This Is The Happiest Place To Live In The West Midlands, While Birmingham Has Nothing To Smile About

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What makes for a happy place to live? Well, according to RightMove, it’s factors like community, safety, essential services, green spaces, walkability and vibrant high streets that put a smile on our faces—with Skipton in North Yorkshire crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain.

In its 14th year, RightMove’s annual Happy at Home Index explores what it is that makes people feel good about where they live. Thousands of residents across more than 200 locations shared what they love (or don’t love) about their hometowns. All to discover the happiest places in Great Britain for 2025.

What’s the happiest place in the West Midlands?

From Richmond-upon-Thames in London to Stirling in Scotland, Brits are happiest all over the country. But not a single city or town in the West Midlands could crack the top ten, while Birmingham and the Black Country don’t have a lot to smile about, in particular.

The happiest place in the West Midlands, finishing 12th overall, is the elegant, easy-to-get-to alternative to Bath, Royal Leamington Spa. Just behind that, in 13th, is the ‘most English place in the country’, Lichfield. While Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon rounded out the top three (28th overall).

For somewhere closer, Tamworth was named the fifth happiest in the West Midlands and the 33rd in Great Britain. Further down, the Second City itself ranked 18th in the West Midlands and 209th in Great Britain. The only palace worse in the region was Walsall (216th), while Wolverhampton (200th) and Dudley (201st) didn’t perform much better.

The happiest places in the West Midlands:

1. Leamington Spa (12)
2. Lichfield (13)
3. Stratford on Avon (28)
4. Shrewsbury (32)
5. Tamworth (33)
6. Worcester (38)
7. Stafford (54)
8. