ranks as the second-most desirable place to live, with a final index score of 69.48 out of 100, 36.5% above the national average. The East Midlands-based local authority has a score of 80.98 out of 100 for utilities, with the average price of electricity being 3% below the national average at 23.91p per kWh.
Nottingham also has a housing score of 63.59 out of 100, as the average house price per square meter totals £2,553.53, which is 23.4% below the national average of £3,337.37.
In third place is Blackpool. Based in Lancashire, the local authority has 27 concerts and show attractions for locals to enjoy, 18 more than the national average, resulting in a culture score of 77.36 out of 100.
Violent crime is also decreasing at a rate of 0.04 in the local authority, compared to a 0.06 increase in Swansea, for example. These factors, among others, culminate in a final index score of 68.61 out of 100, which is 34.7% above the national average.
According to the study, Edinburgh is the fourth-most desirable place to live in Britain, with a final index score of 67.93 out of 100, 33.4% above the national average.
In the local authority, the average gas price per kWh is 0.8% less than the national average, at 6.18p per kWh, resulting in a score of 69.27 out of 100 for utilities. Additionally, Edinburgh is home to 50 nature and park attractions, including Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill, which is 85.1% above the national average of 27.
Newcastle upon Tyne is the fifth-best place to live in 2026, with a final index score of 66.07 out of 100, 29.8% above the national average. The local authority has a housing score of 79.31 out of 100, due to the average price of housing per square meter costing £2,358.50, 29.3% above the national average.
Additionally, Newcastle has a median energy efficiency score of 68, 0.6% higher than the national average, resulting in a utility score of 72.58 out of 100.
Saif Derzi, founder of Property Buyers Today , commented on the findings:
“Choosing where to live isn’t just about property prices, there are many factors that go into living in a desirable area. Luckily, this comprehensive study takes all of those elements into account to reveal the best areas to live in the UK.
“This research shows that desirability varies significantly across the UK, with northern cities like York and Blackpool performing strongly due to their combination of a wide variety of cultural amenities and affordable housing.”