Welcome to Yorkshire
Published on December 7th, 2025
•Ever wondered if some places are just naturally happier than others? According to a brand-new Rightmove report released on 7 December 2025, the answer is yes, and Yorkshire has plenty to smile about. One of its towns has been crowned the happiest place to live in the entire UK.
But the survey also revealed some stark contrasts, showing which areas are thriving with joy and which might be struggling a little. From cosy market towns to bustling cities, the 2025 rankings paint a fascinating picture of happiness across the country.
The king of happy places: Skipton
Claiming the top spot and officially named the happiest place to live in the UK for 2025 is Skipton, a gorgeous market town in North Yorkshire.
It’s not hard to see why:
- Cobbled high streets
- A towering medieval castle
- A lively market
- Charming pubs by the canal
- Easy access to the Yorkshire Dales
Often called the Gateway to the Dales, Skipton blends history, natural beauty, and community spirit — a winning formula for happiness.
Yorkshire’s other smiley spots
Skipton wasn’t Yorkshire’s only high achiever.
Harrogate
Coming in 4th nationally, the elegant spa town scored high thanks to its parks, historic charm, and famously good quality of life.
Whitby
This coastal gem placed 3rd in Yorkshire and 27th nationally, much loved for its dramatic scenery and seaside character.
York
The historic cathedral city ranked 4th in the region, adding another strong Yorkshire contender.
Halifax and Leeds
Both made the regional top five, showing that even bustling towns and cities can score well for wellbeing.
Yorkshire Live highlighted these results as a sign of a region with plenty of cheerful communities.
The bigger UK picture
Outside Yorkshire, happiness hotspots include:
Richmond upon Thames – 2nd place
Leafy, picturesque, and home to roaming deer, it continues to be one of London’s most desirable boroughs.
Camden – 3rd place
A surprising but welcome entry, showing that vibrant urban life can be just as happiness-boosting as rural calm.
Elsewhere in the top 10 are beauty spots like Woodbridge, Altrincham, and Hexham, suggesting that both scenery and strong communities play a huge role in people’s wellbeing.
Not all sunshine and roses
While many places scored highly, others found themselves at the bottom of the rankings.
Least happy areas nationally
The three lowest-scoring locations were all in London:
- Barking and Dagenham
- Newham
- Havering
These results suggest that life in certain parts of the capital may feel more pressured or less fulfilling.
Yorkshire’s lowest-ranked places
Unfortunately, not every Yorkshire town made the happiness cut.
Bradford ranked 9th least happy in the entire UK, and Rotherham also landed in the national bottom 20.
This highlights how varied experiences can be even within the same region — what brings joy to one community may be lacking in another.
Full rankings
Top 20 happiest places in the UK
- Skipton
- Richmond upon Thames
- Camden
- Harrogate
- Woodbridge
- Altrincham
- Macclesfield
- Stirling
- Cirencester
- Hexham
- Falmouth
- Leamington Spa
- Lichfield
- Maidenhead
- Horsham
- Leigh on Sea
- Tonbridge
- Winchester
- Anglesey
- Monmouth
Yorkshire & Humber happiest places (with national ranking)
- Skipton (1)
- Harrogate (4)
- Whitby (27)
- York (57)
- Halifax (70)
- Leeds (74)
- Sheffield (91)
- Barnsley (98)
- Huddersfield (129)
- Aberdeen (130)
- Hull (169)
- Wakefield (182)
- Grimsby (189)
- Doncaster (192)
- Rotherham (203)
- Bradford (212)
UK’s least happy places
- Barking and Dagenham
- Newham
- Havering
- Rochester
- Walsall
- Luton
- Enfield
- Peterborough
- Bradford
- Brent
- Slough
- Birmingham
- Bexley
- Motherwell
- Rochdale
- City of London
- Basildon
- Rotherham
- Southend on Sea
- Dudley
Comments
0 Contributions
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation!