Explore the Top Eco-Friendly Destinations
The UK is home to some of the most environmentally friendly towns and cities on the planet, from those with vast green spaces to those where green education initiatives are taught throughout schools in the district and county.
From the North of Ireland to North Yorkshire and Exeter to Edinburgh, this comprehensive list ranks the greenest places to live in the UK based on several criteria, including:
- Sustainability Practices: How committed are they to sustainability practices?
- Green Spaces: The number of parks, gardens, natural reserves and more that promote biodiversity and provide residents with access to nature.
- Public Transport Options: The effectiveness and availability of public transport, encouraging residents and visitors to use public transport rather than cars.
- Local FoodProduction: Places that support locally-based farmers, host farmers markets, offer community gardens and more.
- Community Engagement: How do they involve residents in eco-friendly initiatives such as tree-planting events and sustainability workshops?
- Renewable Energy Use and Eco-Friendly Housing: A focus on places utilising renewable energy sources for public buildings and residential efforts.
- Air Quality and Pollution Levels: Places with good air quality and low pollution levels.
- Support for Local Businesses: Places that encourage residents to shop locally and support eco-conscious businesses to reduce carbon footprints.
- Recognition and Awards: Places that have either been nominated for or won local, regional, or national awards based on their green efforts.
20. Warrington, Cheshire
Warrington, located in Cheshire, sits about halfway between two of the great industrial giants of the past: Liverpool and Manchester. You may then be wondering, how can a town in such a historically heavily industrial region be one of the greenest places to live in the UK?
Well, not only does Warrington have a plethora of green spaces, including hiking trails such as the Trans Pennine trail and the Bridgewater Canal, but the town also actively encourages environmental awareness amongst its residents.
There are several recycling programs in Warrington which are actively encouraged to commit to environmental sustainability within the town, as well as actively implementing green practices and initiatives. Many residents actively participate in these programs, which contributes to Warrington's reputation as an eco-friendly town to live in.
In fact, according to the 2024 ENDS Green Cities Index, Warrington is the 8th greenest urban area in England. Holidu also ranked Warrington second in a study of the greenest towns in the UK. These results show that Warrington’s ongoing commitment to becoming one of the greenest places in the UK is not going unnoticed.
19. Swindon, Wiltshire
Found in southern England in the beautiful county of Wiltshire, it is little surprise that Swindon is on this list of the greenest places to live in the UK.
While the number of parks in Swindon is not as high as those of other similar-sized towns, the important factor here which makes Swindon one of the greenest places to live in the UK is the quality of the parks: being close to London, the air quality is significantly better than other parks in London itself. Similarly, Swindon borders the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONS), which supports the notion of the quality of Swindon’s green spaces and parks.
Interestingly, Swindon also has a Green Infrastructure Strategy, which has been in place since 2010 and is scheduled to run until at least 2026. This strategy involves the restoration of Swindon’s canal network, making it more environmentally friendly for the local flora and fauna, as well as the conservation of historic parklands to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.
Furthermore, Swindon lies on the so-called ‘Commuter Belt’, which offers excellent public transport links directly into London. As a result, many Swindon residents opt to use the excellent public transport infrastructure and networks rather than driving, helping the town to become even more environmentally friendly. For example, London can be reached in less than one hour by train from Swindon but it takes over two hours by car.
18. Edinburgh
You may be surprised to see Scotland’s capital city on this list as one of the greenest places to live in the UK, but Edinburgh boasts the record of having more green space than any other UK city, with 49.2% of the city being made up of public green spaces. Of these green spaces, 30 have won Green Flag Awards, which are international benchmarks that recognise well-managed green spaces and parks.
Edinburgh has also won many national and international awards which recognise its green efforts, including Europe’s Best Sustainable Tourism Destination (Time Out, 2022), the Green Flag Award for the Most Public Parks and Green Spaces (38, Green Flag Awards, 2023) and the Most Eco-Friendly City in the UK (Furniture at Work, 2024), to name just a few.
Thanks to its coastal location, Edinburgh also has very high-quality air, which also highlights how well the parks and green spaces within the city thrive. Even from an energy perspective, Edinburgh is very green in this respect: it exports twice as much energy as it generates, and the government have set a target to reach Net Zero by 2030.
