These are the happiest places to live in the UK in 2020

Lara Billington
Content Marketing Executive

Rightmove's Happy at Home Index has revealed the happiest places to live in the UK in 2020. 

After the mess that's been 2020 it might feel like there's nowhere this side of the galaxy that would be a particularly happy place to live, but according to Rightmove's latest research, there's some pockets of happiness around the UK.

21,000 respondents were asked to rank where they lived based on ten happiness factors, including community spirit, the recreational and cultural activities on offer, availability of green spaces, services and amenities and the sense of belonging they felt. 

As you might expect, after a year in and out of lockdowns the study revealed that people from rural and coastal locations were happier and developed a greater affinity with their local area compared to those living in cities. This is likely down to their increased access to nature and outdoor spaces, which has become a factor of even greater importance this year when planning where to buy or rent.

The idyllic town of St Ives in Cornwall was ranked the happiest in the UK, with four other coastal locations in the South West - Falmouth, Weymouth, Plymouth and Poole - also ranking in the top 20 . 

Keep reading to find out which locations are the happiest.

1. St Ives - South West 
 

 

2. Skipton - Yorkshire & The Humber 
 

 

3. Leamington Spa - West Midlands 
 

 

4. Llandrindrod Wells - Wales 
 

 

5. Perth - Scotland 
 

 

6. Kendal - North West 
 

 

7. Stratford-upon-Avon 
 

 

8. Dorchester - South West 
 

 

9. Harrogate - Yorkshire & The Humber 
 

 

10. Richmond upon Thames - London 
 

 

11. Falmouth - South West 
 

 

12. Hexham - North East 
 

 

13. Weymouth - South West 
 

 

14. Shrewsbury - West Midlands
 

 

15. Tonbridge - South East