Map reveals happiest places to live in Britain – is your hometown one of them?
A MAP has revealed the happiest places to live in Great Britain – but does your home town make the cut?
A study by property website Rightmove has revealed that Woodbridge in Suffolk has topped its annual list of the happiest places to live in Britain for the first time.
The research, now in its 13th year, was completed by more than 35,000 people across Britain, with residents being asked how they feel about their area.
Residents of Woodbridge scored it particularly highly for feeling that they can be themselves in the area, the community spirit and friendliness of the people, and access to essential services such as doctors or schools.
Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor Robin Sanders, said: “The happy mood of residents is a reflection of the vibrant town centre.”
Jamie Curran, director at IP Properties in Woodbridge, said: “The amenities Woodbridge has to offer in my eyes are second to none; having boutiques, coffee shops, public houses and highly reviewed restaurants all within walking distance of each other is amazing.”
The London borough of Richmond upon Thames was placed second, having been top last year, while Hexham in Northumberland, a previous winner, was ranked third.
Monmouth was crowned the happiest place to live in Wales, while Stirling came top in Scotland.
The happiest places to live, as shown by Rightmove’s 2024 data, aren’t solely determined by high property values.
While affluent areas like Richmond upon Thames and Sevenoaks feature in the top 10.
More affordable locations such as Hexham, Skipton, and Stirling also rank highly, demonstrating that happiness isn’t simply a product of expensive housing.
Rightmove added that residents in Scotland, Wales and the South West are most happy with where they live, while those in the East and West Midlands are the least happy.
TOP 20 HAPPIEST PLACES TO LIVE IN BRITAIN
Here are the happiest places to live in 2024, according to Rightmove, followed by the average asking price for a home and the average asking rent per month:
- Woodbridge, East of England, £441,569, £1,478
- Richmond upon Thames, London, £939,329, £3,131
- Hexham, North East, £313,147, £840
- Monmouth, Wales, £320,974, £1,335
- Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber, £394,312, £1,439
- Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber, £263,479, £1,030
- Sevenoaks, South East, £881,061, £2,924
- Leigh on Sea, East of England, £465,542, £1,796
- Cirencester, South West, £384,013, £1,495
- Wokingham, South East, £590,949, £2,120
- Winchester, South East, £578,760, £2,069
- Stirling, Scotland, £214,441, £1,227
- Stratford-upon- Avon, West Midlands, £413,115, £1,604
- Horsham, South East, £458,641, £1,983
- Kendal, North West, £285,645, £966
- Kensington and Chelsea, London, £1,667,573, £5,345
- Chorley, North West, £197,199, £883
- Hove, South East, £555,193, £1,993
- Wandsworth, London, £865,205, £3,159
- Hitchin, East of England, £510,612, £1,730
The Gen-Z generation (18 to 24-year-olds) were the most likely to say that they thought they would be happier living in a different area, while those aged 55-plus were the least likely.
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “It’s the younger generation who are most likely to say they would be happier living somewhere else, many of whom have to travel to cities for education or to find their first jobs.”
The research also indicated that the environment that made residents most happy was a rural location, such as woodland or a forest, or being near a national park or national landscape.
Rightmove’s analysis found that feeling proud to live in an area was the biggest driver of overall satisfaction with a home and community out of the factors it looked at.
Living near to family and friends was the smallest driver.
BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD
On Tuesday, consultancy business Mercer named Zurich at the top of an international 2024 quality of living city ranking.
Zurich was followed by Vienna and Geneva in second and third place, respectively. Copenhagen took the fourth spot, with Auckland placed fifth.
London was placed in 40th position, with Edinburgh in 50th place, Glasgow at 53, Birmingham at 57, Aberdeen at 62 and Belfast placed 66th.
The index evaluates living conditions in more than 450 cities worldwide to help businesses calculate allowances for people working internationally.
Zurich rose to the top of the list due to its outstanding public services, low crime rates, lively cultural scene and commitment to sustainability, Mercer said.