Unveiled: The Happiest Places to Call Home in Britain

Skipton Named the Happiest Place to Live in 2025

The lively market town of Skipton in North Yorkshire has been crowned the happiest place to live in 2025, according to an annual study conducted by Rightmove. With a well-preserved medieval castle overlooking its centre, Skipton is surrounded by scenic views and serves as a great starting point for exploring the Yorkshire Dales.

Rightmove highlighted that residents of Skipton ranked it particularly highly for its access to nature and green spaces, the friendliness of the people, and the availability of essential services such as schools.

Residents also praised Skipton for creating a sense of belonging, where they feel they can be themselves. They also appreciated the affordability of the area, feeling that their income allows them to live comfortably.

However, the town was ranked less highly for its access to employment opportunities and desirable jobs, as well as for the proximity to friends and family.

The average asking price for a home in Skipton is £326,093, which is lower than the current national average of £364,833, according to Rightmove. The town offers a range of attractions, including a traditional high street marketplace, a shopping arcade, a museum, and independent shops.

Skipton finally took the top spot after being placed at number six in last year's study and in second place in 2020. Ian Rigarlsford, who works in corporate affairs at Skipton Building Society, said: "Skipton is a place where community genuinely means something, and that's what makes living and working here so special."

Runners-Up in the 2025 "Happy at Home" Index

Richmond-upon-Thames and Camden, both located in London, were placed second and third respectively in Rightmove's 2025 "happy at home" index.

Residents of Richmond also ranked it highly for its access to nature and essential local services, as well as non-essential amenities such as restaurants and shops. Rightmove noted that this year's study marks the first time Camden has taken a "podium spot" in 14 years of the research being collected.

In Scotland, Stirling was named the happiest place to live, while Anglesey topped the list in Wales.

More than 19,500 people participated in Rightmove's 2025 happy at home survey, which was self-selecting. The survey was sent to people across the UK who had opted in to receive its communications.

Regional Happiness Trends

This year's index showed that on average, residents in the South West are the happiest with where they live, while those in the East Midlands are least happy.

Key factors contributing to happiness include access to nature, a strong sense of community, and the ability to afford a comfortable lifestyle. People who live in rural locations are more likely to report feeling happy with where they live compared to urban and suburban dwellers.

Riverside, woodland, or coastal locations are also more likely to have happy residents. The study also revealed that residents who live close to a national park or an area of outstanding natural beauty tend to be happier than those who do not.

Additionally, the study indicated that being happy with where you live tends to increase with age. This may be partly due to the fact that people generally have larger housing budgets as they grow older.