Cities can boost happiness just as much as the countryside – as long as they are scenic, according to experts.
Naturally open spaces are typically considered to create a better mood, in contrast to built-up urban areas.
But in the first study of its kind, scientists found areas with lots of old buildings but not much green space can be just as good for our wellbeing.
And the effect could be the same regardless of the weather, how wealthy the area is, the activities that take place there and the day of the week.
Scientists said the findings should inform governments on how to make areas more aesthetically pleasing.
Cities with churches and towers can boost happiness just as much as the countryside as long as it is scenic, experts at the University of Warwick have said
Ultimately, the scientists led by University of Warwick said people are happier in beautiful settings, whether in natural or built-up places.
The team, led by researcher Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe, said: ‘We find that people are indeed happier in more scenic environments, even after controlling for a range of variables such as potential effects of the weather, and the activity that an individual was engaged in at the time.
‘Crucially, we show that it is not only the countryside with which we see this association.
‘Built-up areas, which might comprise characterful buildings or bridges, also have a positive link to happiness.’
The researchers analysed nearly one million ratings of photographs of Britain from an online game called Scenic-Or-Not.
The researchers combined the data with three years of measurements from more than 15,000 users of the iPhone app Mappiness.
Mappiness asks people to report on their happiness multiple times per day while recording their current location, who they are with and what they are currently doing.
Images from Scenic-Or-Not. A: The four most scenic images in England. B: A sample of the most unscenic images. C: The top five per cent scenic images in built-up locations
To determine whether individuals are happier in more scenic environments, the team considered a range of factors that may also play a part.
For example, commuting is negatively associated with happiness, while leisure activities such as resting, gardening and walking are positively associated with happiness.
Rain can reduce happiness, while higher temperatures, sunshine and bank holidays are associated with increased happiness.
However, the authors said: ‘We find that people do report themselves to be happier when in a more scenic location, even after controlling for weather, activities, companionship, weekdays or weekends.’
Although natural elements such as ponds, rivers and forest paths improved ratings on a photograph, so did churches, cottages and towers. And sometimes, big open spaces had negative ratings.
‘This research could be useful for informing decisions made in the design of our towns, cities and urban neighbourhoods, which affect people’s everyday lives’, the authors said.
The findings go against previous research that suggests people who live in rural areas are happier than city dwellers.
A study last May by McGill University in Montreal and the Vancouver School of Economics surveyed 400,000 people across Canada using a widely-recognized happiness scale.
They found that city dwellers have higher salaries, higher education levels and lower unemployment rates.
However, that meant nothing in terms of joy: people who lived in the countryside were, on average, eight times happier than people in urban areas.