Harrogate named third happiest place to live in Britain

Harrogate has been named the third happiest place to live according to a new survey.

The "happy at home" index, now in its 10th year, asked more than 21,000 people across Britain how they feel about various aspects of where they live.

Happiness measures in the index compiled by Rightmove include friendliness and community spirit, whether people feel they can be themselves, nature and green spaces, opportunities locally to develop skills and amenities including schools, restaurants, shops and sports facilities.

Harrogate previously ranked ninth in 2020, while Skipton was ranked second in the same year.

What do shoppers at Station Parade think to the ranking?

Daryll Digpal, managing director at Beadnall Copley in Harrogate, said the area "boasts a thriving high street with many international retail brands, a booming hospitality industry and excellent state and private schools".

Rightmove's study also found that people living in coastal villages tended to be the happiest group in the study.

Around a third of this year's top 20 happiest towns are market towns, it added.

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many people to move home in order to make lifestyle changes.

The study found that more than two-thirds (69%) of people who had moved in the last year relocated to a different area. Nearly two-thirds of these people (64%) reported feeling happier where they now live.

Eight in 10 (81%) of those who had moved from a town to a village said they now feel happier with where they live.

Here are the happiest places in Britain, according to Rightmove, with the average asking price for a home and the average monthly asking rental price:

1. Hexham, North East, £297,088, £842

2. Richmond-upon-Thames, London, £1,196,892, £3,235

3. Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber, £353,624, £1,163

4. Hove, South East, £525,906, £1,879

5. Llandrindod Wells, Wales, £193,601, £445

6. Stirling, Scotland, £191,226, £877

7. Monmouth, Wales, £312,649, £929

8. St Ives, South West, £494,393, £1,150

9. Anglesey, Wales, £278,391, £776

10. Leamington Spa, West Midlands, £350,981, £1,203

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