The UK’s Happiest Places To Live – Top 75 Locations in 2025
27th Oct 2025Posted by Alice Ewens on 27th Oct 2025
We’re back with one of our favourite pieces of research, discovering where the happiest places to live in the UK really are. We spoke to 5,000 people across the country to find out which towns, cities and villages top the list for joy, belonging, and that all-important sense of home.
At Furniturebox, home means far more than bricks and mortar. It’s the laughter echoing around the dining table, the quiet mornings spent by the window with a cup of tea, and the community that makes you feel like you belong. And yes, the furniture you choose plays a part in that too. From the dining chairs where friends gather for long Sunday lunches to the sofa that holds movie nights and memories, every piece tells a story about how we live and what makes us happy.
So where in the UK are people feeling their happiest, and how might the homes, and the furniture within them, reflect that lifestyle?
What We Did And Why
We surveyed 5,000 people by setting up panels across the UK to find the happiest location for each county and big city. Locations were ranked according to:
- the beauty of the surroundings and green spaces (because access to nature and pleasing aesthetics is a key part of happiness and well-being) [1]
- provision of good state schools (because having access to good education is another key element of well-being)[2]
- provision of affordable housing (because everyone deserves a home, and inclusive and diverse areas are integral to thriving communities)[3]
- access to quality pubs, restaurants, independent shops and cultural attractions (because having places to gather and socialise beyond work and homes - the 'Third Place Spaces' - are an important part of establishing a sense of place) [4]
The UK's Top Happiest Location in 2025 is Norwich!
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Norwich is the happiest place to live in the UK, according to our 2025 survey. And it’s easy to see why. With its beautiful blend of history, culture, and the calm of nearby countryside and coastline, this is a city that knows how to take life at its own pace. Locals love the easy-going, bike-friendly vibe, and that relaxed attitude clearly spills over into how they’re styling their homes too.
Norwich Homes Mix Relaxed Living & Warm Welcomes
Our data shows that Norwich residents are all about creating inviting spaces to host and unwind. Our Lorenzo grey faux leather dining chairs and Pesaro navy blue velvet dining chairs are flying off the shelves to our customers here. They’re elegant but unpretentious, perfect for gathering around the table with good food and even better company. You can just picture it: fairy lights twinkling, friends chatting late into the evening over a bottle of wine, everyone comfortable and at ease.
Another favourite in Norwich is our Parker faux leather office chair. It seems people here are embracing the freedom of flexible working, turning corners of their homes into comfortable, stylish spaces that balance productivity with peace. Perhaps the balance between work and life, comfort and connection is part of what makes Norwich such a happy place.
2nd Happiest Place To Live In The UK Is Skipton, Yorkshire
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Nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Skipton came in second place. With its cobbled streets, lively market and strong sense of community, it’s a place that feels down to earth and welcoming, surrounded by the beauty of the hills.
Skipton Homes Blend Indoor And Outdoor Cosiness
At home, people in Skipton love comfort that works with the seasons. Our Tahiti rattan indoor-outdoor chair with footstool has become a local favourite. On sunny days, it’s perfect for relaxing in the garden with a cup of tea and a view of the Dales. When the Yorkshire weather turns, it moves inside to make a cosy corner by the fire or a quiet nook for reading. It’s the kind of furniture that fits the rhythm of life here.
3rd Happiest Place To Live In The UK Is Malvern, Worcestershire
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Third on the list is the beautiful spa town of Malvern, a place that’s all about wellbeing, tranquility, and a deep connection to nature. With the Malvern Hills rising in the distance and spring water running through its history, life here moves at a gentler rhythm.
Malvern - Calm, Considered & Peaceful Homes
That calm and considered lifestyle comes through in how people are furnishing their homes too. We’ve seen plenty of love for our Montenegro outdoor sofa set, as locals embrace the joy of outdoor hosting with garden get-togethers surrounded by greenery and fresh hillside air. Inside, our Taylor bedside tables and Nora lamps have been top picks, suggesting people are putting care into their bedrooms too, turning them into restful, softly lit spaces for unwinding after long walks or lazy Sunday mornings. In Malvern, happiness seems to flow as naturally as the spring water, through homes that invite both relaxation and connection, with spaces that feel lived in, loved, and deeply peaceful.
The UK's Happiest Places Full Results
The Full Results Map
The Full Results Table
Our Thoughts On The Results
It's lovely to revisit this research and survey again in 2025, as it really does help us understand how the public views community and sense of space when creating their homes. All 75 places on the list would have been worthy winners and show why the UK is such a wonderful place to live, loved by visitors from all over the world. Most of the locations in the top 75 are not the most affluent in their localities and have access to some affordable housing, including Norwich which has the highest proportion of council housing of any city in the UK. The survey shows that the happiest places are not defined by wealth but by the quality of life within them.
Notes
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f202e0de90e071a5a924316/Improving_access_to_greenspace_2020_review.pdf
- https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/blog/the-big-ambition-for-education-reflections-from-my-ambassadors/
- https://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/campaigns/value_of_social_housing
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place
Methodology
Polling was conducted covering all UK counties and big cities. For the city results, we have polled within the metropolitan boundaries of each city. Separate metropolitan boroughs close to cities - such as Solihull which neighbours Birmingham - are included in their county borders (West Midlands for Solihull). The same rules apply to other large cities such as Glasgow which borders counties such as North and South Lanarkshire.