Similarly to other major UK cities, Edinburgh also has excellent public transport links, including high-speed direct trains, which can reach London in around 4 hours. The city itself also has electric trams which save on non-renewable energy sources, further improving the Scottish capital’s status as one of the greenest places to live in the UK.
17. Hillingdon, London
From the capital of Scotland to the capital of England, Hillingdon is the next place to feature on this list. For starters, it was named London’s Greenest Borough, for 11 years running!
Despite being a borough of London, its green status is clear: covering 42 square miles (109km²), over half of this area is made up of countryside, ranging from canals and rivers to parks and woodland.
While it may not have air quality as high as other places on this list, it’s sometimes hard to believe that you’re still in London in Hillingdon, as it has also been called the leafiest place in London, thanks to the numerous trees which line its streets and waterways.
Moreover, Hillingdon Council has pledged to become Carbon Neutral by 2030, the same year that they wish to achieve 100% clean electricity across all of their council services – this in itself shows that Hillingdon residents and council members are committed to becoming one of the greenest places in the UK, on top of everything they have already achieved.
Hillingdon Council has also committed to educating young people about their local green pledges in schools and colleges and those entering employment for the first time. These initiatives include providing a dedicated online resource specifically aimed at schoolchildren, which works alongside an annual school climate action competition. This educates schoolchildren on how they can help fight climate change and become ‘young climate champions’.
16. Randalstown, County Antrim
A small town in Northern Ireland, Randalstown deserves a place on this list because it recently won the prestigious award of the Best Kept Town across the island of Ireland in 2024, which includes towns in the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland.
Randalstown has also been a key town in Northern Ireland for its green efforts spanning almost 100 years – which is much longer than other UK towns and cities that have been actively making green efforts. For example, a commercial forest was created between 1935 and 1940 and is today known as Randalstown Forest: it contains a variety of national and international trees, ranging from the oak, elm and ash to the Norway spruce and European larch.
In addition, the Boulevard which is an area planted with native trees has been planted by a local environmental group called Tidy Randalstown, in an effort to make the town entrance more welcoming.
Randalstown is also home to several other green projects, such as Our Greenway Restored, which is a project along the River Maine, where plant containers have been used to help revitalise the riverbanks, thanks to funding from the Department’s Living Places and Spaces fund.
Finally, in 2022, a community garden opened in Randalstown called the Viaduct Community Garden, harking back to Randaltown’s heritage, and is used by all members of the community who grow their own produce and share it between each other, supporting locally-produced fruit and vegetables, further reducing residents’ carbon footprints and helping residents eat local, healthy food.
15. Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Found on the edges of the Peak District, Chesterfield is another green area to live in the UK. In fact, in a 2024 study by Eurocell Chesterfield was ranked as the UK’s best town for access to green spaces, with 95% of homes and flats having private outdoor space, with an average size of 249.7m².
Queen’s Park in Chesterfield has also been a recent recipient of a Green Flag Award, while a brand-new dedicated cycle route has been installed linking the nearby location of Stavely to Markham Vale Business Park, which has encouraged many office workers in the business centre to cycle to work rather than drive.
Derbyshire County Council recently involved Chesterfield schools in climate action education as part of their curriculum, part of which involves a Climate Leaders Award to inspire children and staff alike.
The air quality in Chesterfield is also generally considered to be good, and thanks to its close proximity to the Peak District, there are plenty of local escapes into the hills as well as cycling routes throughout the Peaks, helping locals exercise in one of the most beautiful areas of the country.
14. Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
One of the newest cities in the UK, and Buckinghamshire’s only city, Milton Keynes was developed in the 1960s as a way of alleviating the housing congestion crisis in London.
Fast-forward half a century, and the settlement that was created to become essentially a new town outside of London is one of the greenest places to live in the UK.
It is home to over 20 million trees, which is one of the highest densities of trees in the country, given its size. These trees contribute to the high air quality that Milton Keynes is known for, which is surprising, given its fairly close proximity to London.
