Brief
London ranked second best global city in Oxford Economics index
Oxford Economics' 2026 Global Cities Index puts London second after New York, noting its economy, talent pool and environmental policies.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Oxford Economics' Global Cities Index for 2026 named London the second‑best city in the world, trailing only New York, the outlet standard.co.uk reported on 3 October 2026.
What happened
The advisory firm evaluated the 1,000 largest cities on strengths, weaknesses and future potential. London secured the second spot for the second consecutive year and topped the "human capital" category.
What the reports add
The report highlighted London’s "deep base of knowledge‑intensive industries, diverse and highly skilled workforce, strong position in data‑centre development, elite universities and unmatched cultural offer" as drivers of its ranking. It placed the city seventh in the "economics" category, citing the fourth‑largest global economy and stable growth. Environmentally, London ranked 67th but was described as delivering a "strong" performance given its size, with policies such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone praised for improving air quality.
What was said
Oxford Economics said, "London remains one of the clearest examples of a truly global city…" and noted its appeal to highly educated migrants, who make up about 40 % of residents, providing a deep talent pool.
Key facts
- London ranked second in Oxford Economics' 2026 Global Cities Index (standard.co.uk)
- London was named best in the world for human capital (standard.co.uk)
- Foreign‑born residents account for around 40% of London's population (standard.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk — originally reported as “London named second best city in the world - but it's not all good news”
