Skipton’s taken the top spot this year. Among all the happiest places to live in the UK, this North Yorkshire market town came out on top in Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index. Richmond upon Thames and Camden weren’t far off, both from London, and Stirling and Anglesey claimed the wins up in Scotland and Wales.
- Skipton’s never won before. This is its first time at number one in 14 years of the survey, and it was only sixth last year
- Camden’s top-three finish is a first too. Never happened before in the index’s history
- Houses in Skipton average £326,093, which is well under the national price tag
- Stirling’s the cheapest of the top 10 by a good margin, sitting around £226,547
- People in the countryside just seem happier. Rural spots keep beating cities, and living near a national park bumps satisfaction up even further
- East Midlands didn’t have a great year. Not one of its towns made the national top 50
Here’s the thing about how this survey works. Rightmove goes out and asks thousands of people, in more than 200 towns and cities, how they truly feel about where they live. Forget house prices for a second; that’s not really the point. It’s more about green space, whether the neighbours are decent, safety, and whether you can actually get a GP appointment or send your kid to a good school nearby. And the takeaway this year? Smaller towns and rural areas are beating cities, quietly but clearly.
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What Are the 10 Happiest Places to Live in the UK
Here’s the full rundown for 2026, straight from Rightmove’s data.
| Rank | Place | Region |
| 1 | Skipton | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| 2 | Richmond upon Thames | London |
| 3 | Camden | London |
| 4 | Harrogate | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| 5 | Woodbridge | East of England |
| 6 | Altrincham | North West |
| 7 | Macclesfield | North West |
| 8 | Stirling | Scotland |
| 9 | Cirencester | South West |
| 10 | Hexham | North East |
Skipton locals gave the town top marks for its green spaces, friendly faces, and how easy it is to sort out the basics: doctors, schools, all of it. And it’s cheap compared to most of the other places on this list. You’re looking at £326,093 on average for a home there, against a national figure of £364,833.
Richmond upon Thames landed second. Residents kept bringing up the parks, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, and how the place somehow manages to feel like a proper city while staying calm. Camden rounded out the top three, its best showing ever in the survey.
Yorkshire had itself a moment this year, with Skipton and Harrogate both making the top four. The North West wasn’t far behind either, getting two towns, Altrincham and Macclesfield, into the top 10.
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Regional Winners Across the UK
There’s a regional breakdown too, beyond the national list. Stirling took Scotland’s crown, and Anglesey won it in Wales. Woodbridge came out on top in the East of England, Cirencester in the South West, and Hexham in the North East.
Not everywhere had a good run, mind. The East Midlands’ best five towns were the weakest of any region this year; none of them cracked the national top 50. Compare that to the South East, where every single one of its top 10 towns made the national top 50. Quite a gap.
Why Rural Areas Keep Winning
It’s the same story every year with this survey: people outside cities score happier. There’s something about being near nature that makes a real difference too. Anyone living close to a national park or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty tends to rate their happiness higher than those who don’t. And then there’s age. Over-65s are noticeably more content with where they live than the 18 to 24 crowd, who trail behind everyone else by quite a bit.
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FAQs
What is the happiest place to live in the UK right now?
It’s Skipton, up in North Yorkshire. Sits at number one on Rightmove’s 2026 Happy at Home Index as things stand.
Which city is the happiest place to live in London?
Richmond upon Thames, easily. Landed second nationally, ahead of every other London borough.
Is it more expensive to live in the happiest places?
Not necessarily. Take Skipton and Stirling, both top 10, both cheaper than the national average house price.
What makes a place score highly for happiness?
Mostly comes down to the everyday stuff – having green space nearby, actually knowing your neighbours, feeling safe, and not having to trek for a school run or a GP appointment.
Sources & References
- Rightmove: Skipton crowned happiest place 2025
- Time Out: Happiest UK region 2026
- Manchester World: Rightmove happiest places list
- Unbiased: 10 happiest places to live in the UK
- Rest Less: 20 happiest places to live GB
