Harrogate named second happiest place to live in Great Britain by Rightmove

Harrogate named second happiest place to live in Great Britain 😃

Harrogate has once again cemented its reputation as one of the country's most desirable places to call home after being ranked the second happiest place to live in Great Britain.

placeholder image — Harrogate has once again cemented its reputation as one of the country's most desirable places to call home after being ranked the second happiest place to live in Great Britain | Archive

The town has finished runner-up in Rightmove's 2026 Happy at Home Index, climbing two places from last year.

Rightmove surveyed more than 24,000 people across 221 locations to find out how residents feel about where they live.

Only Richmond upon Thames claimed a higher overall ranking, with Harrogate finishing ahead of Cirencester, Monmouth and Hove in the national top five.

Rightmove's survey measures far more than property prices.

Residents were asked about a wide range of factors, including community spirit, access to green spaces, local amenities, restaurants and shops, employment opportunities, transport links and whether they feel proud of where they live.

According to Rightmove, the average asking price for a home in Harrogate is £395,776, while the average advertised monthly rent stands at £1,750.

Although Harrogate remains one of the more expensive places to buy property in the North of England, it remains significantly more affordable than this year's overall winner, Richmond upon Thames, where average asking prices exceed £1 million.

Yorkshire enjoyed another impressive showing in the rankings, with Harrogate leading the region and Skipton — last year's overall winner — remaining in the national top ten by finishing seventh.

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.

“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”