How much it costs to live in the happiest places in Great Britain
Skipton in North Yorkshire has been named the happiest place to live in Great Britain, followed by the London boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Camden.
This is according to Rightmove’s latest Happy at Home Index, which surveys thousands of residents across more than 200 locations in Great Britain. The survey explores respondents’ feelings about their community, encompassing the friendliness of their neighbours, job opportunities, and green spaces.
Skipton toped the list of more than 200 locations to be crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain for 2025. The North Yorkshire market town’s ranking was boosted by its access to nature, the friendliness of its residents, and its access to essential services.
The average asking price for a home in Skipton is £326,093, which is lower than the current national average of £364,833. It also has the second lowest average home price within the top ten happiest areas, only beaten by Stirling in Scotland.
2025’s list of happiest areas to live in Great Britain saw Northern England perform well, with the towns of Harrogate, Altrincham, Macclesfield, and Hexham all named in the top 10.
Two of the happiest places to live were in London – namely the boroughs of Richmond upon Thames in second place and Camden in third. Richmond was ranked highly due to its access to nature and local services, as well as the many restaurants and shops within reach.
The happiest place to live in Scotland was Stirling, which also made the top 10, and Anglesey was crowned the happiest place to live in Wales for 2025.
The survey showed that many of the things that influence how happy someone is with the place they live are simple, making daily life easier.
The strongest influence on residents’ sense of happiness was a feeling of belonging and wellbeing, with friendly neighbours and proximity to close friends and family ranking being a key driver in happiness at home.
Green spaces also play a major role, with access to nature being among the most valued features in the index. Those who lived in rural locations, for example near woodlands, rivers, or the coast, reported that they were happier than their urban counterparts.
Below are the top ten happiest places to live in Great Britain in 2025, along with the average asking price and monthly rent for each area.
Happiest areas to live in Great Britain
| Rank | Place | Region | Average Asking Price | Average Monthly Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skipton | Yorkshire and the Humber | £326,093 | £1,038 |
| 2 | Richmond upon Thames | Greater London | £942,522 | £3,189 |
| 3 | Camden | Greater London | £1,036,768 | £3,523 |
| 4 | Harrogate | Yorkshire and the Humber | £394,355 | £1,535 |
| 5 | Woodbridge | East of England | £462,734 | £1,309 |
| 6 | Altrincham | North West | £643,244 | £2,968 |
| 7 | Macclesfield | North West | £344,807 | £1,407 |
| 8 | Stirling | Scotland | £226,547 | £1,208 |
| 9 | Cirencester | South West | £472,990 | £1,975 |
| 10 | Hexham | North East | £331,198 | £967 |
