Cumbria is one of the most charming spots in the North West (and UK) for a vast number of reasons. 

It is huge for starters and boasts a rich and diverse landscape that makes it one of the top tourist destinations for Brits looking to holiday at home.

But did you know one Cumbrian town was one of the happiest places to live? Well, now it's official.

A new survey asked thousands of Brits how they feel about their area and was completed this year by over 26,000 people based on happiness factors.

Some of the key trends that emerged from this year’s report included feeling a sense of pride, belonging and community among the factors most likely to contribute to feeling happy to live in the area, more than having access to things like public transport, schools and job opportunities.

The research also discovered around one in three (30%) think they would be happier living somewhere else.

It also found some of the most common reasons people want to move home are due to wanting to be happier or to move to a bigger home.

Overall, rural residents are happier than city residents, especially those living near a national park - aka the majestic Lake District - or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

You can see the full map and breakdown of each region here.

The UK's top 20 happiest places to live in 2023

Kendal's average house asking price in 2023 was £280,276 and the average asking rent per calendar month was £933.

The full list is below:

  1. Richmond-upon-Thames, London
  2. Winchester, Hampshire
  3. Monmouth, Monmouthshire
  4. Wokingham, Berkshire
  5. Cirencester, Gloucestershire
  6. Skipton, North Yorkshire
  7. Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
  8. Kensington and Chelsea, London
  9. St Ives, Cornwall
  10. Hexham, Northumberland
  11. Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
  12. Harrogate, North Yorkshire
  13. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
  14. Kendal, Cumbria
  15. Galashiels, Scottish borders
  16. Weymouth, Dorset
  17. Woodbridge, Suffolk
  18. Anglesey, Wales
  19. St Albans, Hertfordshire
  20. Stourbridge, West Midlands

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert said: “Searching for new areas outside of the city that are still commutable on office days and looking for cheaper properties that are in need of renovation are just some of the actions we’ve seen determined movers take this year.

“The results of this year’s study highlights that residents continue to value living near green spaces and natural beauty, features that became all the more important during the pandemic.

“With moving to an area that makes them happy a key motivator for people looking for their next home, highlighting these types of features nearby could really help sellers looking to appeal to potential buyers.”