It seems that proximity to water is the key to a happy town, if the latest quality of life survey is accurate.
Spa towns and ones by rivers and the sea dominate the top spots in a new happiness league table, as rated by residents.
The survey of 17,000 households conducted by property website Rightmove found that Leamington Spa was the most content place to live in the UK – scoring on 12 criteria, including local amenities and community spirit.
Rightmove said Royal Leamington Spa scored highly for friendly neighbours, a strong sense of belonging, a place where locals feel they can be themselves and good access to nature and green spaces.
Last year’s winner, Leigh-On-Sea took the runner-up spot in this year’s survey.
The top 10 happiest places to live according to Rightmove’s annual ‘happy at home’ index.
Spa towns took another three spots in the top 10, with Harrogate fourth, Tunbridge Wells fifth and Epsom – whose popularity spa town in the 17th Century gave rise to the bottling of its ‘Salts’ or mineral water.
The watery theme to the UK’s most contented locations continues with Leigh-on-Sea in Essex taking second spot, Wirral on Merseyside third, seaport on the Ouse King’s Lynn sixth, the London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames eighth, the Dorset harbour town of Poole ninth, and the West sussex coastal city of Chichester tenth.
The annual ‘happy at home’ index compiled by Rightmove asked how happy residents were with 12 aspects of where they live (see below).
Factors such as community spirit, feeling safe, the friendliness of locals, the amenities and local services available and earning enough to live comfortably were taken into account.
Rightmove said Royal Leamington Spa scored highly for friendly neighbours, a strong sense of belonging, a place where locals feel they can be themselves and good access to nature and green spaces.
But home buyers will typically be expected to pay a premium of around £20,000 to live there, compared with average house prices generally.
The average asking price of a home in Leamington Spa is £330,848, compared with a national average of £310,003, Rightmove said.
More spa towns scored highly, with Llandrindod Wells identified as the happiest place to live in Wales and 12th overall in Britain, while Cheltenham came 29th and Bath was in 38th place.
Dumfries was identified as the happiest place to live in Scotland.
Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa Caroline Evetts said: ‘Royal Leamington Spa has it all, from our wonderful Regency buildings, impressive parks and gardens as well as a unique mix of high street shops and independent boutiques.’
Last year’s winner, Leigh-On-Sea took the runner-up spot in this year’s survey.
Richmond-upon-Thames was the happiest of London boroughs at eighth overall.
How the London boroughs were rated by residents responding to the Rightmove survey.
The seaside town still scored well for essential local services like schools and doctors, strong community spirit, good pubs and restaurants and friendly neighbours, Rightmove said.
Richmond-upon-Thames was the happiest of London boroughs at eighth overall.
Attractions there include leisure boating on the Thames, towpath walks, riverside pubs, the famous view west down the Thames from Richmond Hill, and the semi-rural expanse of Richmond Park.