LSH’s annual health assessment of the UK’s largest towns and cities identifies Windsor & Maidenhead as the UK’s best place to live and work for a second successive year.

Lambert Smith Hampton’s Vitality Index offers a definitive annual health check on the top 100 towns and cities outside of London, based on a range of metrics including economy, health & environment and living.

Download the latest Vitality Index Report 2026 in full here →

Having previously topped the rankings in 2022 and 2025, Windsor & Maidenhead retains its status as the UK’s top-ranked location in the 2026 Vitality Index. The Berkshire borough fended off stiff competition from Watford, 2024’s winner, to maintain consistent presence within the Vitality Index top ten over the past five years.

Divided into three distinct pillars, the main index utilises 18 datasets to identify the best places to live and work in the UK. By incorporating a range of indicators spanning Economy & Business, Living and Health & Environment, the report takes a holistic approach in assessing the vitality of the UK’s largest 100 towns and cities by population outside of London.

Windsor & Maidenhead’s victorious position reflects a strong performance across the board. It is the only location to feature in the Top 10 of all three pillars and is the top-ranked location on the Health & Environment pillar, where it boasts top scores for life satisfaction and access to green space. It also ranks second on the Economy & Business pillar behind Manchester, reflecting top scores for new business formation and investment into commercial property.

Yet perhaps the most striking outcome from this year’s results is Edinburgh’s third-place showing. The Scottish capital rose eight places from last year to secure its highest ranking on the overall Index since 2019. Edinburgh’s lofty position draws much of its strength from a top-placed ranking on the Living pillar, where it boasts maximum scores across a range of metrics, including educational attainment and retail spend.

The South of England continues to dominate the Top 10, with eight of this year’s top ranked locations situated within the UK’s southern regions. Many are near London, with their success reflecting the capital’s economic influence while benefiting from other traits less associated with major conurbations, such as high quality of life and access to green space. The one exception in the UK’s south is Bath, in the South West region, which reappeared in the Top 10 this year after narrowly missing out in 2025.

Download the latest Vitality Index Report 2026 in full here →