The answer depends on which survey you trust. Glasgow topped the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 as the UK’s friendliest city, scoring 97.00 and defending its 2024 title. Liverpool also featured in both the Best Cities and Friendliest Cities categories in the same awards. Edinburgh was named one of the friendliest cities in the world by Time Out. And York was declared the UK’s friendliest city in a separate study by Aviva.
No single city holds every title, but Glasgow is the most recent winner from the largest reader poll.
Quick Answer
Glasgow won the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 title of UK’s friendliest city with a score of 97.00, successfully defending its 2024 crown. Liverpool was also recognised in the same awards. Edinburgh earned a global top-10 spot from Time Out. York took the top position in an Aviva study.
Glasgow: The Readers’ Choice Winner
Glasgow is the UK’s friendliest city according to the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. The city scored 97.00 and held off competition to retain the title it first won in 2024. The Conde Nast Traveller awards are voted for by hundreds of thousands of travellers worldwide, making this one of the most widely sourced reader polls in travel publishing.
Honestly, if you’ve ever been to Glasgow, the back-to-back win won’t surprise you. Strangers will chat to you at bus stops, bartenders will give you their actual favourite pub recommendations (not the tourist traps), and you’ll leave feeling like you’ve made a dozen new friends. The current weather is classic Glasgow: 42°F and light rain with 83% humidity (as of April 2026), so pack layers and a waterproof, but don’t let that put you off. The warmth comes from the people, not the sky. If you’re planning a trip, our Glasgow travel guide covers where to stay and what to do beyond the usual suspects.
The SERP data confirms Glasgow defended its title convincingly, though the source notes for the full Conde Nast Traveller article were not fully extractable. What is confirmed: the score, the back-to-back win, and the scale of the reader vote.
Liverpool: Best City and Friendliest City in One
Liverpool appeared in both the Best Cities in the UK and the Friendliest Cities in the UK categories in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. It ranked ninth in the Best Cities list.
The city draws consistent praise for three things:
- Its creative energy and thriving arts scene
- Cultural landmarks including the Royal Albert Dock, the Walker Art Gallery, and the Cavern Club (birthplace of The Beatles’ musical legacy)
- A rich maritime history that gives the city a distinct identity
This is not a one-off result. Liverpool has appeared in these awards consistently, which points to genuine reader affinity rather than a novelty vote.
Edinburgh: One of the World’s Friendliest Cities
Edinburgh was named one of the friendliest places in the world by Time Out, a global media and hospitality brand. The city made it into the global top 10, which puts it in rare company internationally.
Time Out cited Edinburgh’s welcoming atmosphere as central to the recognition. The city is regularly described as warm and welcoming, and this global accolade adds weight to that reputation beyond just UK comparisons.
In the Conde Nast Traveller UK friendliness rankings, Edinburgh also featured, though Glasgow outscored it in the 2025 reader vote.
York: Friendliest City According to Aviva
York was named the UK’s friendliest city in a study published by Aviva in June 2025. The Aviva research produced a ranked list of UK cities. The available data from that study shows the following positions below York:
| Rank | City | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | York | – |
| 2 | Exeter | 92.1% |
| 3 | Aberdeen | 83.3% |
| 4 | Bath | 81.4% |
| 5 | Norwich | 81.3% |
| 6 | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | 79.6% |
Note: York’s exact percentage score was not included in the available source data. The methodology and criteria Aviva used to measure friendliness were also not detailed in the extracted notes.
So Which City Is Actually the Friendliest?
The honest answer: it depends on the methodology.
- Glasgow wins the largest reader poll (Conde Nast Traveller, 2025, back-to-back)
- York wins the Aviva study (June 2025)
- Edinburgh earns a global top-10 spot from Time Out
- Liverpool holds dual recognition from Conde Nast Traveller as both a top city and a friendly one
If you weight reader volume and travel-specific context, Glasgow has the strongest claim. If you prefer a data-led study, York is the answer. Edinburgh is the standout for international comparisons. And if you’re short on time in Glasgow, our one day in Glasgow itinerary will help you make the most of it, friendly locals included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the friendliest city in the UK in 2025?
Glasgow was named the UK’s friendliest city in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, scoring 97.00 and defending its 2024 title. York also claimed the top spot in a separate Aviva study published in June 2025. The answer depends on which source you use.
Why is Liverpool considered one of the friendliest UK cities?
Liverpool was named in both the Best Cities and Friendliest Cities categories of the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. It is consistently praised for its creative energy, warm welcome, rich maritime history, and cultural landmarks including the Royal Albert Dock and the Cavern Club.
Is Edinburgh the friendliest city in the world?
Edinburgh was named one of the friendliest cities in the world by Time Out, placing in the global top 10. It was not ranked first globally, but its inclusion puts it among a small group of cities recognised for friendliness on an international scale.
How does Conde Nast Traveller decide the friendliest UK city?
The Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards are voted for by hundreds of thousands of travellers worldwide each year. The specific scoring criteria beyond reader votes were not detailed in the available source material.