Where Is The Best Place To Live In The UK (And Why)?

Published: 23/07/2019

Dreaming of finally settling down in a home of your own, after years of saving and planning? Congratulations! This is a very important milestone in your life and a moment to be savoured.

There are few things more exciting than realising never again you’ll pay rent and soon you’ll be able to decorate to your heart’s content, sans that noisy landlord complaining about nail holes or the accidental wine stain on the carpet! Trivialities aside, there’s also the many significant long-term benefits of purchasing property such as having a stable, low-risk investment that will act as a nice nest egg for the future. Hey, ho!

First thing’s first though, where are you going to purchase your #DreamHome? When it comes to conveyancing, it’s all about - location, location, location. Let’s investigate some of the supposed top places in the country to settle down.

According to Halifax’s recent quality of life survey, these are the best places in the UK to live:

Richmondshire, Yorkshire

The Halifax survey considered a range of criteria including work, housing, education, health and how people feel overall. Based on these factors, the best place in the UK to settle down is Richmondshire in North Yorkshire.

The area is heralded as having excellent personal wellbeing scores, low crime rates and little traffic. It’s a scenic area with plenty of green space and heritage buildings. Tourism is also popular there, with many popular sites such as Richmond Castle, the Georgian Theatre Royal and Millgate House garden rated highly on TripAdvisor.

According to RightMove, most of the sales in Richmond over the past year were detached properties which on average sold for £337,827. Terraced properties had an average sold price of £196,171 and semi-detached properties averaged at £195,224. Richmond, with an overall average price of £242,619 was more expensive than nearby Catterick Garrison (£146,415), Leyburn (£228,471) and Reeth (£224,339).

Rutland, East Midlands

Next on Halifax’s ranking of best places to reside is Rutland in the East Midlands. Small, rural and cheery, this little countryside corner of the UK sees most of the working population (17,000 people in total) employed in public administration, education and health or distribution, hotels and restaurants. According to Visit Rutland, the area “is an idyllic rural destination offering a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life”. Sounds ok, to us!

The majority of sales in Rutland during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £422,555. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £252,791, with terraced properties fetching £248,985 (Rightmove).

Hambleton, North Yorkshire

This super green part of North Yorkshire is named after the Hambleton Hills, part of the North York Moors National Park, and comprises 1,254.90 km² of green space. The main town and administrative centre is Northallerton, and the district also includes the market towns and major villages of Bedale, Thirsk, Great Ayton, Stokesley, and Easingwold.

Given its picturesque rural setting, average house prices are generally more expensive in the region. Hambleton’s overall average price is £760,000.

Other desirable places to live according to the Halifax survey:

Eden, Cumbria
The Cotswolds, South West
South Oxfordshire, South East
Ryedale, Yorkshire and the Humber
St Albans, East of England
Derbyshire Dales, East Midlands

In general, the South of the country scores better for employment, earnings, life expectancy, health and the weather. The North is favoured for its housing affordability, lower traffic levels and less overcrowding.

Advice for those wanting to jump on the housing ladder

Who are GWlegal?

GWlegal are a property solicitors based in Liverpool, specialising in buying or selling, remortgage, declaration of trust, bridging and buy-to-let landlords.

If you have a legal matter you wish to discuss don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 0345 373 3737 email us hello@gw.legal with your question.

Who are GWlegal? We’re a national firm with local values.

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Content correct at time of publication.