- Skipton in North Yorkshire has been topped the happiest place to reside in Nice Britain in our annual research
- In second place is Richmond-upon-Thames in London, and in third place is Camden in London
- Stirling is the happiest place in Scotland, and Anglesey tops the checklist in Wales
Now in its 14th yr, our annual Blissful at Dwelling Index explores precisely what it’s that makes individuals really feel content material about the place they reside, and highlights the happiest locations in Nice Britain for 2025.
Hundreds of residents throughout greater than 200 areas informed us what they love (or don’t love) about their neighborhood, from the friendliness of neighbours, to job alternatives and entry to inexperienced areas. The survey additionally outlines some attention-grabbing findings, together with the variations in happiness in rural, city and suburban environments, in addition to the best way by which our sense of residence happiness adjustments as we age.
Happiest areas to reside in Nice Britain
| Rank | Place | Area | Common Asking Value | Common Asking Lease (per calendar month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skipton | Yorkshire and the Humber | £326,093 | £1,038 |
| 2 | Richmond upon Thames | Higher London | £942,522 | £3,189 |
| 3 | Camden | Higher London | £1,036,768 | £3,523 |
| 4 | Harrogate | Yorkshire and the Humber | £394,355 | £1,535 |
| 5 | Woodbridge | East of England | £462,734 | £1,309 |
| 6 | Altrincham | North West | £643,244 | £2,968 |
| 7 | Macclesfield | North West | £344,807 | £1,407 |
| 8 | Stirling | Scotland | £226,547 | £1,208 |
| 9 | Cirencester | South West | £472,990 | £1,975 |
| 10 | Hexham | North East | £331,198 | £967 |
Wish to see how your native space fared? Check out the complete Blissful at Dwelling 2025 rankings right here.
What makes a city or metropolis genuinely blissful?
On this yr’s survey, as in earlier years, we noticed that lots of the elements to happiness at residence are easy issues that make every day life simpler, safer, and extra fulfilling.
A way of belonging and wellbeing
Feeling a part of a neighborhood is among the many strongest drivers of happiness. Being surrounded by welcoming neighbours and inside shut proximity to family and friends can drive an actual sense of belonging and connection.
Security additionally performs an essential position, as does entry to important companies similar to colleges, hospitals and employment alternatives.
How surroundings shapes every day life
This yr’s survey exhibits how the bodily surroundings of a city or a metropolis can have a serious bearing on happiness. Inexperienced areas have been proven to be one of the vital valued options within the Index, providing locations to chill out, train, and join with nature.
Those that lived in a rural location have been extra prone to say they felt blissful the place they lived than city and suburban dwellers. Riverside, woodland or coastal areas have been extra prone to have blissful residents, whereas the research additionally revealed that those that reside near a nationwide park, or Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence, are happier on common than those that don’t.
On the identical time, walkability and vibrant excessive streets additionally matter to individuals. With the ability to stroll to native retailers or make use of a bustling city centre provides comfort to on a regular basis life.
Traits that form happiness
Clearly, there are various totally different layers that mix to affect what’s or isn’t a cheerful and fulfilling life-style.
Curiously, this yr’s survey exhibits that our happiness with the place we reside typically grows with age. Residents aged 18-24 have been the least prone to say they felt blissful the place they reside. Happiness then will increase by way of the age brackets, with these aged 65 and over being the most probably to really feel proud of the place they reside.
Skipton named the happiest City in Nice Britain for 2025
In evaluating all these numerous elements, Skipton in North Yorkshire has been topped the happiest place to reside in Nice Britain for 2025. Having beforehand are available in second in 2020 and sixth in final yr’s Blissful at Dwelling Index, Skipton has topped the checklist forward of greater than 200 areas that have been concerned on this yr’s research.
The market city was ranked highest by residents for its entry to nature and inexperienced areas, the friendliness of the individuals, and entry to important companies like colleges and medical doctors. Additionally they ranked it extremely for feeling they are often themselves there, the affordability of the world, and feeling they earned sufficient to reside comfortably. It was ranked much less extremely for its entry to employment alternatives, and residents residing close by to family and friends.
