![\"Fishing](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1440344681.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe \u2018Canaries\u2019 of England has been named the happiest place to live (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe \u2018Canaries\u2019 of England has been named the happiest place to live (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
When it comes to the happiest places to live, we might often conjure up images of the Nordic countries \u2013 as for eight years now, Finland<\/a> has trumped the global rankings.<\/p>\n Comparatively, the UK might seem like a pretty depressing place<\/a> to exist. Between 2024 and 2025, it slipped down once again on the World Happiness Report<\/a>, from 20th to 23rd.<\/p>\n Not all Brits walk around with a black cloud over their heads though, as new data has revealed the happiest (and equally, the most miserable) places to live.<\/p>\n Coming up trumps with the highest score was the South West of England, which stretches across Bristol, Cornwall<\/a>, Dorset, Devon<\/a>, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.<\/p>\n The study granted the area a mean score of 7.6 out of 10, assessing happiness levels of its residents between October and December 2024, as well as anxiety and life satisfaction across the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n While it might not be a solid 8 or 9, it\u2019s certainly higher than the likes of the North East, North West, and West Midlands, which were all given the joint lowest (and arguably, most miserable) score of 7.3. Ouch.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/p>\n You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n \u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n \u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n \u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won\u2019t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/p>\n The numbers also crunched happiness levels by age and gender. It turns out that men and women are equally content across the UK, as both were afforded a score of 7.4 by the ONS<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t And it\u2019s good news on the age front too, as happiness levels actually seemed to increase amongst the older populations. <\/p>\n Between the ages of 65 and 89 \u2013 a solid 24 years, spread across four separate age cohorts \u2013 UK citizens were their happiest with a mean score of 7.8.<\/p>\n At the other end of the spectrum, teenagers these days have it rough \u2013 as between the ages of 16 and 19, happiness levels are only 7.2 \u2013 the lowest of any age group.<\/p>\n Things get slightly better in your 20s though, as those aged from 20 up to 39 (spread across the categories of 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, and 35-39) all enjoyed a score of 7.4.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s doing it for the South West? And how can we all radiate a little bit more, well, joy?<\/p>\n Why are people so happy in the South West?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s little surprise that people in the South West are so carefree. <\/p>\n After all, with sprawling beaches across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, spiritual grounds like Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, and endless culture in Bristol, there\u2019s plenty to be getting on with.<\/p>\n Over on Reddit, residents of the South West have previously debated just what life is like there \u2013 and many agreed that it\u2019s got something a little bit special.<\/p>\n On the furthest tip of Cornwall specifically, @Green7501<\/a> said life was a \u2018very rural style,\u2019 adding that people are \u2018far more interconnected, with relationships built on trust.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018More shopping is done directly through farmers or smaller general stores\u2026but there is little to nothing to do if you\u2019re a city person used to constant stimulations,\u2019 they penned, while another commenter added that some parts even looked like \u2018they\u2019re in the Canaries.\u2019<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Cornwall and Devon specifically were described<\/a> as \u2018lovely,\u2019 applauded for their \u2018beautiful scenery, coastline and good weather.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a pretty friendly part of the world, too\u2026inland the towns and countryside have a good mix of people and still feel properly lived in for the most part,\u2019 @ThinkDiffident<\/a> added.<\/p>\n Bristol was commended for having its own unique \u2018atmosphere,\u2019 as one previous resident<\/a> said they loved the \u2018food variety,\u2019 as well as the \u2018street art and music scene\u2019 and \u2018great education and job opportunities.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018I also LOVE Bristol in summer. I don\u2019t know how to perfectly describe why it\u2019s special, but it\u2019s that traditional flowery green sunny West Country summer with an energetic urban twist,\u2019 they added. \u2018Such a vibe!\u2019<\/p>\n House prices in the South West<\/strong><\/p>\n While there\u2019s a strong sense of community across the South West of England, sadly, the house prices clearly aren\u2019t a contributing factor towards happiness levels. Unless you\u2019re wealthy enough to afford them, that is.<\/p>\n According to Rightmove<\/a>, the average property went for \u00a3360,088 over the last year, which vastly exceeds the figures across the UK (\u00a3268,250, data from Zoopla<\/a> shows).<\/p>\n Likewise, areas like Devon and Cornwall are particularly popular with second homeowners \u2013 and this has caused tension with locals, many of whom feel priced out of the area. <\/p>\n \t\t This is in spite of extra measures from Cornwall and East Devon Councils, which both introduced an additional 100% council tax premium in April.<\/p>\n In December 2024, a staggering 14,000 second homes<\/a> were sitting empty in Cornwall specifically \u2013 and this was specifically because locals were struggling to afford the hefty costs.<\/p>\n In 2022<\/a>, holiday homes were even graffitied, with one property in St Agnes tarnished with the words: \u2018Second home owners give something back: Rent or sell your empty houses to local people at a fair price.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018No more investment properties,\u2019 another exterior wall read.<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Glastonbury](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1164435981.jpg\")
\n\t\tWith so much beauty, it\u2019s little surprise the South West is so happy (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Hot](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-951154846.jpg\")
\n\t\tBristol is also full of culture (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Boats](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-126383981.jpg\")
\n\t\tThat said, property across Cornwall isn\u2019t the cheapest (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\nMORE: How you could end up paying 100% tax on your dream home in Spain<\/a><\/p>\n