Scotland's 'best place to live' in 2026 is crowned

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The "best place to live" in Scotland in 2026 has been crowned as part of The Sunday Times' prestigious annual Best Places to Live guide. On Friday, March 20, the newspaper shared a list of the top 72 places across the UK to live this year, decided by a panel of expert judges.

Topping The Sunday Times' Best Places to Live guide for 2026 is Linlithgow in West Lothian, which is an ancient town that is best known as the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Linlithgow is located around 20 miles out of Edinburgh and just over 30 miles from Glasgow, making it a popular choice amongst commuters.

The newspaper praised the town as a "family-friendly hotspot", and noted its clean air and sense of community. Linlithgow was described by judges as "the kind of town where the lollipop men know everyone’s names and have treats for the dogs".

The Sunday Times singled out the historic town's "medieval high street", which features a mix of independent businesses and popular chains. Shoppers can pick up clothes, gifts and trinkets, homewares, antiques, ice cream, children's games, and much more.

Elsewhere, the nearby Polmonthill Snowsports Centre was also named by The Sunday Times as a highlight of living in Linlithgow. The community-owned centre offers skiing and snowboarding opportunities, and hosts lessons catered to all skill levels.

Another aspect of Linlithgow that the experts praised is the yearly cardboard boat race that takes place on the Union Canal. The famous race is part of the annual Canal Fun Day, which also features various boat trips, stalls, and other amusements.

The Sunday Times judges stated: "The historic town was picked as a family-friendly hotspot that’s the perfect spot for commuters to Edinburgh or Glasgow who want clean air and a village mentality. Residents of this central belter can’t get enough of the medieval high street, outstanding schools and the great outdoors.

"It’s the kind of town where the lollipop men know everyone’s names and have treats for the dogs, and competition is fierce in the famous annual cardboard boat race down the pretty Union Canal. Non-commuters have all the more time to enjoy the 180 shared interest groups, community-owned ski slope, theatre productions and jazz concerts or get involved in the community development trust."

Elsewhere, seven other locations in Scotland are included on The Sunday Times' 2026 Best Places to Live guide. Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Dollar in Clackmannanshire, East Linton in East Lothian, Newhaven in Edinburgh, Scotstoun in Glasgow, and Melrose in the Scottish Borders also appear on the list.

The Sunday Times' expert judges visited all the locations named on the guide, and assessed them on a range of factors. These included transport, broadband speeds and mobile signal, amenities, access to high-quality green spaces, the health of the high street, and more.

Editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor Helen Davies commented: "This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.

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"Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live. These judges have traveled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide.

"One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home."

See below for the top places to live in Scotland in 2026 according to The Sunday Times. The full Best Places to Live guide for 2026 can be found on The Sunday Times website.

Scotland's best places to live in 2026

• Linlithgow, West Lothian (Scottish winner)
• Aberfeldy, Perthshire
• Braemar, Aberdeenshire
• Dollar, Clackmannanshire
• East Linton, East Lothian
• Newhaven, Edinburgh,
• Scotstoun, Glasgow
• Melrose, Borders

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