The United Kingdom is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for professionals relocating for work, and for the companies that send teams here for projects and assignments. But the best place to live in the United Kingdom rarely has a single answer. It depends on why you are moving, how long you are staying, and what matters most to you day to day.
At Kassoe Housing we arrange furnished homes for people relocating across the UK every week, so we see first hand how the right location changes from one person to the next. This guide walks through the cities that consistently rank among the best places to live, and what each one offers, so you can find the area that fits both your work and your life.
What makes somewhere a good place to live
A few things tend to matter most when you settle somewhere new: the local job market and how close you are to work, the cost of living and rent in particular, transport links within the city and to the rest of the country, the everyday amenities and green space around you, and how easily you can find good housing when you actually need it.
The cities below score well across most of these. We have added a short note on who each one tends to suit best.
1. London
London is the obvious starting point and remains the heart of the UK economy, with the widest choice of work, the best public transport in the country, and amenities to match. It is also the most expensive place to live, so many people who work in the capital choose to live slightly outside it and commute in. If your work brings you to the capital, furnished accommodation across London and its commuter belt makes arriving far simpler than starting a long rental from scratch.
2. Manchester
Manchester is the largest city in the north of England and one of its strongest economies, with a growing presence in technology, media and finance. It offers much of what London does at a noticeably lower cost, alongside a lively cultural scene and good transport links. For many people relocating for work, Manchester strikes a strong balance between career opportunity and quality of life.
3. Edinburgh
Scotland’s capital is regularly named one of the best cities to live in the UK. It combines a strong finance and technology sector with a compact, historic centre and easy access to green space and the coast. Edinburgh suits people who want a major-city job market without the scale and pace of London.
4. Bristol
In the South West, Bristol consistently ranks among the most desirable places to live in the country. It has a diverse economy spanning aerospace, technology and the creative industries, a walkable harbourside and well-regarded schools. That mix makes Bristol a popular choice for people relocating with their family.
5. Cambridge
Cambridge sits at the centre of one of Europe’s leading technology and life-sciences clusters, often called Silicon Fen. Alongside the work, it offers a beautiful, compact city and fast rail links into London. Housing here is in high demand, so it pays to arrange somewhere to stay in Cambridge early.
6. Glasgow
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and one of the most affordable major cities in the UK. It is known for its music, arts and friendly character, with a strong job market across several sectors. For anyone who wants city life at a reasonable cost, Glasgow is hard to beat.
7. Birmingham
Birmingham is the UK’s second-largest city and a major commercial centre, with strengths in finance, professional services and manufacturing, and one of the youngest populations in Europe. Years of regeneration have reshaped the city centre, and faster rail links are bringing it closer to London. For people relocating for work outside the capital, Birmingham offers big-city opportunity at a more manageable cost.
8. The Thames Valley
West of London, the Thames Valley is one of the UK’s most important technology and business corridors, home to a large concentration of international companies and data centres. Towns such as Reading and Bracknell offer fast connections into London while keeping you close to major employers. It is a practical base for anyone whose work sits in this corridor rather than in central London.
9. York
York is regularly named one of the very best places to live in the UK, and it is easy to see why. The walled, historic city pairs a high quality of life with good schools, a strong local economy and fast trains to London, Leeds and Manchester. It tends to suit people who want character and calm alongside easy access to the bigger northern hubs. You can find furnished accommodation in York for shorter or longer stays.
10. Aberdeen
In the north east of Scotland, Aberdeen is the centre of the UK’s energy industry. For people moving for work in that sector, Aberdeen offers proximity to employers, a coastal setting and a distinctive granite-built city.
Other places worth considering
Depending on your work and budget, it is also worth looking at the Georgian city of Bath, the Welsh capital Cardiff, the innovation hub of Oxford, and seaside Brighton.
Finding the right place to stay
Choosing a city is only half of it. The other half is finding somewhere to live once you arrive, and that is often the harder part when you are relocating for work or for a fixed project. Long rental contracts, unfurnished flats and setting up utilities all take time you may not have.
This is where serviced, furnished accommodation makes the difference. A fully furnished home, ready to move into, with utilities, wifi and the day-to-day essentials gathered into a single bill, removes most of the friction from a move. You can read more about what we offer and how it works.
At Kassoe Housing this is what we do across the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. We have been arranging furnished accommodation since 2018 and work with companies and their teams to take care of every detail, from finding the right home in the right area to handling the paperwork and ongoing support.
You also deal with real people throughout. Our UK team knows their local markets and is there to help with anything during your stay, rather than leaving you to a booking platform.
Whether you are one person moving for a few months or a company relocating a whole team, we can put together accommodation that fits. You can browse all the UK locations we cover, or simply tell us what you need and we will come back with a tailored option. For larger or recurring requirements, you can also make a tender request.
In short
The best place to live in the United Kingdom is the one that fits your work, your budget and the life you want around it. Whichever city you choose, having a comfortable home sorted before you arrive is what turns a relocation into a fresh start.
If you are moving to the UK for work, get in touch and we will help you find the right place to stay.