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a market town in north yorkshire has been named the UK’s happiest place to live in 2025.
Skipton is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales and as a result is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, it has a well-preserved 11th-century castle at its center and features a traditional High Street, a shopping arcade, a museum and a range of independent shops.
surveyPowered by Rightmove, seen skipton Residents rank their hometown particularly highly for access to nature and green spaces, friendliness of people, and access to essential services such as schools.
People also praised Skipton for the strength of its community and said they could live there themselves. According to Dave Forshaw, who runs the live music bar and record shop Skipton Sound Bar, the combination of natural beauty and a friendly community makes the town of about 15,000 people special.
Originally from nearby Halifax, Mr Forshaw moved to Skipton in the 1990s and made it his home, which he describes as “picturesque and beautiful”.
Reacting to the city being ranked first in the survey, he said Independent: “It’s a beautiful town, and we get a lot of tourists, but the people who live here are very sweet, lovely people.
“It’s a great place to live. It’s on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales – two minutes’ drive and you’re in some of the most beautiful countryside, or as Yorkshire people say, you’re in God’s Country.”
For Andrew Goodall, who runs the Woolly Sheep Inn pub, the happiness of Skipton depends on the people who live there.
He told about the survey Independent: “It’s wonderful to see. We live in a beautiful place and it’s great to see the positive response.”
“Everyone here is polite, everyone is happy, everyone loves being here. It’s great to get positive publicity like this.”
According to Mr Forshaw, Skipton has lots of pubs, cafes and independent shops, making it a great place to live and a big attraction for tourists.
He said: “We’re obviously very proud of what we do. We’re a music venue and record shop and we bring a lot of people into the town.”
Of his fellow independent businesses, Mr Forshaw said: “It’s quite a low population, it’s nice that the town is so nice, so we get a lot of tourism and it really supports a high street.
“You know what’s happening on high streets in cities up and down the country, but there are no empty shops on Skipton High Street. That’s rare these days.”
People responding to the survey were also happy with the affordability of the area, feeling they earn enough to live comfortably.
Average asking price for a home Rightmove said that in Skipton is £326,093, which is lower than the current national average of £364,833.
The city also gets name recognition Skipton Building SocietyWith its head office located near the palace, it is a major employer in the area,
Ian Riglersford, who works in corporate affairs at the building society, said: “Skipton is a place where community really means something, and that’s what makes living and working here so special.
“The friendliness of the city, access to green spaces, and the incredible backdrop of Skipton Castle and the Yorkshire Dales all contribute to a quality of life that is hard to compete.
“From taking a lunch-time stroll to enjoying the views from our office, the balance this city offers is remarkable.
“It’s no surprise that Skipton has been named the happiest place to live. It’s a town where people look after each other, and that spirit makes it a really rewarding place to call home.”
Richmond-upon-Thames and Camden, both in London, were ranked second and third respectively in Rightmove’s 2025 “happy at home” index.
Rightmove said Richmond residents ranked it highly for its access to nature and essential local services, as well as non-essential amenities such as restaurants and shops.
It says this year’s study is the first time camden The 14 years of research collected has received a “podium position”.
Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, said: “Each year our study celebrates all the different things that make us feel happy where we live – our neighbours, green spaces, access to vital services.
“There’s a lot that goes into choosing an area to live apart from home. Being within easy reach of nature and green spaces regularly comes up as an important factor for people, along with having friendly neighbors and feeling like you can really live where you live.
“It is great to see the town of Skipton getting the attention it deserves this year, having ranked highly in previous studies.”
