Where's the happiest place to live in the UK?

When you’re looking for a new place to live, your search might be far and wide — or it might be a little closer to home. Some people know exactly where they want to live, while others are open to exploring new areas to find a new place to call home. There’s not a right or a wrong way to search for properties, but if you are looking a little further afield, it can help to decide what you’re looking for and using that to limit your search.

And it might be obvious — maybe you want to live closer to good schools, maybe you want to live closer to family, maybe you have to live within a commutable distance from your job. But some people are just looking for a place where they can be happy, no matter where that is. So where are the happiest places to live in the UK?

The truth is, you see various “Happiest Places to Live in the UK” headlines every year. There are different rankings based on different criteria, so it’s hard to definitively say one town or city that is the “happiest”. Still, it’s interesting to dig a little deeper into some of these rankings to get a sense of what areas come up again and again. Let’s take a look at five areas that generate a lot of press for their great quality of life.

Hexham

Hexham is another locale that regularly appears on “Happiest Places to Live” lists. It actually took the top spot in a recent list compiled by Rightmove and it also appeared on the most recent Happy at Home index. Perfect for culture and history buffs, there’s lots to explore (especially if you love Vikings) and no shortage of stunning green space.

Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa has previously topped the Rightmove list of Happiest Places to Live, as well as taking number three in the Happy at Home index. Affordable, commutable, beautiful — there are plenty of reasons Leamington Spa comes up again and again. And with a growing digital scene, it’s an entrepreneurial hub with a lot to offer.