The picturesque market town of Skipton in North Yorkshire has been officially named the happiest place to live in the United Kingdom for 2025, according to the annual Happy at Home Index compiled by the property portal Rightmove.
National Winners and Regional Highlights
The prestigious title is based on a comprehensive survey of more than 19,500 people across Britain, who rated their satisfaction with their local area. Skipton, famed for its medieval castle and position as a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, scored highly for its sense of community, access to nature, and the feeling that residents can be themselves.
Following closely behind, the London boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Camden secured second and third place respectively in the national rankings. Stirling was crowned the happiest place in Scotland, while Anglesey took the top spot for Wales.
How the West Midlands Performed
The West Midlands region performed strongly, with two locations just missing the coveted national top ten. Leamington Spa was voted the 12th happiest place in the UK, with the historic cathedral city of Lichfield following closely at number 13.
The top five happiest places to live within the West Midlands, according to the survey, are:
- Leamington Spa (National rank: 12)
- Lichfield (National rank: 13)
- Stratford-on-Avon (National rank: 28)
- Shrewsbury (National rank: 32)
- Tamworth (National rank: 33)
Key Trends and What Makes Us Happy
The 2025 findings reveal clear trends about what contributes to residential contentment. People living in rural areas reported higher satisfaction than those in urban or suburban settings. Furthermore, homes located near rivers, woodlands, coastlines, or within proximity to a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty were consistently linked to happier residents.
Satisfaction also appears to increase with age. The survey indicated that those aged 65 and over are the most content with where they live, while young adults aged 18-24 are the least satisfied. Rightmove suggests this may be linked to expanding housing budgets and greater freedom to choose an ideal location later in life.
On a regional level, the South West of England has, on average, the most satisfied residents. Interestingly, it is also the most desired relocation destination for those who are unhappy with their current home. The East Midlands reported the lowest average satisfaction levels, though Rightmove stressed the differences across Britain are minimal, with most people content with their area.
The full list of the top ten happiest places in the UK, including average asking prices and rents, is as follows:
- Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber (£326,093, £1,038 pcm)
- Richmond upon Thames, London (£942,522, £3,189 pcm)
- Camden, London (£1,036,768, £3,523 pcm)
- Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber (£394,355, £1,535 pcm)
- Woodbridge, East of England (£462,734, £1,309 pcm)
- Altrincham, North West (£643,244, £2,968 pcm)
- Macclesfield, North West (£344,807, £1,407 pcm)
- Stirling, Scotland (£226,547, £1,208 pcm)
- Cirencester, South West (£472,990, £1,975 pcm)
- Hexham, North East (£331,198, £967 pcm)