The parks in Milton Keynes also offer more than the occasional Saturday morning park run and a few lakes where you can feed ducks – they have been constructed with keeping the local population active in mind. For instance, Willen Lake South Park offers a range of sports, such as open swimming, watersports and high rope adventures.
Similarly, Linford Lakes Nature Reserve is a local wildlife haven, offering sanctuary for British wildlife species found in and around Milton Keynes such as otters, deer, foxes, and birdlife such as a few species of owl and herons.
Because of the amount of activities available in the parks, Milton Keynes is also a family-friendly place to live in the UK, as well as one of the greenest places to live.
13. Newport, Wales
Found to the northeast of Cardiff, Wales’s capital. Newport is arguably the greenest city in Wales.
As well as being home to numerous parks, Newport also takes wildlife welfare very seriously, with many local groups working together to improve the biodiversity of the region, from The Gwent Wildlife Trust to Newport City Council. These local groups work together to ensure that wildlife and outdoor locations are more accessible for residents and visitors alike.
Another green initiative taken in Newport is that since 2021, their refuse collection vehicles became Wales’ first, and they are still in use today, reducing on emmissions throughout the city.
Newport City Council is also committed to becoming Carbon Neutral by 2030 and has taken key steps towards achieving this, including installing solar panels on the roofs of 27 different buildings, including Wales’ largest solar panel rooftop installation.
Also related to energy is the fact that the council are actively working together with local businesses to improve the energy efficiency of public sector facilities, like the Riverfront Theatre and Regional Pool and Tennis Centre.
12. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
In one of the greenest counties in England, it is little surprise to see the university city of Cambridge on this list.
Out of the 55 primary urban areas ranked in the 2024 Green Cities Index, Cambridge came in second place, which shows how green the city is, in comparison to other cities in the UK.
Of course, Cambridge is known for its world-famous university, which has seen the likes of Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, Stephen Hawkin, Ian McKellan, David Attenborough and many, many more graduate from the institution, but did you know that Cambridge University has also won several green awards?
Christ’s College won the highest Green Impact Award in 2023, while Trinity Hall won a Gold Green Impact Award for its commitment to sustainability in 2024.
Even outside of the university, sustainability and environmental efforts play a huge part in the wider community of Cambridge. For example, Cambridge Central Mosque is both heated and cooled by locally generated energy, thanks to its use of heat pumps in the basement which produce more energy than they consume.
11. Telford, Shropshire
Telford is a relatively large town found in Shropshire, in the Midlands. Despite being near some of the most industrially-heavy cities in the UK – Wolverhampton, Birmingham to name just a couple – Telford is one of the greenest places to live in the UK.
With over 2,500 hectares of green spaces and open areas, Telford is arguably the greenest area in the Midlands. A staggering 90% of its urban area is green space, while 89% of households in Telford are within 300m of accessible green spaces.
Telford has a dedicated Green Network Area, which encompasses a range of open environments suitable for all sorts of outdoor activities, such as walking, jogging, cycling, horse riding and more, providing lots of open spaces to keep the residents fit and healthy.
In the Green Cities Index from 2023, Telford ranked second in the UK on air quality alone, which is largely due to its sheer amount of open green spaces.
Finally, the Town Park is home to several outdoor play areas for children, as well as dedicated walks to nearby canal networks, while other sites in Telford including the Dothill and Shawbirch Local Nature Reserve, have won Green Flag Awards for their environmental and sustainability impacts.
10. Pitlochry, Perthshire
Perthshire is often described as ‘the heart of Scotland’, and the small town of Pitlochry sits close to the mighty Cairngorms in rural Perthshire, Scotland.
While Pitlochry is a popular destination for tourists, the strong sense of community spirit in the town is largely linked to its environmental efforts. For instance, the Pitlochry Community Action Trust supports low-carbon initiatives and green spaces, such as the Atholl Centre Community Larder, where local food produce can be picked up by those who need it.
The Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre also educated locals and tourists alike about green and renewable energy in Pitlochry. The visitor centre was opened in 2017 to showcase the rich history of renewable energy in northern Scotland, as the dam is powered by hydroelectricity.
