It's official! Galashiels named one of the happiest places to live in Britain

One of the highlights of the year in Galashiels is the town's Braw Lads' Gathering celebrations. Here, the Braw Lad and Lass are pictured during their ride over Gala Hill, looking on to the Eildons.
Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 1st Dec 2022
Last updated 29th Mar 2023

Galashiels has been named one of the happiest places to live in Britain.

The Borders town - which came second to St Ives in Rightmove's annual survey - scored top on "the friendliness and politeness of the people".

It's the first time an area from Scotland has been ranked in the top three since 2016.

A child waves a flag at the annual Braw Lads' Gathering in Galashiels, which celebrates the history of the town.

Alice Brown, a valuer at local estate agent Rettie & Co, said: "Steeped in history, Galashiels has a wide variety of housing from classic period properties to new builds, offering something for every type of buyer.

"The countryside surrounding Galashiels also has much to offer, especially for those with an interest in rural pursuits such as walking, trail running, biking, wild swimming, et cetera.

"In terms of entertainment, a variety of amenities are on the doorstep, including a cinema, gyms, a swimming pool, supermarkets, independent shops, cafes, a retail park, restaurants and well-regarded schools.

"The recently-established Heartland Market brings together the town and local businesses."

READ MORE: Details of special service to celebrate the life of Doddie Weir revealed

More than 21,000 people responded to Rightmove's Happy at Home Index, which asks residents how they feel about where they live.

Locations are ranked based on factors such as whether people feel there is a sense of belonging, the proximity to green spaces, local amenities and whether there is a community spirit.

READ MORE: Galashiels man caught with sickening haul of indecent images of children

The residents of Cornish town St Ives scored the area highly for its sense of community spirit, the sense of belonging the residents have, and how comfortable residents feel to be themselves.

The average price of a home in Galashiels is £153,546, while the average monthly rental price is £530. Meanwhile in St Ives, the average price of a home is £523,731 and the average monthly rental price is £1,152.

Other Scottish places to feature on this year's list is Perth in fifth place; and Stirling in ninth; while Hexham in Northumberland is fourth.

All smiles on the gallop up Scott Street on the Gala Day.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove's director of property science, said: "This year's Happy at Home survey really shows that the things that make people happy to live in their area are not so much the physical aspects of that area but more the personal aspects, such as our sense of belonging, the community and the people.

"The last few months have undoubtedly been difficult for many, and as we learned during another difficult period in 2020, this is often when we look to our local area and community for support and happiness."

Locals scored top on "the friendliness and politeness of the people".

Do you have a story you'd like us to share on the radio? Email the details and a contact phone number to our Borders-based reporter: ally@radioborders.com

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.