The 10 best UK towns and cities to live in revealed - full list
Estate agent Savills judges this by assessing residents' jobs, qualifications and health profiles.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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