Where’s the best and worst tap water in the UK?

In a 2024 survey, we asked over 500 people across the UK to rank the taste and quality of the tap water where they live. Here's what they told us — the regions that came out on top, the ones at the bottom, and why tap water tastes so different depending on where you turn on the tap.

Best and worst tap water in the UK: the results at a glance 

Ranking based on residents' opinions of taste and quality (not laboratory water quality). Cities in brackets represent where most survey respondents in each region were based.

Where is the best tap water in the UK?

According to our survey, Scotland has the best-tasting tap water in the UK, followed by the South West (Bristol), Yorkshire and the Humber (Leeds), Northern Ireland (Belfast) and Wales (Cardiff).

Many of these regions share something in common: soft water. Water that's low in dissolved minerals tends to taste cleaner and cause less limescale, which is part of why places like Scotland and Wales consistently rank so highly.

Where is the worst tap water in the UK?

At the other end, respondents rated the East of England (Norwich) lowest, followed by the East Midlands (Leicester), the South East (Southampton), Greater London (London) and the West Midlands (Birmingham).

Notice a pattern? Most of these are hard-water areas. Higher levels of dissolved minerals (and the chlorine used in treatment) are the usual culprits behind an "off" taste and the limescale that builds up in kettles and taps.

Why does UK tap water taste so different by region? 

Two things mostly decide how your tap water tastes:

Water hardness. 

Hard water (common in London, the South East and East of England) is high in calcium and magnesium. It's perfectly safe, but it can taste stronger and leaves limescale. Soft water (Scotland, Wales, the North West) tends to taste cleaner. 

Chlorine. 

All UK tap water is disinfected to keep it safe. That's a good thing — but leftover chlorine can leave a noticeable taste and smell. The good news: both chlorine taste and the effects of hard water are easy to reduce at home (more on that below).

London vs the rest: a confidence gap 

One of the most striking findings: 56% of Londoners think bottled water is healthier than tap water, compared with just 21% in Scotland and the North East.

At Tappwater, we believe everyone should have access to clean, tasty tap water — affordably and without the environmental cost of bottled water.

How to improve the taste of your tap water

Wherever you live in the UK, you can make your tap water taste better:

Filter out chlorine.

A good faucet or jug filter removes the chlorine responsible for that "swimming pool" taste and smell. 

Tackle hard water and limescale.

In hard-water areas, filtering helps with taste and reduces limescale build-up. 

Know what's in your water. 

Check your local water quality report to see exactly what you're drinking. Explore the best water filters for the UK to get cleaner, better-tasting water straight from your tap.

How the survey worked (notes on the ranking)

The ranking is based on people's opinions of taste and quality, not actual laboratory water quality. At the time of the survey, all regions met UK government requirements for drinkable tap water. Cities in brackets represent where the majority of respondents in each region were based.

Many regions have multiple water sources, so quality can vary within a region. Bad taste is usually down to chlorine or high mineral levels (which also cause limescale).

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best tap water in the UK? 

In our 2024 survey of 500+ people, Scotland ranked as having the best-tasting tap water, followed by the South West (Bristol), Yorkshire and the Humber (Leeds), Northern Ireland (Belfast) and Wales (Cardiff).

Where is the worst tap water in the UK? 

Respondents rated the East of England (Norwich) lowest, followed by the East Midlands (Leicester), the South East (Southampton), Greater London (London) and the West Midlands (Birmingham).

Is UK tap water safe to drink? 

Yes. At the time of our survey, every UK region met government standards for safe, drinkable tap water. Differences in ranking are about taste and perception, not safety.

Why does London tap water taste bad? 

London sits in a hard-water area, so its tap water is high in dissolved minerals, and chlorine from treatment can add a noticeable taste. It's safe to drink, but a filter improves the taste and cuts limescale.

How can I make my tap water taste better? 

Use a water filter to remove chlorine and reduce the effects of hard water. It improves taste and smell without the cost and waste of bottled water.