Do you live in one of the happiest places in the UK? Leigh-on-Sea on the Essex coast is named top spot for contentment

  • Leigh-on Sea scores on community spirit and strong sense of belonging
  • Troon in Scotland and Harrogate in North Yorkshire ranked second and third happiest places respectively
  • Swansea took the top spot in Wales, while Richmond won in London for the second year in a row

A seaside resort in Essex has been named as the happiest place in Britain to live.

Leigh-on Sea, next to Southend, gained the accolade after scoring highly on a range of stand-out features, including community spirit and a strong sense of belonging.

It wasn't the only seaside resort in the top ten compiled by property website Rightmove, with Troon, on the west coast of Scotland, taking second place.

Harrogate in North Yorkshire dropped to third position after occupying the top slot for three years in a row.

Leigh-on Sea in Essex has been named as being the happiest place in Britain to live

Leigh-on Sea in Essex has been named as being the happiest place in Britain to live

THE TOP 10 HAPPIEST PLACES TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY 
Place National Rank
Leigh-On-Sea 1
Troon 2
Harrogate 3
Hertford 4
Lytham St Annes 5
Shepperton 6
Stanford-Le-Hope 7
Shrewsbury 8
Hitchin 9
Woodbridge 10
Source: Rightmove  

Swansea took the top spot for the happiest places to live in Wales, while Richmond won in London for the second year in a row.

The study of 24,000 people across the country asked residents to rank 12 factors about their local area, from how friendly their neighbours are and how much people feel that they can be themselves, to how good the local services are.

Residents in Leigh-On-Sea said there is plenty to do, with the town topping the list for good access to sports and arts activities, as well as opportunities to develop skills.

The ripple effect of rising house prices out of London into the commuter belt has led to a 15 per cent increase in asking prices in Leigh-On-Sea, according to Rightmove.

It means the average price of home in the Essex seaside resort currently stands at £384,439.

LOCAL RESIDENT LEE BOYCE EXPLAINS WHY LEIGH-ON-SEA HAS BECOME SO POPULAR 

Local resident Lee Boyce approves of 'classy' Leigh-On-Sea 

Local resident Lee Boyce approves of 'classy' Leigh-On-Sea 

I grew up in the SS9 postcode, which covers Leigh-on-Sea, and live nearby, so am now a frequent visitor. 

There are a number of factors which have made this little seaside town down the road from Southend-on-Sea a happy and popular place to live for commuters and families alike.

Firstly, unlike Southend, it has a classy Broadway with independent shops and restaurants which are nearly always buzzing with life. 

It also has quick links to London Fenchurch Street, with the train line run by C2C cheaper and more reliable than Greater Anglia, which also serves Essex.

In Old Leigh you have a mix of old-world pubs and popular seafood huts, selling local delicacies of cockles and whelks. And while the estuary doesn't exactly provide scenic views, it is still pleasant to sip a pint or enjoy a Rossi's ice cream while overlooking the water.

The iconic Grand Hotel is currently being redeveloped by Mick Norcross, of Only Way is Essex television fame, who is throwing big sums at the project and Leigh is well located for outdoor activities, including the Hadleigh Olympic 2012 mountain biking track a few minutes down the road. It also has a strong local art scene.

The above may have helped lure back previous residents who moved away and newcomers, who have sold up in the capital and get far more bang for their buck in Essex (although Leigh has become its own local bubble).

The biggest snag? Parking. It may have a bustling Broadway, but the battle for a space can be ludicrous at the weekend – and that may dent happiness levels if you're visiting! 

The Rightmove study revealed that people in Troon rate the South Ayrshire town highly for its sense of belonging and safety.

The picturesque spa town of Harrogate was knocked off the top spot by the lure of the two seaside towns, but its beautiful green spaces helped its third place happiness ranking.

Lytham St Annes, in Lancashire, Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, and Hitchin, in Hertfordshire also featured in Rightmove's top 10 happiest places to live.

Lytham St Annes is a seaside resort that's also renowned for golf - it is one of the host courses for the British Open - while Shrewsbury and Hitchin are both market towns with listed buildings, including several pretty timber framed ones.

The exclusive town of Richmond is the happiest place in London for the second year in a row

The exclusive town of Richmond is the happiest place in London for the second year in a row

The green spaces of Harrogate helped the town in North Yorkshire to be ranked among the happiest places in the country

The green spaces of Harrogate helped the town in North Yorkshire to be ranked among the happiest places in the country

Abiola Oni, Rightmove's research manager,  said: 'It seems the saying that we do like to 'be beside the seaside' is true, whether you're down in the East of England or up in Scotland.

'Obviously what 'happy' means to different people can vary greatly, but when you compare the factors which score highest in the happiest areas, it shows just how important having friendly people in the local community area is, alongside the services and amenities, which is something buyers often tell us when they are looking in new areas to live.

'Space is also one of the most important things when people are looking for a new home, so it's not surprising that places with open spaces such as beautiful parks and beaches have featured in the top 10.'

