The top 10 happiest places to live in Great Britain for 2026 have been named, and the north is well represented.
Just as it has done for the last 13 years now, Rightmove has published its annual ‘Happy at Home’ index, which explores exactly what it is that makes people feel content about where they live, and highlights the happiest places nationwide ahead of the new year.
This year, thousands of residents across more than 200 locations told the leading property listing platform what they love (or don’t love) about their community – from the friendliness of their neighbours, to job opportunities, access to green spaces, and so much more.
The survey also outlines the differences in happiness in rural, urban, and suburban environments, as well as the way our sense of ‘home happiness’ changes as we age.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Coming in at the very top of the list was our very own market town, Skipton.
Praised for its access to green spaces and nature, the friendliness of its locals and access to schools and services - Skipton has officially been named the ‘happiest’ place to live in the UK.
Quite an accolade, don’t you think?
Skipton came on top of the list ahead of Richmond upon Thames, Camden, North Yorkshire town Harrogate and Woodbridge in Suffolk.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Patrick McCutcheon, Head of Residential at Dacre Son & Hartley in Yorkshire says: “Combining community, countryside and communication – Skipton has it all. A highly desirable living environment with immediate access to The Dales and a beautiful setting amidst some of the region’s finest countryside, and only a little more than an hour from The Lake District.
“Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and the M65, with its Manchester links, are all easily accessible for both leisure and business. From the town’s station, there are now also regular services to London Kings Cross. The historic castle lights up the colourful High Street market whilst the Leeds / Liverpool canal, Pennine Way and surrounding moors offer endless opportunities for challenging walks, road and mountain biking and enhance the appeal of this living environment.”
Just outside of Leeds in Batley, there’s a factory shop selling all of your favourite biscuit varieties for less than £2.
Sweet treat suppliers Fox’s Biscuits have been operating in Batley over 160 years with its family run business serving families across Europe, North America and of course, West Yorkshire.
These cookie creators are known for producing some of the biggest names in the confectionery industry including Maryland, Paterson’s, and all the brands above.
Whether you’re Jammie Dodger obsessed, a Party Ring preacher or a Wagon Wheel warrior, you’ll find all this and more at this biscuit factory shop - for cheaper than it is on the shelves.
If you’re after a biscuit bargain, look no further. You can get your hands on retail-ready and pre-packaged milk chocolate or millionaire’s cookies for only 85p.
Those much-loved bickies we were talking about before are all up for grabs: packs of Wagon Wheels for £1, Jammie Dodgers priced at 60p and even party rings at 50p, yes please.
You can also pick up their assorted biscuit trays that you’d usually expect to see on supermarket shelves like Fox’s classic biscuit selection, chocolatey biscuit selection and more.
Or if you have a sweet spot for a particular biscuit from one of their many boxed varieties you can get bags of individual flavours like the white chocolate rounds and triple chocolate cookies all for £1.50.
There’s even an opportunity for you to grab some Fox’s branded items like a reusable water bottle, tote bag and even sticky notes for when you plan your shopping list for your next visit.
The factory shop’s opening hours are quite limited with this vendor only opening four days a week from 9am to 3pm and 2pm on a Saturday.
Fox’s Biscuits factory shop is open four days a week from 9am to 3pm on Tuesday to Friday and 9am to 2pm on a Saturday, if you’re after sorting out your biscuit fix.
The best places to celebrate the Lunar New Year with food in Leeds 2026
Clementine Hall
The Lunar New Year is here - how are you planning to celebrate the Year of the Horse?
Tuesday 17 February is a date you'll want to have marked in your calendar, regardless of whether you're celebrating the Lunar New Year or not. The date marks the first day of the the year in the lunar calendar, and as such is a time to celebrate.
Leeds, as always, is bringing the best of the new year in with hearty menus, killer cocktails and a whole range of dining options made especially to help you celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Here's our top picks for foodies to enjoy during the Lunar New Year.
Bánh & Mee
Open from 11am | Inside Leeds Kirkgate Market
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Serving up traditional Banh Mi with Siagon Noodles, Pho and summer rolls aplenty, Banh & Mee has become a real city centre staple - and it's easy to see why.
Celebrating the Lunar New Year with a giant balloon mascot called Chilli, hungry diners are invited to head down for a taste of authentic Vietnamese food this weekend, and make sure to try some of Mama Nguyen’s 3rd generation broth, noodle soup.
A hidden gem sitting in plain sight, Wen’s feels like one of those ‘if you know, you know’ spots and we are certainly all the better for knowing.The menu is extensive and allows for multiple visits to try out all of the goodness on offer, and we are certainly not complaining.
The portions are generous and perfect for sharing, Wen’s is the place to bond with friends and family over wonderful food that won’t set you back a pretty penny. And if you need any help choosing from the menu, The Dandan Noodles can only be described as a hug in a bowl, served swimming in a bowl of rich, savoury broth and topped with a mound of delicious pork mince and crunchy spring onions.
Tattu
Open from 12pm | East Parade, Leeds city centre
Image: The Hoot Leeds
As one of four locations in the UK, Tattu Leeds hosts a range of cuisine, including the Char Sui Monkfish with a delicious honey glaze, served with morning glory, caramel orange and pickled cucumber, which is due to land on their menu soon. Cocktail-wise, you're really spoilt for choice, but one to take advantage of during the new year celebrations is the gin, almond, lemon, umeshu and jasmine tea combination that makes up Firecracker, which is said to be inspired by the dance of the dragons.
Little Bao Boy
North Brewing Tap Room, Leeds city centre
Those steamed dumplings that we all know and love are a variation of a dish called mantou from Northern China and Little Bao Boys have got the modern version down to a tee. You'll find them at either North Brew Co venue in the city centre and we guarantee their small but tasty menu will have something for everyone.
MANS Market
Friday 20 January - Sunday 22 January 2023 | West Point, Wellington Street
Celebrating Chinese New Year with traditional cuisine is our favourite hidden Chinese restaurant, Mans Market. Tucked away downstairs in the city centre, their authentic menu has always got us wanting more and no doubt their new year menu will be just the same.
Crown Hot Pot
Open from 12pm | Back Blenheim Terrace, Woodhouse
Hidden inside a supermarket across the road from University of Leeds’ Parkinson Building, Crown Hot Pot is the true definition of a hidden gem.
Here, you get the chance to cook your own food- and all within seconds of entering the boiling dish. The idea is that each table orders from a seemingly endless choice of meats, served by the metre, and then select smaller portions of noodles, salads and dumplings to compliment the serving.
Take your heatproof chopsticks and dunk each meat into the bubbling pot and watch an near-instant transformation from raw pinks to juicy cooked meats. We’re talking 10-20 seconds for pork, and just a few minutes for sausages and meatballs: it’s truly a blink and you’ll miss it experience. Prawns and pork belly both come highly recommended, but Crown Hot Pot truly match your meaty preferences to ensure that each member of your table is well-fed.
Maxi's Rotisserie
Open from 11am, Kirkgate market
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're looking for some real authentic Cantonese cuisine then there's no where better than Maxi's in Kirkgate market. The best roasted meats, french toast and comforting steamed dumplings. Make sure you've got your wallet with you though, as they only take cash.
Noodle House
Upper Briggate
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're looking for fresh, handmade noodles and banging roast meats then you can't go wrong with Noodle House. It's got a huge menu to choose from and plenty of seats for you to sit back and relax whilst tucking into some authentic grub.
Clementine Hall -
10th December 2025 
