Norwich has been named the best place to live in the UK.
The city might find itself the butt of jokes as the fictional home of Alan Partridge, but judges were left impressed – putting it top of a list of 72 attractive locations.
The Best Places To Live guide praised Norwich for its blend of historical character, urban buzz and ‘liveability’.
Norfolk’s only city is famous for its beautiful centre featuring more than 30 medieval churches. And with the Norfolk Broads only a stone’s throw away, residents have nature on their doorstep.
Lovers of the arts can enjoy a wide range of art galleries and live music venues, while Norwich’s literary credentials have seen it named UNESCO City of Literature.
Affordability-wise, Norwich is not as expensive as other major cities across the country, with the average house costing around £276,000 – only slightly higher than the UK average of £270,000.
Norwich might find itself the butt of jokes as the fictional home of Alan Partridge, but judges were left impressed. Pictured is Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Castle in the city centre, which was praised for its historical character
Norwich’s wide range of independent stores and restaurants helped it beat 72 other locations to win the top prize
For commuters, the city offers easy access to a number of other major cities. Cambridge is 90 minutes drive away while a train to London will take slightly over two hours.
The award did not come as a surprise for the residents of Norwich, who are justly proud of their city.
Antonia Bartels, 41, a life and careers coach who moved to Norwich in 2021 told The Times: ‘I have lived in cities all over the world and Norwich has something incredibly special.’
‘There’s a real buzz here but the pace of life is great and it feels safe because people look out for each other. It’s also surrounded by stunning countryside, has easy access to the Broads, and I can pick up my two children from school and we can be eating fish and chips on the beach in half an hour.’
Filmmaker and local Joseph Harrington said the city has ‘character in every nook and cranny’ and there’s ‘always something new to discover’.
When compiling the guide, the judges assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to amenities, as well as access to high-quality green spaces and the health of the high street.
Homes along the River Wensum in Norwich. For nature lovers Norwich is just a stone’s throw away from the stunning Norfolk coast and the Broads national park
Norwich’s outdoor market. Filmmaker and local Joseph Harrington said the city has ‘character in every nook and cranny’ and there’s ‘always something new to discover’
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places To Live editor, said: ‘This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.
‘It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
‘Our expert team of judges have travelled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide.
‘One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.’
Full list of the best places to live in the UK
1. Norwich, Norfolk
2. Malmesbury, Wiltshire:
According to the guide, Malmesbury’s ‘ever-improving high street is the star of the show in a historic town that’s a safe place for families to put down roots’.
The town of just 5,969 people might be small but it punches above its weight in other categories with a large number of sports clubs, a theatre group and hardworking community groups.
The local state schools are rated excellent and cities such as Bristol, Bath and London are all easy to reach by car.
3. Skipton, North Yorkshire:
With its spectacular surrounding landscape and its well-preserved castle, Skipton is already a family holiday haven for northerners and the market town is becoming an increasingly popular place to settle down.
According to the guide, Skipton is a place with excellent schools where ‘traditional businesses thrive’.
Skipton also boasts easy access to Leeds – with direct train services to the city – while Manchester is just an hour’s drive away.
Skipton’s high street. With its spectacular surrounding landscape and its well-preserved castle, Skipton is already a family holiday haven for northerners and the market town is becoming an increasingly popular place to settle down
4. Lindfield, West Sussex:
The guide says that Lindfield has ‘enough reliable schools, smart shops, amenities and connections to satisfy the most hard-headed househunter’.
For such a small village Lindfield has excellent connections across the South East. Nearby Haywards Heath train station offers access to both London and Brighton and Gatwick Airport is only 23 minutes away.
5. The Malverns, Worcestershire:
These clusters of towns and villages nestled among the Malvern Hills offer a majestic setting with a rousing cultural scene, according to the Best Places To Live guide.
‘There’s something here for everyone: jobs, appealing shops, cafes and restaurants and useful rail links. There are spectacular walks on the bracken-clad hills, mighty views across to Wales,’ the guide added.
6. Usk, Monmouthshire:
This Welsh town recently secured the Britain in Bloom gold award after over 2,500 plants were potted and won the Wales in Bloom award a staggering 35 years in a row between 1982 and 2016.
Although it is set amongst the countryside, Usk is a 37 minute drive from Cardiff and Bristol is just 45 minutes away by car.
7. Linlithgow, West Lothian:
The guide claims that Linlithgow in Scotland’s central belt is a family-friendly hotspot with outstanding schools and the great outdoors.
And both of Scotland’s major cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, are both just 40 minutes drive away.
8. Ballycastle, County Antrim:
Situated on the northernmost tip of Northern Ireland, Ballycastle is described as a town with ‘a beautiful setting and a big, beating heart, always on display’.
The town boasts a long sandy beach which is perfect for dog walkers and swimmers as well as a thriving independent high street and the lively pub scene.
9. Richmond Upon Thames, London:
Richmond is frequently voted the happiest borough in London and for good reason.
Despite being amongst the hustle and bustle of the big smoke, Richmond has retained the feeling of a small town thanks to its sprawling green spaces which include the magnificent 2,500-acre Royal Park and quieter spots along the Thames.
A view of Richmond’s riverside. The area is frequently voted the happiest borough in London and for good reason
Staying along the riverside, this corner of south west London has a number of highly regarded pubs and an equally popular restaurant scene.
10. Altrincham, Greater Manchester:
With its easy access to Manchester city centre by tram, excellent schools and its high street full to the brim with independent businesses, Altrincham has remained one of the most popular places to live in Greater Manchester for decades
According to the guide, Altrincham is ‘flying even higher’ today after the leisure centre reopened in August 2025 after a £20million revamp and the famous market food hall draws diners from all over the region.
But with its popularity comes high house prices with the average home selling for £553,563 last year – much higher than the £276,000 average for Greater Manchester.