The centre itself is also committed to being environmentally friendly, as it is a key area for the ‘salmon ladder’, where thousands of salmon migrate every year, helping to increase the biodiversity of the area. The visitor centre has a dedicated green team, and a 100% green energy tariff and the lighting is provided by LED lights.
There are many walks around the woodland surrounding Pitlochry, including family-friendly walks in the so-called Enchanted Forest, where some of the trees are over 200 years old – showing just how well-looked after the local woodland is in Pitlochry and its surrounding areas.
9. Exeter, Devon
Exeter is regarded as the leafiest city in Britain, with 21% tree cover over the whole city, contributing to its high-quality air rating.
In fact, in a 2022 study compiled by the University of Sheffield, Exeter was found to be the greenest city centre in the UK, partly thanks to its tree coverage and also its green infrastructure initiatives.
Exeter is also known as the ‘Countryside City’, because of the stunning views of the Devonshire countryside which can be seen from almost all parts of the city, and vice versa.
Its green initiatives such as the number of trees in the city centre contribute to the biodiversity of the city, too – with numerous parks being home to various species of birds and wildlife, from woodpeckers and kingfishers to otters, deer, badgers, bats and more.
8. Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Found in eastern England, Lincoln is a historically rich city that has played a hugely important role in the country's history. It is also one of the greenest places to live in the UK.
Not only is Lincoln surrounded by many green spaces, such as Witham Valley Country Park and West Common Park, but there are several woodlands which border the city, all of which have dedicated walking and cycling routes, perfect for helping people get fit.
The City of Lincoln Council also employs several green initiatives to support environmental awareness in the city, such as the ECO4 Grant Scheme, which offers grants for homeowners to put solar panels on their homes or offers grants towards paying for homeowners to use low carbon central heating. Part of this is to help the city achieve its goal of Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
Lincoln opened its first community garden in 2019, where residents can contribute to growing fruit, vegetables, and other plants, encouraging the local populace to eat locally, and supporting local farmers.
7. Stirling
Making the trip back up north to central Scotland, Stirling is another incredibly green place to live in the UK.
In fact, it comes in second place for the most homes with solar panels in the UK, with one in ten homes in the Stirling Council District having solar panels.
The natural environment surrounding Stirling ranks in the top 5% of Scottish locations for the quality of its physical environment.
Other green initiatives include the planting of over 3000 native trees to support biodiversity efforts and also increase the air quality in the town. Finally, Stirling Council have also overseen the creation of 12 wildlife ponds, which are often used as popular field trip destinations for local schools, where children can learn about the local wildlife in and around Stirling.
The E-Walk Cycle Live Project helps to get the local community involved in green initiatives, as well as encouraging residents to walk and cycle more, rather than driving short distances.
It is little surprise, then, that Stirling was rated as the happiest place to live in Scotland in a 2024 poll.
6. Bournemouth, Dorset
Another town on the beautiful south coast of England, Bournemouth is ranked as one of the greenest places to live in the UK.
It was recently named in a survey as one of the top 10 most sustainable towns in the UK, and it is not hard to see why.
Many restaurants in and around Bournemouth offer vegetarian and vegan options, while the majority of the ingredients from these dishes are sourced from local produce, reducing their carbon footprint, and supporting local farmers.
The BCP Council are also involved in local initiatives to support Bournemouth’s green impact – such as increasing wildflower planting to help local wildlife, but especially bees in the summer months, as well as the creation of dedicated cycle paths along the stunning seafront, which are designed to be child-friendly, so that people of all ages can get out on their bikes and enjoy the sea views while exercising.
Many local schools in Bournemouth also do their part to make the town a green place to live, with some having dedicated tree-planting programs, while Bournemouth University has recently replaced its gas boilers with AirSource Heat Pumps.
5. York, North Yorkshire
The capital of England’s largest county, York is also one of the most green places to live in the UK.
For such a historically significant city, ensuring that it meets green standards can be difficult, but York has gone above and beyond this challenge.
Between 2005 and 2020, York’s carbon emissions were reduced by 51.3%, thanks to a push for locals to use public transport and reduce the amount of cars in the city centre. The park-and-ride system on the outskirts of the city offers cheap parking rates, so many visitors are naturally inclined to park on the city’s outskirts and use the public buses to get into the city centre.
