A study has revealed the most desirable postcodes in which to live in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr) was commissioned by the Royal Mail to calculate the most desirable areas based on a range of factors including good schools, access to green spaces, good employment prospects, affordable housing and average commuting times.
Steve Rooney, Head of Royal Mail’s Address Management Unit, said:
“Royal Mail delivers to the UK’s 29 million addresses, six days a week, connecting communities and businesses. Our study provides unique insight into the most desirable places to live and work in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, through the lens of the postcode.”
Northern towns were found to be more desirable than the South in terms of work-life balance, with the Wirral postcode district of CH63, which represents the twn of Bebington, topping the North-dominated list for England. Bebington residents live close to the River Mersey and enjoy what the study described as an “ideal balance of being able to live close to their place of employment, good schools and high employment”.
In Scotland, outer city suburbs feature highly on the list due to low crime rates and a more affordable cost of living compared to city centre locations, and better access to public services and lower commute times compared to those living in the countryside. The former industrial town of Neilston (G78) in East Renfrewshire topped the list in Scotland.
The Welsh list is more evenly distributed than those of England or Scotland, with seaside towns and outer city suburbs both featuring in the top ten. The earliest planned industrial village in Wales, Morriston (SA6) in Swansea was the favourite due to a mix of reasonable house prices and low unemployment.
Across the water in Northern Ireland, the 1960s-built Craigavon (BT64) was found to be the most desirable area to live because residents benefited from shorter commutes, low crime, affordable housing, and fewer people working over 50 hours per week.
UK’s most desirable towns
Most desirable postcode districts in England
- CH63 – Bebington, Wirral
- IP5 – Kesgrave, Ipswich
- LA15 – Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria
- NR8 – Taverham, Norfolk
- FY6 – Poulton-Le-Fylde, Blackpool
- DT1 – Dorchester, West Dorset
- WA1 – Warrington, Cheshire
- CH62 – Eastham, Wirral
- CH45 – Wallasey, Merseyside
- LA13 – Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Most desirable postcode districts in Scotland
- G78 – Neilson, East Renfrewshire
- G64 – Torrance, East Dunbartonshire
- G66 – Lenzie/Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire
- G62 – Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire
- G76 – Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire
- G61 – Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire
- G46 – Giffnock, East Renfrewshire
- EH5 – Granton, Edinburgh
- EH7 – Edinburgh central/Bellevue
- EH11 – Edinburgh
Most desirable postcode districts in Wales
- SA6 – Morriston, Swansea
- SA7 – Birchgrove, Swansea
- CF64 – Penarth
- SA61 – Haverfordwest
- SA4 – Gorseinon, Swansea
- LL55 – Caernarfon, Gwynedd
- SA9 – Ystradgynlais, Swansea
- SA31 – Carmarthen
- CF24 – Roath, Cardiff
- LL11 – Wrexham
Most desirable postcode districts in Northern Ireland
- BT64 – Craigavon, County Armagh
- BT10 – Finaghy, Belfast
- BT66 – Lurgan, County Armagh
- BT16 – Dundonald, Belfast
- BT38 – Carrickfergus, County Antrim
