The vigorous market city of Skipton in North Yorkshire has been topped the happiest place to dwell in 2025, in accordance with an annual examine by Rightmove.
With a well-preserved medieval fort overlooking its centre, Skipton is surrounded by scenic views and is a leaping off level for the Yorkshire Dales.
Rightmove stated residents of Skipton ranked it notably extremely for its entry to nature and inexperienced areas, the friendliness of the individuals, and entry to important companies equivalent to faculties.
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Picturesque Skipton jumped into first place. Pic: iStock
Residents additionally praised Skipton for feeling they are often themselves there, and for the affordability of the realm, feeling they earn sufficient to dwell comfortably.
Nevertheless, the city was ranked much less extremely for its entry to employment alternatives and fascinating jobs, and residents dwelling close by to family and friends.
The typical asking value for a house in Skipton is £326,093, which is decrease than the present nationwide common of £364,833, Rightmove stated.
Points of interest throughout the city embody a conventional excessive avenue market, a procuring arcade, a museum, and unbiased retailers.
The city lastly took the highest spot after being positioned at quantity six in final 12 months’s examine, and in second place in 2020.
Ian Rigarlsford, who works in company affairs at Skipton Constructing Society, stated: “Skipton is a place where community genuinely means something, and that’s what makes living and working here so special.”
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Clouds over Wainman’s Pinnacle, quarter-hour drive from Skipton. Pic: iStock
The place had been the runners-up?
Richmond-upon-Thames and Camden, each in London, had been positioned second and third respectively in Rightmove’s 2025 “happy at home” index.
Residents of Richmond additionally ranked it extremely for its entry to nature and important native companies, in addition to non-essential facilities equivalent to eating places and retailers, Rightmove stated.
It added that this 12 months’s examine marks the primary time Camden has taken a “podium spot” in 14 years of the analysis being collected.
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Richmond scored properly within the rankings, in thanks resulting from its proximity to nature at Richmond Park. Pic: Reuters
Stirling was named because the happiest place in Scotland, with Anglesey topping the checklist in Wales.
Greater than 19,500 individuals took half in Rightmove’s 2025 completely happy at residence survey, which was self-selecting.
Rightmove despatched the survey to individuals throughout the UK who had opted in to obtain its communications.
This 12 months’s index confirmed that on common residents within the South West are the happiest with the place they dwell, and people within the East Midlands are least completely happy.
The highest 10 in full
1. Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber
2. Richmond upon Thames, London
3. Camden, London
4. Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber
5. Woodbridge, East of England
6. Altrincham, North West
7. Macclesfield, North West
8. Stirling, Scotland
9. Cirencester, South West
10. Hexham, North East
Keys to happiness: Nature and age
Individuals who dwell in a rural location usually tend to say they really feel completely happy the place they lived than city and suburban dwellers.
Riverside, woodland or coastal places are additionally extra more likely to have completely happy residents.
The examine additionally revealed residents who dwell near a nationwide park or an space of excellent pure magnificence are usually happier than individuals who don’t.
The examine additionally indicated being pleased with the place you reside tends to extend with age, maybe partly as a result of individuals are inclined to have greater housing budgets as they get older.
