London borough named among the 'happiest places to live' in the country
Richmond-upon-Thames ranked second on Rightmove's list
Last updated 24th Nov 2021
A London rural borough has been crowned as one of the happiest places to live in the country.
Rightmove has revealed the top 20 as its "Happy at Home" Index enters its tenth year.
Richmond-upon-Thames came second, ranking one spot below Hexham in Northumberland that took the top spot.
Over 21,000 people responded to the annual poll about how they feel about various aspects of life where they live.
Of the participants, just over two thirds of people said they had moved to a new area. The study also found that 64% of those who had moved were feeling happier where they had relocated to.
Friendliness, nature and amenities are just some of the criteria that each area is judged on in the yearly survey.
This year, one-third of the towns that featured on the extended list of happy places in the UK were market towns, as many people chose to leave the city life behind for a more quiet lifestyle.
So if you're looking for a fresh start and wanting a friendly, welcoming area, these are the best places you should be looking at...
What are the top 10 happiest places to live in the UK?
1. Hexham, North East
Hexham in Northumberland was already crowned the winner back in 2019, and the town has topped the list again this year. The average housing price is £297,088 which is lower than the UK's £342,401 average, according to Rightmove. The town is known to have a "great history" and a "wonderful community spirit."
2. Richmond-upon-Thames, London
Richmond upon Thames is crowned the second happiest place to live. Offering a balance of the rural countryside with central areas, and plenty of green spaces such as Richmond Park. The London borough has an average price of £1,196,892, which is significantly higher than Rightmove's average.
3. Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber
Harrogate has been named the second happiest place to live in the UK. The North Yorkshire town, which is home to the famous Bettys Tea Room, also beautiful scenery and leisure opportunities. Its average housing price is £353,624.
4. Hove, East Sussex
Fourth in the list is Hove in the South East. The town is known to be "progressive and arty" but still carries itself as affordable and laid-back compared to nearby Brighton. The average housing price is £525,906 which is higher than Rightmove's average housing price. The town also has great outdoor spaces and easy connections to London.
5. Llandrindod Wells, Wales
In fifth place is Llandrindod Wells but the Welsh town was named the happiest place to live in Wales. With an average housing price of 193,601, according to the Rightmove survey, its one of the cheapest places to live in the top 10 as well as the happiest.
6. Stirling, Scotland
Nestled at the mouth of the River Forth, Stirling is both the only Scottish town to place in the top 10 and the highest placing Scottish town on the extended list. The average asking price for a house in Stirling was £191,226 - well below Rightmove's average house price.
7. Monmouth, Wales
Just missing out to Llandrodin Wells, border town Monmouth is now the second happiest town in Wales in which to live. According to Rightmove, the average asking price for a house in the town is £312,649.
8. St. Ives, Cornwall
Despite being the happiest place to live in 2020, St Ives has since dropped down to eighth place. The town is the most southernly area to appear in the top 10 of happiest places, with its iconic harbour and clear Cornish waters. Average house prices in the town come to £494,393 which ranks well above the national average house price, according to Rightmove.
9. Anglesey, Wales
Known in its native Welsh as Ynys Môn, Anglesey is an island on the north west coat of Wales, home to THAT famously long-named village. The island is connected to the mainland by the Menai Bridge, pictured here. The average house price on Anglesey is £278,391.
10. Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Rounding out the top 10 is Leamington Spa, officially known as Royal Leamington Spa, after Queen Victoria the town 'Royal' status in 1838. Situated on the River Leam, the town is famed for its Regency architecture. Figures from Rightmove showed that house prices in the town averages to £350,981, marginally over the national average house price.