3. London, United Kingdom
London is one of the largest and most famous cities in all of Europe, and it’s also one of the very best to live in. There are countless famous places and attractions, including the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, the British Museum, Churchill War Rooms, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye. The city is a hub of many different cultures and activities, helping it place highly on this ranking as seen through the various metrics.
Happiness: 11th
Historical Landmarks: 2nd
Sports: 1st
Schools and Education: 1st
Governmental Stability: 12th
Crime: 50th
Healthcare: 17th
Affordability: 47th
Food: 2nd
Innovation: 1st
Pollution: 34th
Climate: 21st
Overall Average: 16.58
Happiness: London is towards the top when it comes to citizen happiness according to the World Happiness Report, placing it just outside the top 10 in that department.
Historical Landmarks: London has 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites within its city limits alone, with others close by as well. Those sites are Maritime Greenwich, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Sports: In what’s widely considered the best football league in the world, being the English Premier League, London is the home of 7 of the 20 teams competing in the top division, meaning it’s ahead by a wide margin over any other city when it comes to athletics.
Schools and Education: London also dominates when it comes to universities, with 4 in the top 100 global universities, and 11 in the top 1000, headlined by University College London, Imperial College London, King’s College London, and Queen Mary University London.
Crime: The crime in London is amongst the worst in all of Europe, with a noticeably large drug problem and lack of safety at night in certain areas, as well as issues surrounding robberies and property crimes.
Affordability: London is amongst the most expensive cities in Europe with an affordability index of 77.87, meaning finding cheap housing is quite difficult at 47th in this list.
Food: London has 69 restaurants that have the distinction of at least 1 Michelin star, meaning its fine dining is right up there with the best of Europe, far surpassing most other cities in the continent.
Pollution: With a pollution index score of 58.36, London is slightly below average when it comes to their pollution, and could be improved as the high innovation kicks in.
Climate: London reaches temperatures in the low 70s (F) during summer, and stays in the 40s (F) during winter, meaning its climate is slightly above average in terms of warmth for all of Europe.
Personal Note: I have gotten to visit London a couple of times over my life, and it is absolutely one of my favorite cities in the world. Immediately, what stands out to me about the city is just the diversity of the people and neighborhoods. Of the European cities I’ve visited, London felt like the place where the most different cultural traditions came together and contributed to an overall excitement and energy that meant there was always something to see and do. London has numerous famous landmarks that all warrant a visit, with some of my favorites being the Tower of London, the British Museum, and the Churchill War Rooms. It’s extremely difficult to see everything London has to offer in a short period of time with how large it is, so make sure to prioritize if you are visiting for a limited time. As a massive Arsenal Football Club fan, my favorite stop is naturally the Emirates Stadium in the Highbury neighborhood, even though it’s slightly further from the heart of the city. Whatever your interests are, however, London likely has it to offer while feeling very charming at the same time, depending on the neighborhood. I can certainly understand why London ranks so highly on this list as a place to live, and I would strongly recommend visiting if possible.
