convert python list to text file

import json
a = [1,2,3]
with open('test.txt', 'w') as f:
    f.write(json.dumps(a))

#Now read the file back into a Python list object
with open('test.txt', 'r') as f:
    a = json.loads(f.read())

# define list of places
places = ['Berlin', 'Cape Town', 'Sydney', 'Moscow']

with open('listfile.txt', 'w') as filehandle:
    for listitem in places:
        filehandle.write('%s\n' % listitem)