Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, is listed as the fourth best place to live in the UK.
(Image: Getty)The UK’s 10 best towns and cities to live in have been unveiled, with the majority in the Southeast of England. The list comes from a Savills analysis which considers the top scorers for proportion of residents holding managerial and professional jobs, their level of qualifications and the state of their health.
Despite being property hotspots, some of these areas have seen average house prices drop between June 2024 and August 2025, due to recent pressure on the housing market.
1. Harpenden, Herts
The village in Hertfordshire nabs the top spot, with average house prices of £913,000.
Harpenden offers a range of restaurants, wine bars and leisure facilities as well as green spaces. Despite its village feel, Harpenden also offers efficient transport to London, with trains to St Pancras taking only 30 minutes.
Harpenden is often known for its “wealthy”, sometimes “snobby” and “affluent” population, with 60% of residents having a “level four” qualification, equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
2. Cobham, Surrey
With the highest average property price of around £1.4 million, Cobham takes second place.
Beyond its historic charm, Cobham is popular for its cafés and many schools, offering plenty to its residents. Despite its expensive house prices, many Cobham locals resist moving away, often downsizing from larger properties instead, to stay in the area.
(Image: Getty)3. Beaconsfield, Bucks
Beaconsfield’s average house price now rests around £1.17million. The market town in Buckinghamshire offers an excellent high street, with the Chilterns close by for scenic walks.
The town offers residents excellent grammar schools and family attractions, such as Bekonscot Modern Village and Railway, the oldest original model village in the world.
(Image: Getty)4. Chorleywood, Herts
Chorleywood is ranked as the fourth best place to live in the UK. Located in Hertfordshire and on the border with Buckinghamshire, the village sees average property prices of £1.10 million.
Located on the Metropolitan tube line and railway network, Chorleywood offers easy routes to the capital as well as access to Buckinghamshire’s grammar schools. One of Chorleywood’s top features is Chorleywood Common, which spans across 185 acres.
(Image: Getty)5. Amersham, Bucks
Amersham, in Buckinghamshire, comes in as the fifth best area to live in the UK. With average house prices falling from £737,000 to £717,100 in recent years, Amersham is rising in popularity.
The thriving market town also boasts a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and proximity to open countryside. Also located on the outer reaches of the London Tube network, Amersham offers residents excellent access to the capital while still providing a countryside lifestyle.
(Image: Getty)6. Hale, Greater Manchester
Hale, located in Greater Manchester, is listed as one of the top six best UK areas to live in. With average house prices of around £857,300, Hale is only 20 minutes from Manchester’s centre and boasts a range of independent shops and restaurants.
With its outstanding schools, such as Altrincham Grammar, Hale is a popular area for parents and, with its family-friendly suburb feel, is often likened to Chiswick.
(Image: Getty)7. Esher, Surrey
Listed as the seventh best place to live in the UK, and the second area in Surrey, is Esher. The town with an average house price of £1.37 million features plenty of green spaces but also a vast selection of restaurants and an Everyman cinema.
Unlike some other villages listed in the top ten, Esher offers a more vibrant feel with its several sports and golf clubs, excellent for those with an active family.
(Image: Getty)8. Gerrards Cross, Bucks
With an average property price of around £1.28 million, Gerrards Cross makes it into the top 10. The town is known as a commuter’s favourite with just a quick 20-minute journey to London Marylebone.
Locally known as GX, Gerrards Cross is also an ideal location for corporate parents who are able to drop their children off at school in Buckinghamshire in the morning and still make it to London for the start of their working day.
(Image: Getty)9. Berkhamsted, Herts
Listed as ninth on the list, Berkhamsted is just a 30 to 40-minute train journey to London Euston. But despite its proximity to London, Berkhamsted still offers a small-town feel, boasting a selection of independent shops and restaurants.
House prices average around £774,000, and the town offers a strong community feel and proximity to nature, such as the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate.
(Image: Getty)10. St Albans, Herts
The Hertfordshire town of St Albans comes in at tenth on the list. With average house prices of around £660,100, St Albans is rich with history, home to the first British Christian martyr and, supposedly, England’s oldest pub.
With big support for local businesses and the 100-acre Verulamium Park, St Albans holds great attraction to those looking to move away from large, metropolitan cities.
(Image: Getty)