While it’s a small country, the UK is certainly home to a wide variety of towns, cities and landscapes. You don’t have to travel too far to find a place that differs from the last.
Even neighbouring locations can be distinct from one another.
However, it is not just the aesthetics of a place that can differ in this way, how residents feel can be just as varied. A recent survey revealed how people living in different towns in the UK experience different levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
Published in December 2023, the 12th annual Happy at Home Index conducted by online real estate company Rightmove, showed exactly which areas of the nation have the happiest residents.
More than 26,000 people took part in the survey, which considered 13 happiness factors including things like community spirit and green spaces.
As a result, Rightmove was able to compile a list of the 10 happiest places in the UK.
Rightmove says: “Each year, we ask people to tell us what makes them happy about where they live, and what makes it special.
“Our annual Happy at Home Index, now in its 12th year, helps us understand what really makes the residents of some areas happier than others, as well as the things that make a place feel like home.”
Taking the 10th spot on the list was a beautiful market town found in the north east of England.
Hexham in Northumberland sits at the edge of both Northumberland National Park and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It is also just a half an hour drive away from Hadrian’s Wall, an important World Heritage site that spans more than 70 miles across the country.
But what makes the town itself worth a visit?
Situated on the south bank of the River Tyne, Hexham has plenty of history, natural beauty and culture to offer both tourists and locals.
Discover Northumberland explains: “Hexham is home to the beautiful Sele Park, floral gardens in the town centre, and the stunning grounds of Hexham House.
“Beneath the charming market town, Hexham holds a biology history of marauding Vikings, and England’s first purpose-built prison, Hexham Old Gaol, which can be traced back to the 1300s.
“Boasting the impressive Hexham Abbey, this town never fails to impress.
“The monastery-turned-abbey was built in 674 AD, and the eerie crypt from the original building still remains today, with some of the dusty stones coming from the Roman ruins of Hadrian’s Wall.
“Opposite the abbey, you will find the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, a magnificent Victorian building which attracts the best international and national artists from music, drama, and dance, as well as nestling away two art galleries.”
Another draw of Hexham could be its property prices, with homes costing less than the UK average.
According to Rightmove, properties in Hexham had an overall average price of £270,854 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Hexham during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £442,874.
Taking the top spot on the Rightmove index for the first time was Richmond-Upon-Thames in London, followed by Winchester in Hampshire.
