This Yorkshire Town Has Been Named In The Top 10 Happiest Places To Live In The UK

Living in God’s Own Country creates some of the happiest people around. How could you not be, when you’re surrounded by rolling hills, lush green countryside and only a stone’s throw for beautiful coastline? Rightmove’s annual Happy at Home Index has revealed as much with Harrogate coming in 3rd place as Great Britain’s happiest places to live.

In 2nd place for the prestigious award was Richmond upon Thames and 1st place once again wasHexham in Northumberland. The study found that a sense of belonging, the friendliness of locals and being able to be yourself, and a sense of community were the most important factors in deciding the happiest places in Great Britain.

In Harrogate, the average asking price for a home is quite high at £353,624 and rent around £1,163. Interestingly, a third of this year’s top 20 happiest towns were market towns. There was also a feeling of wanting to be closer to nature carrying on from last year’s study due to lockdown.

Villages and especially coastal villages were happiest of all, which stands to reason as you’ve got some of the most beautiful natural beauty on your doorstep.

The study’s results showed that those who had moved were happier than those you haven’t regardless of the move. More than two-thirds (69%) of people who moved in the last year, chose to move to a different area. Nearly two-thirds of these people (64%), said they are happier in the area they now live, compared with where they moved from. One in five (21%) said they were just as happy in their new area.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data, says: “It’s been an incredibly busy year in the housing market, with a lot of people deciding that now is the right time to move. It is fascinating to see that people who moved in the last 12 months were more likely to be happy in their areas than those who did not. Whether it may be a couple looking for a small change in the same area, tenants looking for more space, or a family completely changing their lifestyle and moving from the city to the coast, this has been the year that people have really seized the opportunity to move, and turned ideas into action.”

Daryll Digpal, Managing Director at Beadnall Copley in Harrogate said: “The Harrogate market has been incredibly busy with property prices across both lettings and sales markets soaring due to unprecedented demand fuelled by lockdowns and the Chancellor’s Stamp Duty holiday. The town boasts a thriving high street with many international retail brands, a booming hospitality industry and excellent state and private schools. Furthermore, at its heart is the famous Stray owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, a much enjoyed haven, particularly over the past 18 months. As such is it no surprise that this attractive spa town is one of the country’s happiest places to live.”