THE 12 FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A HAPPY PLACE TO LIVE
THE TWELVE FACTORS TOP BOTTOM
Community Spirit Stanford-Le-Hope Walsall
Sense of belonging Troon Barking & Dagenham
I can be myself Troon Walsall
I feel safe Troon Wellington
I earn enough to live comfortably Ayr Blackpool
The people are friendly and polite Shrewsbury Barking & Dagenham
Sports and recreational activities Leigh-on-Sea Spalding
Arts and culture Leigh-on-Sea St Helens
Opportunities to develop skills Leigh-on-Sea Spalding
Nature and green spaces Harrogate Salford
Essential local services e.g. doctors, schools Wellington Grays
Non-essential amenities e.g. restaurants, pubs Leigh-on-Sea Bracknell
Source: Rightmove   
DO YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE HAPPIEST PLACES IN THE COUNTRY?
National Rank Place
1 Leigh-On-Sea
2 Troon
3 Harrogate
4 Hertford
5 Lytham St Annes
6 Shepperton
7 Stanford-Le-Hope
8 Shrewsbury
9 Hitchin
10 Woodbridge
11 Lichfield
12 Horsham
13 Bury St Edmunds
14 Tunbridge Wells
15 Leamington Spa
16 Cheltenham
17 Ayr
18 Carlisle
19 York
20 Exeter
21 Winchester
22 Sale
23 Bath
24 Hove
25 Salisbury
26 Cheadle
27 Solihull
28 Brighton
29 Guildford
30 Windsor
31 Fleet
32 Wokingham
33 Swansea
34 Canterbury
35 Sutton Coldfield
36 Lancaster
37 St Albans
38 Chichester
39 Richmond Upon Thames
40 Gateshead
41 Stockport
42 Eastbourne
43 Chelmsford
44 Macclesfield
45 Chester
46 Buckingham
47 Norwich
48 Bristol
49 Worcester
50 Kingston upon Thames
51 Darlington
52 Cambridge
53 Sheffield
54 Scarborough
55 Rossendale
56 Farnham
57 Warwick
58 Ellesmere Port
59 Oxford
60 Northwich
61 Warrington
62 Abingdon
63 Bournemouth
64 Taunton
65 Stourbridge
66 Leeds
67 Bromley
68 Newark
69 Fareham
70 Edinburgh
71 Lincoln
72 Hereford
73 Maidenhead
74 Folkestone
75 Loughborough
76 Sutton
77 Milton Keynes
78 Worthing
79 Poole
80 Basingstoke
81 Newcastle Upon Tyne
82 Wellington
83 Wandsworth
84 Ely
85 Leighton Buzzard
86 Newbury
87 Wakefield
88 Huntingdon
89 Watford
90 Truro
91 Stafford
92 Stockton-On-Tees
93 Cardiff
94 Maidstone
95 Mansfield
96 Hinckley
97 Bedford
98 Southport
99 Camden
100 Bexhill On Sea
Source: Rightmove 

 

Could you move to Leigh-on-Sea?

1.  Three bedroom semi-detached house for £695,000 

The property is ideal for city commuters as it is within a few minutes walk of Leigh station

The property is ideal for city commuters as it is within a few minutes walk of Leigh station

The large dining room has oak flooring and a French door that leads to the garden 

The large dining room has oak flooring and a French door that leads to the garden 

There is an imposing hallway with a feature staircase that leads to three bedrooms

There is an imposing hallway with a feature staircase that leads to three bedrooms

2. Five-bedroom detached house for £1.5M 

The property has recently been renovated and is now a contemporary family home

The property has recently been renovated and is now a contemporary family home

The formal dining room has panelled wallpaper and a deep bay window to the front

The formal dining room has panelled wallpaper and a deep bay window to the front

A feature oak and glass staircase leads to a gallery landing and five bedrooms

A feature oak and glass staircase leads to a gallery landing and five bedrooms

3. Three bedroom end of terrace for £250,000 

For those on a smaller budget, this three bedroom end of terrace property may fit the bill

For those on a smaller budget, this three bedroom end of terrace property may fit the bill

The kitchen includes a breakfast bar and French doors that open out onto the garden

The kitchen includes a breakfast bar and French doors that open out onto the garden

The living area has a feature fireplace with a gas coal effect fire and stairs to three bedrooms

The living area has a feature fireplace with a gas coal effect fire and stairs to three bedrooms

CUT THE COST OF BUYING WITH A BETTER MORTGAGE

Whether you are hoping to move to one of the UK's happiest places, or simply round the corner, getting the right mortgage is essential to making sure buying a home is as affordable as possible.

The good news is that mortgage rates have fallen to record lows, but with prices high and mortgage rules tougher than in the past you will need to plan ahead.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of options out there, so, as well as doing your own research, this is an occasion to search out expert opinion from a good mortgage broker.

This is Money’s best buy table (right) highlights quite how low the best two-year fixed mortgages have fallen.

Our mortgage calculator and best buys table can show you a full list of the best deals that suit your circumstances. Check to see if you can find a cheaper mortgage here

You can also get fee-free advice from our carefully chosen mortgage broker partner London & Country.

Those on the hunt for the best rates and wondering whether to fix or track - or how long to fix for - should also read This is Money's regularly updated What next for mortgage rates? 

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