Leeds

This Yorkshire town has been crowned the ‘happiest’ place to live in the UK

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 10th December 2025

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.”

Read more: How to spend a day in Skipton – one of Yorkshire’s most charming market towns

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Leeds

Everything you need to know about the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup before it comes to Leeds

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Everything you need to know about the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup before it comes to Leeds

The countdown is really on now to one of the biggest sporting events of the year - the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will land in Leeds in just a few weeks’ time. 

The upcoming cricket tournament has already shattered all previous ticket sales records, ahead of what promises to be the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged.

With just two weeks to go to the opening match between England and Sri Lanka, ticket sales have already surpassed 155,000.

And anticipation is growing for the sporting event of the summer, a 24-day spectacle played across seven iconic venues in England and Wales. 

Headingley will play its part in this record-breaking tournament this summer, hosting several major games. 

The action kicks off here in Leeds on Wednesday 17 June, with a double-header featuring Australia v Bangladesh and India v Netherlands.

Headingley will also host one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures - England v Scotland on Saturday 20 June. 

So if you’re planning to go down for all the action, or just want to know what’s in store, here’s the essential info you need for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. 

Leeds dates for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

The T20 trophy on a tour of Leeds

Headingley will welcome eight teams across five fixtures in June, including England, Scotland, Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and India, plus tournament newcomers Netherlands. 

  • Wednesday 17 June - Australia v Bangladesh, Headingley - 10.30am
  • Wednesday 17 June - India v Netherlands, Headingley - 2.30pm
  • Thursday 18 June - West Indies v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
  • Saturday 20 June - England v Scotland, Headingley - 6.30pm
  • Tuesday 23 June - Australia v Pakistan, Headingley - 6.30pm

Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

This year’s ticket sales have surpassed the total fan attendance of 136,549 recorded across the entirety of the 2020 edition in Australia, highlighting the extraordinary momentum behind women’s cricket and the growing global demand for the women’s game.

Adult tickets start from just £15 in Headingley, you can grab tickets for games HERE. 

What else is on?

Spirit Week has been driving up the excitement even further, with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy currently on a tour around the UK - including a great day out here in Leeds. 

And when it’s England v Scotland here in Headingley, there’ll be all sorts of activations and activities across town to get everyone in the spirit of the World Cup. 

The ICC and UNICEF will also be delivering Cricket 4 Good clinics in local communities, with cricketing stars giving young cricketers tips and skills training. 

What the ICC have said

Headingley will host a number of T20 Women's World Cup fixtures
Headingley will host a number of T20 Women's World Cup fixtures

ICC General Manager - Events and Corporate Communications, Gaurav Saxena said: “The 2026 edition becoming the highest-selling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ever is another milestone for the women’s game.

“It not only highlights the incredible momentum behind women’s cricket but also reflects the strong cultural pull of an ICC pinnacle event, appeal for which is not limited to only the sports fans. 

“This edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be our biggest tournament till date and is expected to smash attendance and viewership records in the UK and around the world. This milestone is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved and has been almost a year in the making.

“The response from fans is a testament to the bold, creative and well-executed marketing efforts of both the ICC and the ECB in the run-up to the tournament, more of which are to follow over the next four weeks.

“We look forward to welcoming fans from across the globe to England and Wales for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Tournament Director, Beth Barrett-Wild said: “Surpassing 155,000 ticket sales is an incredible milestone and a powerful signal of the momentum behind the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. To have exceeded the previous record set in Australia, before a ball has been bowled, shows just how much excitement there is for this tournament and for women’s cricket globally.

“We’ve always believed this tournament has the potential to be the biggest women’s cricket event in history, and the response from fans has been extraordinary. It reflects the growing profile of the women’s game, the strength of the teams and players on show, and the appetite for world-class sporting events across England and Wales as we build towards an unforgettable summer in 2026.”

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Featured image: The Hoot Leeds

Leeds

The family-run neighbourhood Leeds restaurant that’s about more than just pizza – it’s about community

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

It doesn’t take long to see why this place has become such a firm favourite with the Farsley crowd.

We finally took a trip to Grumpy's Bar and Wood Fired Pizza and safe to say, you were absolutely right about this one.

Tucked away inside Sunny Bank Mills, Grumpy’s has built a huge reputation for its incredible wood-fired pizzas, laid-back atmosphere, that more or less has a proper community feel at the forefront.

Created by sisters Alex and Cassie, the family-run restaurant was even named after their dad, 'Grumpy' himself, and that personal touch runs through everything they do.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

From supporting local community events to creating a genuinely welcoming space where you can rock up in trainers or stay for hours without realising, it feels like much more than just somewhere to grab food. It feels like part of the neighbourhood’s personality.

And then there’s the pizza.

Everything is made fresh in-house, and watching the team stretch out the dough before piling on all the toppings adds a bit of theatre to the whole experience.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The wood-fired pizzas are definitely the stars of the show, coming out with that perfect crispy base, soft airy crust, and smoky finish that makes you immediately think, “yeah, that’s the good stuff.”

They also offer a gluten-free base, so there’s something on the menu for everyone to dig into.

But the small plates deserve their flowers too. Dishes like their burrata are a proper crowd-pleaser, served with fresh seasonal tomatoes and bread perfect for scooping up every last bit of creamy goodness.

Add in dough balls and arancini, and suddenly the table starts looking less like a couple of starters and more like a full-on sharing feast.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

One thing we loved? The personality behind the menu. A lot of the pizzas are named after famously grumpy TV and film characters, which gives the whole place a bit of humour and fits the vibe perfectly.

And while we came for the pizza, one surprise standout was the banana split dessert. Fun, nostalgic, slightly over-the-top in the best way, and exactly the kind of thing you don’t think you’ll order… until it shows up and suddenly everyone’s fighting for the last spoonful.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

What makes Grumpy’s special, though, is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard - it’s casual, friendly, and welcoming.

Add in the sunny terrace, a few drinks, and a table full of pizzas shared between mates, and it’s easy to see why people end up staying way longer than planned.

There’s no rush here, just good food, good company, and a place that quietly gets everything right without making a fuss about it.

We finally get why Grumpy's Bar + Wood Fired Pizza is such a Farsley favourite… and trust us, we’ll definitely be back.

Read more: Inside Leeds’ new neighbourhood bakehouse from the team behind Silver’s Deli

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