The best places to live in the whole of the UK have been revealed in the latest annual edition by the Sunday Times. Travelling far and wide to find 2026’s hot spots, the publication announced the winner as a city in the east of England.

Praised for its blend of “medieval heritage and contemporary cool”, Norwich was named as the overall winner on the Sunday Times Best Place to Live in the UK for 2026. The city also happens to be the only location to have featured in all of 14 iterations of the coveted annual list. No matter what stage of life you’re in, Norwich should be on your radar.

Coming in second just behind Norwich was Malmesbury in Wiltshire. The Sunday Times wrote: “If the high street is a good indicator of the health of a town, then historic Malmesbury should be feeling decidedly chipper.”

Making up the top three was Skipton in North Yorkshire. The Sunday Times wrote: “If you’re happy and you know it, make a move to this market town at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.”

To help determine the rankings, the Sunday Times’ expert panel of judges visited various locations across all four corners of the country. They took into account a range of factors, including broadband speeds and school standards to the health of the high street.

When speaking of winner Norwich, the judges highlighted the city as “creative, cosmopolitan city with a small-town feel”. The city was dubbed “trendy but kind, with a green conscience and a warm heart”.

Norwich was praised for its mix of “urban convenience” with an extensive rural “tranquility”, boasting easy access to The Fens and the eastern coast of England. Norwich was also named as the UK’s first UNESCO City of Literature, where it boasts a plethora of theatres, cultural spots, and a revamped historic Norman castle.

Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the wonderful work that communities across the country are doing.”

Lloyds Banking Group provided the average house price found in each of the winning spots, ranging from £252,300 to an eyewatering £916,9000. Overall winner Norwich had an average house price of £324,400.

Ballycastle was revealed as having the cheapest average house price of £252,300, while London’s Richmond came in with the highest average price. According to data released by the UK Government, the average house price across the entirety of London was £551,000 in December 2025.

Find the full list of the 11 winners of the best places to live this year below.