Which are the ten happiest cities in Britain?
People from a North Yorkshire spa town are the happiest, while Barking and Dagenham residents are least content
Harrogate has been named the happiest place to live in Britain for the third year in a row, based on a survey by the property website Rightmove.
Residents of the picturesque North Yorkshire spa town rated it highly in terms of general upkeep, safety and pride in the local area. "Anyone who lives here knows exactly how great Harrogate and its fabulous lifestyle is," says the Yorkshire Post.
With quaint tea rooms, gardens and beautiful countryside, the town is popular among tourists and locals, with house prices above the national average.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We are surrounded by some of the UK's most beautiful scenery, have fantastic shopping and a wide variety of restaurants and cafes," borough council leader Richard Cooper told The Guardian.
"Residents benefit from a great quality of life with low unemployment, low crime and excellent local services," he added.
Asked what makes him happy in Harrogate, Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of the Welcome to Yorkshire tourism agency, said: "The quality of the gardens and all the planting, which give residents and visitors so much pleasure and, of course, a good cup of tea at Bettys [renowned local tea rooms]."
Harrogate sits alongside Shrewsbury, Ipswich, York and Chester in the top five, with only three of the ten happiest places to live located in the south of England.
At the other end of the scale, residents in Barking and Dagenham are reportedly the most unhappy, with the area ranking the worst for community, area upkeep, safety, amenities and neighbourliness.
But the leader of Barking and Dagenham council disputed the survey results, claiming the area was flourishing. "Of course there are challenges but I know we have the drive and ambition to make this borough a better place to live for everyone," said Darren Rodwell.
The ten happiest places to live:
1. Harrogate
2. Shrewsbury
3. Ipswich
4. York
5. Chester
6. Inverness
7. Llandrindod Wells
8. Hemel Hempstead
9. Watford
10. Blackpool
The ten unhappiest places to live:
1. Barking and Dagenham
2. Hounslow
3. Brent
4. Harrow
5. Newham
6. Tower Hamlets
7. Greenwich
8. Luton
9. Hillingdon
10. Haringey
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The clown car cabinet
Opinion Even 'Little Marco' towers above his fellow nominees
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Ed Park's 6 favorite works about self reflection and human connection
Feature The Pulitzer Prize finalist recommends works by Jason Rekulak, Gillian Linden, and more
By The Week US Published
-
6 fantastic homes in Columbus, Ohio
Feature Featuring a 1915 redbrick Victorian in German Village and a modern farmhouse in Woodland Park
By The Week Staff Published
-
90-year-old beats teen in fencing
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published