Accolades
York regularly tops the polls as one of the best places to live and is recognised as one of the friendliest and most welcoming cities in the north of England, and the city has been awarded with many accolades.
These awards and acknowledgements of our achievements are a credit to the people who live, work and study in York.
It takes energy, commitment, and enthusiasm to continue to be recognised as the best and York residents and businesses should be justifiably proud of the role they’ve played.
2024 accolades
- Sunday Times – top 3 schools in the top 10 Schools in the North, Fulford School is number one. Read more about the best schools in the north of England 2025
- Impower - Independent consultancy, IMPOWER, analysed 149 councils across 8 core areas using their Top Level INDEX. They found City of York Council to be number 1 for productivity
- Conde Nast - Best place to visit in the UK
- Restlesss.co.uk - Most friendly UK City
- You Gov - Most Liked City
- Premier Inn - Beautiful winter city, first in the UK and second most beautiful winter city in the world (Boston were voted number one)
- PWC - 7th most liveable city in the UK (the only northern city to make it in the top 10)
- Which? - Joint second best large UK city for a short break
- Group Leisure and Travel Awards finalist - Best UK Destination
- Housebuyers4u - York named Britain's most desirable place to live in 2024
2023 accolades
- The Times - 2 of York Schools in the top 12 state and grammar schools in the north
- Booking.com - 6th most welcoming place on the planet (the only representative in the list within the UK)
- CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) - York named an A-list Global Climate Action Leader
- Laterooms.com - Most walkable city
- Thornton - Most family friendly location in Yorkshire
- Tripadviser - 4th Best place to visit in England 2023
2022 accolades
- The Times - 3 York schools in the top 10 state and grammar schools in the north
- Which? - York named UK’s best city for a domestic holiday
- Angi - York Minister England’s most beautiful building
- Which? - York 2nd happiest place to live in Yorkshire and Humber
- CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) - York named an A-list Global Climate Action Leader
- Planet Cruise - York Christmas Market named fifth best in world and second in UK
- Purple flag - York safe, entertaining and thriving night time economy
2021 accolades
- Sunday Times - one of the best places to live in the UK
- Uswitch - 4th most searched road trip destination
- TripAdvisor - In Top 3 staycation destination in UK
- Right Move - number 1 property destination
- YouGov - UK’s most popular city
- Park Dean holidays - York 6th most friendliest destinations in UK
2020 accolades
- Sunday Times - one of the best places to live in the North
- Sunday Times - best school of the decade - Fulford
- Cosmopolitan - number 1 best place to visit for a staycation
- Trip Advisor - in top 10 of best places to visit in UK
- Music Magpie - number 1 Greenest city in the UK
- CNTraveller - Yorkshire 2nd best place to visit in the world
- Big Seven Travel - 3rd friendliest UK city
- Uswitch - 8th best city to work from home
