Access to nature and essential services, and friendliness of the people led ‘gateway to the Dales’ to top Rightmove index
It is nicknamed “the gateway to the Dales”, is home to one of England’s best-preserved medieval castles and, for trivia fans, was the birthplace of half of Marks & Spencer. Now, the Yorkshire market town of Skipton has been named “the happiest place to live” in Great Britain.
It received the accolade from the property website Rightmove, which runs a “happy at home” index – now in its 14th year. The survey asks residents how they feel about their area based on a range of factors.
With its picturesque location on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Skipton was ranked particularly highly for its access to nature and green spaces, the friendliness of the people and access to essential services such as schools and doctors.
This is the first time Skipton has taken the top spot in the index, having come second in 2020 and sixth last year.
