At Time Out we are no stranger to a good city ranking. We’ve covered everything from the world’s best cities for food to Britain’s best beach towns and the planet’s coolest neighbourhoods.
This week a new ranking for 2025 arrived on the block, naming Europe’s best cities. Resonance Consultancy’s annual list is here, and it’s worth paying attention to. The consulting firm’s reports are considered among the most comprehensive city rankings out there – the latest one dives into more than 180 European cities, rating each one according to three factors: liveability, lovability and prosperity.
We’re pleased to say that this year 18 out of the top 100 cities were British. For the third year in a row, Resonance named London as Europe’s best city. The UK capital clinched the top prize thanks to its global audience and appeal to students, entrepreneurs and tourists. The report mentioned Heathrow Airport’s record-breaking year, and Gatwick’s recent £236 million upgrade. It also lauded our theatres, museums, culture and landmarks, with a shoutout to the much anticipated Camden Highline.
Also making the top 100 was Edinburgh in 18th place. The Scottish capital was praised for its Gothic architecture, top arts programming, luxury hotels and of course, the Fringe. Glasgow followed in 28th place, thanks to its well-educated residents, abundance of tech start ups and cultural chops, being the home of the of Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the National Theatre of Scotland.
Read more about Resonance’s best cities in Europe list here.
All the UK cities ranked in the Resonance Best Cities in Europe 2025 list
Here are all the British spots in Resonance’s ranking (each with its placing in the top 50).
- London (1)
- Edinburgh (18)
- Glasgow (28)
- Birmingham (30)
- Liverpool (32)
- Manchester (36)
- Leeds (47)
- Oxford (56)
- Sheffield (57)
- Southampton (61)
- Belfast (66)
- Bristol (67)
- Newcastle (81)
- Cardiff (82)
- Leicester (87)
- Bournemouth (95)
- Nottingham (97)
- Portsmouth (99)
This is officially the UK’s most remote train journey.
Plus: One of the world’s most walkable cities is in the UK.
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