The bustling North Yorkshire market town of Skipton has been officially named the happiest place to live in Great Britain for 2025, according to the annual study by property portal Rightmove.
What Makes Skipton So Special?
With its well-preserved medieval castle overlooking the centre, Skipton serves as a picturesque gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. The town offers a traditional high street marketplace, a shopping arcade, a museum, and a host of independent shops. Its charm is amplified by cobbled streets, canal paths, and welcoming pubs and cafes where locals and tourists mingle.
Rightmove's survey, which involved more than 19,500 self-selecting participants, found Skipton residents rated it exceptionally high for several key factors. Access to nature and green spaces, the friendliness of the community, and the availability of essential services like schools all scored top marks. Residents also praised the area for allowing them to feel they can be themselves and for its relative affordability, with many feeling their earnings allow for a comfortable life.
Property Prices and Regional Highlights
The town's average asking price of £326,093 sits comfortably below the current national average of £364,833, contributing to its appeal. Skipton climbed to the number one spot after ranking sixth in last year's study and second in 2020.
"Combining community, countryside and communication – Skipton has it all," said Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley in Yorkshire. He highlighted its desirable living environment with immediate access to the Dales and connectivity to cities like Leeds, Bradford, and Manchester.
Ian Rigarlsford from the Skipton Building Society, a major local employer, echoed the sentiment: "Skipton is a place where community genuinely means something... The friendliness of the town, the accessibility of green spaces, and the incredible backdrop... all contribute to a quality of life that’s hard to match."
National Trends and Other Top Towns
Following Skipton in the national top ten were Richmond upon Thames and Camden in London, taking second and third place respectively. This marks the first time in 14 years of the study that Camden has achieved a podium position.
On a national level, Stirling was named the happiest place in Scotland, while Anglesey topped the list for Wales. The study revealed broader trends: residents in the South West of England are, on average, the happiest, while those in the East Midlands are the least happy, though margins are small overall.
People living in rural, coastal, or riverside locations, or near national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, reported higher happiness levels. Furthermore, satisfaction tends to increase with age, with the over-65s most content and 18–24-year-olds the least.
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, concluded: "A lot more goes into choosing an area to live other than the home itself. Being within easy reach of nature and green spaces regularly comes out as an important factor for people, along with having friendly neighbours and feeling you can truly be yourself where you live."
