Leeds

Leeds crowned one of Europe’s ‘best’ cities alongside 17 other British places

Obviously.

Clementine Hall - 8th May 2025

Leeds has been named one of the ‘best’ cities in Europe for 2025, according to a new ranking.

Our wonderful city has received some fantastic accolades in its time, most recently being named one of the best cities for nightlife as well as the most 'caring' cities in the UK.

But it arguably doesn’t get much better than a title like this as Leeds has now been named one of the best cities in the whole of Europe for 2025, thanks to a new ranking by Resonance Co.

This year, the global placemaking company’s research encompassed 128 cities across Europe with metropolitan area populations of 500,000 or more, and evaluated each of them based on 30 performance indicators and perception metrics derived from surveys of more than 7,500 respondents across 10 European countries.

Once each of these performance indictors had been evaluated, every city was given its own ‘Place Power Score’ to determine its ranking.

A city’s ‘Place Power Score’ examines three core dimensions – liveability, which takes into account things like housing affordability, healthcare access, green space, air quality, and cycling infrastructure; loveability, which encompasses culture, nightlife, culinary scenes, and more; and prosperity, which includes business environment, talent density, GDP per capita, airport connectivity, and more.

While Manchester may have missed out on both the top 10 and top 20, considering it’s a top 100 list, our city has claimed the respectable 47th spot, beating out mega cities such as Venice, Nice, Athens, and loads more.

In fact, 18 British cities are included in the top 100.

Explaining why Leeds has been ranked, Resonance Co said in its city description: "Following its ambitious Leeds 2023 Year of Culture, the city has doubled down on long-term investments to match its creative clout. The airport is undergoing a £100- million terminal expansion, with the first phase opening this summer to accommodate rising visitor demand (and improve on its tepid #79 Airport ranking).

"That’s just one of many hospitality developments shaping the skyline. Hyatt is debuting two hotels— Hyatt Place and Hyatt House—at Sovereign Square near the rail station, offering 305 rooms, rooftop dining and extended-stay amenities. Premier Inn’s parent Whitbread is expanding its city footprint with two new hotels, including a 143-room property as part of the Kirkgate redevelopment.

"These moves ride the momentum built during the city’s culture-filled 2023, including concerts, festivals and storytelling, and cement its legacy as a nightlife capital (#24). Leeds’s six universities help sustain its reputation for student-fuelled creativity and economic vitality.

"Roundhay Park remains a massive outdoor draw, and Leeds ranks in our Top 10 for Green Space (and #11 for Air Quality). The city’s skilled workforce and academic engine helped secure its designation as England’s third Investment Zone, expected to generate 2,500 new jobs and unlock £220 million by decade’s end."

Which city took the title of the best city in Europe though? Well unfortunately, we have to give it to the southerners on this one, as London took the top spot.

But at least it’s an impressive win for the UK, if nothing else.

Read more: Three Leeds record stores have been crowned amongst the ‘greatest in the world’

Featured image - Benjamin Elliot (via Unsplash)