Swansea has been crowned the happiest city to live in Wales, according to Rightmove's annual Happy at Home Index, beating Cardiff and other Welsh cities.
The property company surveyed more than 24,000 people across Great Britain, asking them to rank factors such as access to green spaces, local amenities, shops, restaurants, career prospects, and residents' pride in their area.
Why Swansea topped the list
Swansea is the second largest city in Wales, offering miles of golden coastline and a vibrant marina. It sits on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, the UK's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is known for 'world-class beaches' including Rhossili Bay and Caswell Bay.
The city also boasts more than 50 public parks, including Swansea Botanical Gardens. It is home to the largest indoor market in Wales, packed with local food stalls, as well as the National Waterfront Museum, which celebrates industrial and maritime history dating back more than 200 years.
Residents share their love for Swansea
Residents expressed their affection for the city on Reddit after someone asked whether it was a good place to live. One commented: "Yeah man, think it'll be Swansea for life for me. I've always loved the balance; it's not too big and not too small. Beach on your doorstep. Some beautiful areas in the very near surroundings. For sure there are bad parts too! You'll have that everywhere, I think, but at the end of the day it's home."
Another wrote: "I've been in Swansea (Plasmarl) about 4/5 months now and love it, best thing I ever did!" A third shared: "Swansea is awesome if you like an outdoorsy lifestyle. The Gower has world-class beaches; there's great hiking, outdoor swimming and cycling options. Sure, it has some rough estates, but I've lived all over the UK and I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else."
"It’s great! My wife is Portuguese and loves the walks, beaches and way of life here. She has been here 8 years now. Also, there is a good little Portuguese community here!" a fourth shared, while another said: "I live in the north east of England now but would gladly move back to Swansea. It’s my town of birth, and I absolutely love visiting it for holidays and weekends away."
Happiest places to live in Wales
The overall happiest place to live in Wales was the historic town of Monmouth, which ranked 4th in the overall UK list, with an average asking house price of £366,782 and rent of around £1,395. Llandrindod Wells came 8th, Anglesey 50th, New Quay 56th, and Swansea 59th in the overall rankings.
