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Living in a city comes with a whole load of pros and, we admit, some cons. You have incredible access to world-leading cultural institutions, amazing nightlife and a wealth of really, really good food. But sometimes, all of that can come at the expense of your wallet, of having access to nature and even of your sense of safety.
There are cities out there that are all-rounders though, many of them here in the UK. And now, Monocle has published the 2026 edition of its annual Quality of Life Survey showcasing the 20 cities in the world that, you guessed it, it reckons offer the best quality of life.
The publication sent out 30 questions to correspondents in 40 cities across the globe. It asked about sensible stuff like safety, security, connectivity and governance alongside things such as culture, hospitality, architecture and excitement. The results came in, Monocle’s editors scrutinised the numbers and a final top 20 list emerged. But, much to our disappointment, not a single UK city featured.
Not even Bath, which Time Out’s recent research found to be the happiest city on the entire planet right now, made the cut. Monocle didn’t say why no British cities featured, but we reckon one of the reasons they fell short was because one metric was whether you can ‘get decent food and drink after 10pm’ and our kitchens tend to close far earlier than our neighbours on the continent. Last year one restaurant mogul in London tried to put an end to that by introducing discounts for people eating after 9pm.
So, where should our cities be taking notes from? Number one on Monocle’s ranking was Tokyo for its stability, calm and security. The publication said: ‘Despite its size, the Japanese capital retains an old-fashioned sense of community. Young people are taught to be considerate. Individual excellence is celebrated but even sporting megastars are expected to stay humble.’
Copenhagen came in second place. With its sauna boom, formalised communities and social dining, Monocle said that ‘as ever, leisure time is well spent in the Danish capital’.
Perhaps this time next year Edinburgh, London or Manchester will have upped their game and secured a spot on the list.
The most liveable cities in the world in 2026, according to Monocle
You can have a look at Monocle’s report in full here.
Take a look at Time Out’s guide to the UK’s most underrated cities.
ICYMI: One of the world’s 50 best islands is in the UK.
Plus: Three of the most beautiful cities in the world are in the UK.
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