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Best Places To Live In The UK

Nov 15, 2021
The Best Places To Live In The UK Guide

From peaceful rural settings in gentle landscapes to bustling cities, there are some wonderful places to live across the UK. And David Wilson Homes is building quality homes and attractive developments in some of the most sought-after areas.

Whether you’re considering Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Nottingham, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Gloucestershire, Somerset, South Wales or Scotland, all of them offer something unique.

So let’s take a closer look at some of the best places to live in the UK and see why they just might be the perfect setting for your new home.

The call of the North – Manchester, Liverpool & Leeds

The North West has a charm all of its own and an attitude to life that makes everyone feel welcome.

With its proud industrial heritage, the area is now forging a new 21st century identity and you’ll never run out of things to do. If you love soaking up some history, Manchester is the place to be with The People’s History Museum, Science and Industry Museum, Imperial War Museum North and more. And don’t forget the truly iconic Manchester Town Hall.

For art-lovers, Liverpool’s cutting-edge galleries such as the Tate are a must. Its musical heritage is second to none, and the city’s two stunning cathedrals provide a fascinating contrast in architectural styles.

Head towards Leeds in the white rose county of Yorkshire and you’ll find the superb Royal Armouries, exuberant Leeds Art Gallery, and a city renowned for its brilliant nightlife and award-winning restaurants. If you’re in search of nature, the Yorkshire Dales, Pennines and Peak District are all close by, as well as beauty spots like Rodley Nature Reserve, Roundhay Park and Kirkstall Abbey.

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Enjoy some space – the East Midlands and Nottingham

If you like room to breathe, the allure of the East Midlands might prove hard to resist. The second least densely populated region in England, it’s close to some of the country’s most attractive countryside, full of tranquil villages, historic market towns and truly stunning scenery.

While the rolling moors and dales of The Peak District National Park are perfect for both adventurous hiking and lazy picnics, lovers of myth and legend will be drawn to Sherwood Forest – home of Robin Hood.

Studded with dynamic cities and charming towns throughout the region, the East Midland’s convenient location in the very heart of England, ensures excellent transport links to the rest of the UK and abroad.

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Eastern promise – East Anglia and Cambridge

For sheer diversity, cultural attractions, heritage and variety of landscape, East Anglia is hard to beat. From iconic villages like Southwold on the Suffolk coast to bustling Cambridge and its world-renowned university, the region has so much to offer.

If you’re drawn to the sea, East Anglia boasts mile after mile of extraordinary coastline. Move inland and you’ll find undulating countryside as well as the huge open skies of the Fens and Constable Country.

A brilliant area for walking and boating alike, lovers of culture and history will also never tire of unique places like Lavenham, Norwich and Bury St Edmunds.

It’s hard to imagine why you might want to leave, but if you do feel the need to head abroad, easy access to Stansted and Luton airports, as well as the port of Felixstowe, makes international travel easy.

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Go west - Somerset and Gloucestershire

There’s a very good reason why the South West attracts so many people. Quite simply, it’s a stunningly beautiful place to be.

Stretching from Gloucestershire in the east of the region to the very western tip of Cornwall, the region boasts no less than 418 beaches, two National Parks and enough cultural and historical sites to last a lifetime.

At a time when quality of life and the environment is becoming increasingly important, the South-West is a breath of fresh air, quite literally as it regularly records some of the lowest air pollution levels in the UK.

Offering an appealing combination of beautiful scenery, exciting cities and legendary West Country hospitality, it’s a great place to raise a family or get away from it all. And with a good motorway network and extensive mainline rail services, travel to and from other parts of the UK is a breeze.

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True north - Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland

It’s impossible to sum up Scotland in a single word. A country of towering mountains, tumbling waterfalls, sparkling lochs, atmospheric glens, majestic woodland and unspoilt beaches, it’s also home to some of the UK’s most exciting towns and cities.

From its iconic castle perched high on a craggy outcrop, to the elegant Georgian streets of the city’s New Town, Edinburgh is a colourful, historic and unforgettable place to live. Home to several top universities (and the world-famous Edinburgh Festival) it’s a political, cultural and economic focal point.

If you’re looking to lead a more rural lifestyle, East Lothian is just minutes from Edinburgh but feels like another world. Aberdeenshire and Dunbartonshire on Scotland’s north-east coast offer a dramatic contrast, while the Borders is a region of rolling moorland, gentle farmland and picturesque towns and villages.

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The call of the sea – South Wales

If South Wales is sometimes known for its valleys, it’s equally renowned for its incredibly beautiful coastline.

Explore the Gower Peninsula near Swansea and you’ll discover Rhossili Bay, Three Cliffs Bay and Langland Bay, each with its own unique character and ever popular with beach lovers. For surfers and families alike, Rest Bay in Porthcawl is an irresistible draw.

From Caerphilly Castle to Tintern Abbey the area is steeped in history. Beautiful natural attractions such as the Brecon Beacons are within easy reach and Cardiff, the Welsh capital, is home to countless cultural events, award-winning restaurants and a buzzing nightlife.

With the M4 serving both Cardiff and Swansea, an excellent network of A-roads, a high-speed train link to London and Cardiff Airport, it’s a very well-connected region.

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So there you have it. Some of the best places to live in the UK are waiting for you. And wherever you see yourself living, with David Wilson Homes the attractiveness of the location will always be matched by the quality of your new home. So start your search today.

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