While friendliness is subjective, Glasgow, Manchester, and Newcastle frequently top lists for UK cities, with Scotland generally seen as welcoming, alongside cities like Liverpool, Edinburgh, and York, noted for their hospitality, community spirit, and vibrant social scenes. The North East of England, in particular, often scores high for neighbourly connections, while the South West shows strong community support.
1. Glasgow, Scotland. Scotland's largest city is often overlooked in favour of Edinburgh. And while you could argue that the capital may be grander and more historic, Glasgow has scooped the top spot, yet again, in Condé Nast's annual list of the UK's friendliest cities.
Cambridge emerges as a beacon of hospitality, boasting the title of the most polite city, alongside its top ranks in safety and cleanliness. Cities like Manchester and London face challenges in these regards.
A market town known as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales has been named as the "happiest place" to live in the UK, according to a survey. Skipton was praised for its access to nature and green spaces, the friendliness of residents and access to essential services, such as schools.
While beauty is subjective, counties like Cornwall, Yorkshire, Devon, and Dorset are widely recognised for their outstanding natural landscapes and popular attractions.
Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Castle Combe is often called the prettiest village in England and one of the most beautiful towns in the Cotswolds. Walking through this village truly feels like stepping back in time; no new houses have been built here for over 400 years, so it has kept its authentic, old-world charm.
According to the 2011 UK Census results, White British people made up the largest percentage of the population in rural areas, such as Allerdale (99.4%) and Copeland (99.3%) in Cumbria, Ryedale (99.4%) in North Yorkshire, North Norfolk (99.2%) and North Devon (99%).
The 10 most peaceful places to live in England
Top 20 prettiest places to live in Britain
Henley-on-Thames
What we are in the position to do, however, is a bit of harmless window shopping. Because, being just an hour from London, it's a pretty perfect spot for a springtime day-trip from the capital city. The sought-after spot managed to nab the crown as Britain's poshest town for many reasons, really.
Safest overall: Based on a 2024 crime-index study of 105 UK towns and cities, Harrogate, Wokingham, Chester, Sevenoaks and Horsham occupy the top five spots, with crime index scores between roughly 17 and 23 (lower scores indicate safer areas).
San Diego, California
Sun-soaked beaches, friendly locals, and a vibrant cultural scene make San Diego one of the friendliest cities in the US. It's no surprise that travelers are drawn to this coastal gem for its laid-back vibe and warm hospitality.
The World's Friendliest Nations, According To Scientific Study
But while politicians might see these relationships as needing repair, how do Britons see the UK's diplomatic relations – who are seen as Britain's allies, friends and enemies? Three countries – Australia, Canada and New Zealand – stand out at the top of the list of friendly nations.
This year, Skipton in Yorkshire was crowned the happiest place in the UK, with its residents reporting that they can really be themselves. Skiptonians also said that they had high-quality essential services, loads of great parks and very friendly neighbours.
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Read on to discover the best places to live outside of London.
Norwich has officially been named the UK's Kindest City, by Benefact Group, an organisation that gives all its available profits to good causes, after locals made more nominations for charities than anywhere else in the country*.
When it comes to reasonable living costs, Middlesbrough takes the top spot for affordability, scoring 6.51/10. It's closely followed by Sunderland and Newcastle, meaning all three of the UK's most affordable cities are in the North East — a region long associated with a lower cost of living.
Having carefully reviewed the data of over 160 towns and villages across the UK, the data was then ranked to reveal the overall top 10 prettiest places in the UK, with Castle Combe in Wiltshire claiming the top spot!
Based on UK census data from 2021 (2022 in Scotland), London emerges as the most popular destination for migrants (Figure 1). Although less than 10% of the total UK-born population lived in London, the city was home to one-third of the total foreign-born population in the country.
London is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world. More than 300 languages are spoken across its boroughs, reflecting its status as a global metropolis. Areas such as Southall, Brick Lane and Chinatown offer rich cultural experiences, from authentic cuisine to traditional festivals.
The United Kingdom is an ethnically diverse society. The largest ethnic group in the United Kingdom is White British, followed by Asian British. Ethnicity in the United Kingdom is formally recorded at the national level through a census.