Leeds city centre named as one of Sunday Times best places to live in the north
Leeds city centre was today named as one of the the best place to live in the north in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The heart of Leeds was among eight locations to be singled out around the the north and northeast of England with Skipton taking the overall honours.
The judges said of the city centre: “Leeds has five universities, the fourth largest urban economy in the UK (with job opportunities in finance, insurance and big business), a youthful vibe and a relatively affordable average house price (£285,100).
“Stay close to the centre, where you won’t have to worry about the patchy public transport, and it all adds up to a fun-filled, fulfilled life within walking distance of stylish shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There’s a good choice of riverside homes, where you may spot kingfishers and otters, and even the schools are good.”
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the best of Britain, with Norwich in Norfolk named the overall national winner.
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
She added: “Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live. These judges have traveled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide. One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all the locations and assessed factors from schools to transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal to amenities, as well as access to high-quality green spaces and the health of the high street.
The chosen locations come in all shapes and sizes, from the best bits of big lively cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff and London to the tiny, rural villages of the Vale of Eden in Cumbria and the Vale of Belvoir in the Midlands. The whole country is covered, from Falmouth and Penryn in west Cornwall to Braemar in the Scottish Highlands and Ballycastle in Northern Ireland.
There are more new entries than ever before in the 2026 guide. As always, the judges looked for thriving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.
The guide has been sponsored by the mortgage lender Lloyds Banking Group for the first time this year, which has provided an average house price for each location.
Kate Townson, Lloyds relationship and customer development director, said: “For many, navigating the housing market can feel overwhelming,.
“At Lloyds, our aim is to support all home buyers, including those taking their very first step onto the property ladder, with clear guidance, practical tools and tailored products that help them move forward with confidence and clarity.”
She added: “Our partnership with The Sunday Times Best Places to Live aims to give trusted insight into communities across the UK, helping homebuyers to make confident, informed decisions about their future home.”