The Scottish 'up-and-coming' town that was named top destination for first time buyers

Choosing a place to live can be a difficult decision that depends on a lot of different factors.

However, if you are looking for inspiration on where to settle down, a Scottish town that was previously named one of the best places in the UK for first-time buyers seems like a good place to start.

As reported by the Scottish Daily Express, one of the most "up-and-coming" destinations in nation is Falkirk. In a study put together by Halifax, the town is one of two Scottish locations to feature in the top 10 places in the UK for individuals to buy their first home.

The experts considered house prices and survey results about the priorities of first-time buyers when putting together their top 10. These priorities included connections to major cities, access to quality education, proximity to green spaces, and local regeneration.

In the research, the average price of a property in Falkirk was reported as £165,511. The town is less than an hour's drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, and also offers regular train services to Scotland's two biggest cities — making it perfect for commuters.

The town itself also boasts a number of attractions to tempt first-time buyers. These include the famous Kelpies, which are two sculptures of horses heads that stand 30 metres high, and the Falkirk Wheel. The latter is known for being the world's only rotating boat lift.

Elsewhere, other sights in the town include the Callendar House mansion and Xtreme Karting. The former is a spectacular French chateau-styled house with its own working Georgian kitchen and visitor tea room, while Xtreme Karting is one of the top go-karting tracks in Scotland.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen was also named as one of the top locations in the UK for first-time buyers according to Halifax. In the study, property prices in the city were found to be £173,061 on average.

Aberdeen also features plenty to see and do. Among the city's top attractions are the Aberdeen Maritime Museum and the Aberdeen Science Centre.

Halifax's research also reveals that a significant 61 per cent of young adults who are yet to purchase their first home are open to moving elsewhere in the UK in order to take their first steps on the property ladder.

Kim Kinnaird, mortgages director at Halifax, said: "Despite fluctuating house prices, the desire to buy a first home isn't going away, with almost nine in 10 young people keen to get on the property ladder.

"There's an appetite from under-35s to consider more affordable areas further afield, so we've identified up-and-coming locations that prospective first-time buyers might do well to look into."

The top 10 up-and-coming places to live in the UK

• Kingston upon Hull, North East England

• Middlesbrough, North East England

• Neath Port Talbot, Wales

• Derry City and Strabane, Northern Ireland

• Falkirk, Scotland

• Blackburn with Darwen, North West England

• Aberdeen City, Scotland

• Telford and Wrekin, Midlands

• Ipswich, Eastern England

• Eastbourne, South East England

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