What factors determine whether somewhere is ‘liveable’ to you? Is it the ease of access to areas of natural beauty? The reported well-being of local residents?
If you’re torn or in need of an overall rating, Garrington Property Finders’ latest guide to the Best Places to Live 2026 in England and Wales may be just what you need.
The largest buying agency in the UK has released its 2026 report, flagging the most desirable corners of the country once again – and a majority of the highest-performing postcodes are in the north.
Garrington Property Finders’ annual ranking is described as an impartial, objective ranking based on publicly available data across 18 categories, including proximity to open space, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the number of listed and period homes, air quality, and crime figures. A wide range of data sources is used, including those provided by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Levelling Up, and Natural England.
1447 locations with a population of 5000 or more were eligible for assessment – locations on the less favourable end of the list include Margate, Skegness and Clacton-on-Sea.
Marple claims the top spot this year, a town within Greater Manchester, around 25 minutes from the bright lights of the heart of the city. The town’s strong community spirit and a high well-being score have helped propel it to the top of the leaderboard, with in-demand homes priced at an average of £517,119 – well above the national average.
