Revealed: The world’s most liveable cities
The must-read report for anybody thinking of quitting the capital and starting a new life overseas has arrived.
And, for those set on leaving London for good, you could do worse than checking out our Commonwealth friends Australia and Canada for a new place to call home.
The Economist Intelligence Unit's annual "liveability report" has landed – proving, yet again, that the grass really is greener on the other side of the world.
Melbourne has retained its position as the most liveable city on the planet, thanks not only to its world-famous coffee culture but great infrastructure, education and healthcare systems. The Australian city was followed by Vienna, which came out as one of only three European entrants in the Top 10.
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Cities from Canada and Australia dominated the list of best places in the world to live, claiming six of the top 10 spots between them. Vancouver was named the top North American city, coming in at third place on the global rankings, with Calgary and Toronto also making it to the top of the list.
The EIU's liveability index ranks cities on a number of factors including their stability, culture, environment, healthcare systems, education and infrastructure. Canada and Australia both scored top marks for healthcare and education, helping their cities climb to the top.
The Top 10
1. Melbourne, Australia
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Vancouver, Canada
4. Toronto, Canada
5. Calgary, Canada
6. Adelaide, Australia
7. Perth, Australia
8. Auckland, New Zealand
9. Helsinki, Finland
10. Hamburg, Germany
Those still set on staying put in London should look away now: the capital wasn't even ranked as the most liveable city in the UK. That honour belongs to Manchester, which came in at number 43 out of 140 global cities – 10 places above London.
Overall, the EIU said the picture was of falling liveability scores across the world, due to a spate of terrorist attacks which have made big cities less stable than this time last year.
The scores of 10 western European cities, including Paris, Brussels and Berlin, all declined, mostly thanks to "heightened fears of terrorism", while American cities also dropped down the rankings because of "social unrest and regular incidences of mass shootings".
Cities to watch in future years include Tehran, the capital of Iran, which has climbed five per cent over recent years thanks to a thawing of relations and opening up of the country to foreign capital. Dubai also continues its impressive rise as do Eastern European hubs like Warsaw and Bratislava.
Update: This article was amended on 19 August to correct the number of European cities in the top 10.