Coastal town named as Scotland's 'happiest place to live'

Kirkcaldy has been crowned the “happiest place to live” in Scotland in an annual survey.

Richmond upon Thames took the crown across the whole of Britain, but living in Richmond comes at a price – with the average asking price for a home there standing at more than £1m.

Harrogate in North Yorkshire was placed second, while Cirencester in Gloucestershire was third, according to Rightmove’s 15th annual “happy at home index”.

In Wales, Monmouth was the highest ranked, while in Scotland, Kirkcaldy took the top spot.

Perth, Inverness, Dundee and Galashiels were also named in the top five and in the top 50 across the UK.

Across Britain, four-fifths (81%) of people who took part in the survey said they are happy with where they live.

People took part in the research after being emailed via Rightmove’s database, so the survey was self-selecting.

Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “Richmond stands out for offering a combination many people value: easy access to nature and green spaces, without having to give up local services, places to eat and shop, or employment opportunities.

“That balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings.

“Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.

“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”

Here are the happiest places to live within Scotland, with the regional ranking followed by the ranking overall across Britain:

Scotland

1. (18) Kirkcaldy
2. (39) Perth
3. (40) Inverness
4. (43) Dundee
5. (47) Galashiels

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