York is also home to an incredible 43 parks and nature spaces, including the beautiful York Museum Gardens, which are open to the public year-round, and provide guided environmental and green tours of the city, where visitors can walk or cycle around the city to learn about its environmental impact and green initiatives.
The number of green spaces in the city also contributes to its high air-quality rating, which saw a decrease of 19% in its concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) between 2018 and 2022.
4. Chapelton, Aberdeenshire
Found just 8 miles (13km) south of Aberdeen, Chapelton is a small town in semi-rural northeast Scotland, and also one of the greenest places to live in the UK.
The town has taken many steps towards becoming a sustainable and green town to live in. Thanks to its idyllic location, sandwiched between the rolling countryside of Aberdeenshire and the rugged North Sea coastline, the quality of air in Chapelton is some of the best in Scotland.
There are also dedicated footpaths and cycle paths to encourage people to exercise more, in an attempt to reduce the obesity rate that Aberdeenshire is known for.
Further sustainability initiatives taken in Chapelton include the development of Patey Park, a fully nature-based playpark, as we
3. Nansledan, Cornwall
A strong contender for the most sustainable place to live in the UK, the newly-built community of Nansledean is nestled in the Cornish countryside, not far from the popular surfing town of Newquay.
With a population of just 1200 people, Nansledean is already home to over 40 businesses which are mainly centred around sustainability – and these are almost all small, independent businesses which encourage visitors and residents alike to shop locally and support small businesses rather than huge multi-national corporations.
Set in a beautiful natural environment, wildlife is in abundance throughout the town and its nearby surrounding areas, including swifts, sparrows, house martins and more.
The houses in the area have been designed as low-carbon houses, built with natural and local materials, all the while bordering a community-orientated centre, with locally produced food and more being the norm. There are also planned orchards as well as community allotments where residents can grow fruit, vegetables and plants together, for the benefit of all.
2. Oxford, Oxfordshire
Another major city in England, Oxford is one of the greenest places to live in the country, having been ranked as England’s Greenest City, for two years running, by ENDS Report.
Oxford is also considered a leader in tackling climate change, thanks to the research undertaken at its university, as well as local council initiatives and efforts.
Furthermore, Oxford was the first place in the UK to establish a Zero Emission Zone, when it did so in February 2022.
On top of this, Oxford ranks in the top 10 UK cities when it comes to accessible green spaces, and it is situated on the famous Green Belt, meaning that there is access to a range of different environmental spaces, from public parks, nature reserves and floodplains.
It also sits on the Commuter Belt, connecting it to London in a short train journey of less than an hour, compared to an almost two-hour journey by car. As such, many Oxford residents opt to use trains rather than cars, reducing emissions in and around the city.
Finally, 52% of Oxford is classed as open space, which incorporates nature reserves and public parks.
1. Bristol
Taking the crown of the greenest place to live in the UK is Bristol, found in southwest England.
For starters, Bristol was named European Green Capital in 2015 by the European Commission, thanks to its efforts to promote green living and sustainability efforts.
Bristol City Council has also committed hundreds of millions of pounds over the years to become a more eco-friendly city to live in, as well as to tackle climate change, becoming Britain’s leader in climate change efforts.
In addition, Bristol has made efforts to go to zero carbon, even with local transport options, showing its commitment to its sustainability and zero emissions efforts in every aspect of life.
Almost a quarter (24.02%) of the city is green space, the third-highest in the UK. However, this is not solely just a council effort – the residents in Bristol are keen to improve green living in the area, as Bristol has more eco-friendly Google searches per 10,000 people than anywhere else in the UK, showing local residents’ commitment to the environment.
Bristol also scores highly for the number of items recycled, as well as the air quality of the city. The latter is not just a testament to the number of trees in the city, but the number of parks, including Brandon Hill, which is Britain’s oldest park, characterised by its winding walking paths and dedicated nature reserve.
It is all of the community-orientated, as well as governmental and local coucil initiatives, which makes Bristol arguably the greenest place to live in the UK.