Top 10 cleanest cities in the UK: Dundee claims the crown

Dundee has been crowned the cleanest city in the UK, with the highest recorded air and drinking water qualities, according to a new study by Waste Direct.

Forty major UK cities were ranked on based on their overall environmental health with metrics including air quality, drinking water quality, rubbish disposal, percentage of cleanliness and tidiness, noise pollution, green space quality, and the comfort of public spaces analysed.

Beginning the countdown; top 3

Dundee achieved a composite score of 82.00 and tops the list with the highest air quality and drinking water quality scores, making it the healthiest place in the UK to breathe and drink. The city’s green spaces score of 80 and its high public accessibility cement its title as the UK’s cleanest urban centre.

Exeter placed second with a score 81.25, receiving the highest percentage in urban cleanliness and tidiness. It scored highly on air and drinking water qualities, and the city also has lots of green spaces and comfortable public areas, boasting one of the highest scores – 88.

Taking third spot was Milton Keynes, which is among the least polluted cities and has the highest quality of green spaces and parks. It has a composite score of 79.86 thanks to its air quality score of 85.71 – one of the highest in the study. It also rated highly in drinking water quality and has the highest rate for green spaces and parks quality.

The best of the rest

With its high scores in both drinking water and air quality and perfect 100 for its comfortable public spaces, Chester sits in fourth spot with a composite score of 79.2. Durham ranks fifth with strong drinking water quality and competitive score for cleanliness and offers great green spaces. The city also boasts higher air quality than Exeter and the highest rubbish disposal satisfaction rate amongst the cities on the list.

Oxford holds the sixth place with a composite score of 76.6; it delivers strong air and good drinking water quality and balances its moderate tidiness score with a relatively high percentage of green spaces, earning a score of 88.

With a composite score of 76.2, Belfast was ranked seventh; it excels in drinking water quality and accessibility rates, and scored highly in well-kept public spaces and noise control. York is eighth with a score of 75.9. The city has one of the highest public accessibility rates, notable air quality, excellent noise control, and high air standards.

Ninth spot was awarded to Sheffield with a composite score of 74. The largest city in the study has impressive green space quality and strong drinking water standards. Derby completes the list with a composite score of 73; it has great drinking water quality and competitive air quality, providing a clean environment.

Strong environmental standards

The data was taken from Numbeo and World Population Review, guaranteeing consistent measurements across all locations. Air quality carried the most weight, followed by drinking water quality and access and rubbish disposal satisfaction. The remaining metrics were weighted equally. Each city’s metrics were standardised and composite scores awarded based on weighted averages of all metrics.

Evie Graham, a Waste Direct spokesperson says: “Environmental measurements across British urban areas show how well-maintained streets, good air and water quality, thoughtful building layouts, and plenty of green spaces blend together to create liveable urban environments. The findings demonstrate that careful urban development, when balanced with strong environmental standards, creates not just functional spaces but clean and tidy neighbourhoods that support both physical and social well-being. Investing in environmental quality isn’t just about conservation – it’s about creating urban spaces where communities can flourish.”

Find out more

How did your city fare? Data for the full 40 cities can be found here.