Not so grim up North as Harrogate named happiest place to live

The North Yorkshire spa town topped a survey which asked people how contented they are with their home and local community. Hull also fared well in the report after it was named the seventh happiest place to live behind Taunton, Stockport and Norwich.

The report shows people in Harrogate and Hull are generally happier with their surroundings than someone residing in Twickenham in London or in Oxford.

The survey asked people questions such as how proud they are of their home, whether they are satisfied with how it is decorated, how safe they feel in their community, whether they have enough living space, how friendly the neighbours are and whether they worry about the value of their property.

Rightmove, who conducted the research, said Harrogate scored top in the survey for safety, its sense of neighbourliness and recreation.

It is a double victory for the town because it the second year running it has come first in the overall happiness index.

The average house asking price in Harrogate is £309,133, which is around £37,000 higher than the national average.

Councillor Michael Newby, Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, welcomed the findings of the report and said: “The district has some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK, if not in Europe and beyond.

“There is also a great community feel.”