Patrick McCutcheon, Head of Residential at Dacre Son & Hartley in Yorkshire says: “Combining neighborhood, countryside and communication – Skipton has all of it. A extremely fascinating residing surroundings with rapid entry to The Dales and a wonderful setting amidst a few of the area’s most interesting countryside, and solely a little bit greater than an hour from The Lake District.
“Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and the M65, with its Manchester hyperlinks, are all simply accessible for each leisure and enterprise. From the city’s station, there at the moment are additionally common companies to London Kings Cross. The historic citadel lights up the colorful Excessive Road market while the Leeds / Liverpool canal, Pennine Approach and surrounding moors supply countless alternatives for difficult walks, highway and mountain biking and improve the enchantment of this residing surroundings.”
The typical asking value for a house in Skipton is £326,093 – decrease than the present nationwide common of £364,833. It’s additionally the second lowest price ticket throughout the prime ten happiest areas this yr.
Which areas took the highest spots?
Northern England usually carried out nicely on this yr’s Blissful at Dwelling Index. Alongside Skipton, Harrogate was the second city from Yorkshire and the Humber area to rank extremely, putting fourth general. Moreover, Altrincham, Macclesfield and Hexham have been all named within the prime 10.
London was additionally residence to a few of the Index’s prime performing areas, with the borough of Richmond-upon-Thames taking second place. Residents ranked it extremely for its entry to nature and important native companies, in addition to non-essential facilities similar to eating places and retailers.
Amy Reynolds, Head of Gross sales at Antony Roberts in Richmond upon Thames, stated: “Richmond has a uncommon capacity to really feel each vibrant and calming on the identical time, and I feel that stability is a large a part of why persons are genuinely blissful residing right here. You’re by no means removed from inexperienced area, whether or not it’s Richmond Park, the towpath, or quiet pockets of nature tucked between neighbourhoods, but you continue to have the cafés, independents, and neighborhood hubs that give the world its character. There’s a robust sense of connection right here too; individuals don’t simply reside in Richmond, they take part in it.
Camden, in the meantime, took third, with Cirencester being the one different place in Southern England to seem within the prime 10. Stirling was ranked the happiest place to reside in Scotland by its residents, and Anglesey has been named the the happiest place to reside in Wales for 2025.
The world’s happiest locations: What can we be taught?
This yr’s outcomes present that residents within the South West are the happiest with the place they reside, whereas these within the East Midlands are the least blissful. Nevertheless, the margins are small, and in lots of circumstances it’s the precise location – quite than area – that makes an actual distinction.
There are blissful communities throughout Nice Britain, and it’s essential to search for the precise traits when trying to find a spot to name residence. Scandinavian international locations similar to Finland and Denmark persistently prime worldwide happiness charts resulting from their high-quality public companies, social belief, and the accessibility and inclusivity of cultural life.
However these traits aren’t distinctive to Scandinavia. Cities with inexperienced areas, walkable streets, and lively excessive streets can present the identical facilities and sense of connection. Entry to cultural actions – whether or not that’s native festivals, theatres, or neighborhood occasions – also can make an enormous distinction.
Tips on how to resolve the place to maneuver to subsequent?
Whereas these rankings could be a good place to start out when interested by what makes an space nice, everybody desires one thing totally different from their subsequent transfer. We’ve bought plenty of totally different instruments that can assist you make your subsequent transfer. Simply a few of these embody:
- My Locations: See how far properties are from key areas similar to household, associates, the fitness center, practice stations, colleges and extra. Out there on all property listings.
- AI Key phrases: Use our app to seek for properties utilizing good AI prompts. We’ll then present you the obtainable properties that suit your wants.
- Shared Lists: Collaborate with family and friends in your search journey by sharing a lists of saved properties with others. You may create property lists and share them in a My Rightmove account.
