Watford has once again been named in the top three of the UK’s 100 largest urban areas in the 2026 UK Vitality Index, marking the fourth year running the town has achieved this distinction...
The annual index, compiled by property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), assesses the health and vitality of the UK’s largest towns and cities outside London. It highlights places that offer strong quality of life, robust economic performance and long-term potential for growth.
Since first entering the Top 10 in 2022, Watford has continued its upward trajectory, reflecting a sustained improvement in its overall performance. The town’s high ranking is driven by its number top three position in the Economy and Business pillar, where it achieved top scores in four of the seven underlying measures. Watford also performed strongly in other areas, including Health & Environment.
Lambert Smith Hampton concluded: “The Hertfordshire town continued to perform strongly on both the Living and Economy & Business pillars, achieving top scores for comparison retail spending and new business start-ups.”
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “This result shows the strength, resilience and ambition of Watford. To be consistently recognised as one of the UK’s leading places to live and do business reflects years of focused work, partnership and investment across the town.
“Over the past year we’ve seen real momentum, from the reopening of the Colosseum and continued progress on the Town Hall Quarter and Museum, to environmental projects such as the Green Loop, river and wetland restoration, and improvements to St Mary’s Churchyard. Alongside this, we’ve supported neighbourhood projects like the mountain bike trail, delivered popular events and continued vital work on housing and homelessness support.
“We’re also investing in the future of our local economy, with plans for an Innovation and Incubation Hub moving forward, while continuing to deliver high-quality day-to-day services despite ongoing financial pressures.
“Looking ahead, we’re building on that success with further investment in cleaner streets, better parks and leisure facilities, and continued action on sustainability and infrastructure. Our priority remains clear: to keep improving Watford for residents, businesses and visitors, and to make sure the opportunities we create today deliver lasting benefits for years to come.”
For more information and to view the full report, please visit lsh.co.uk
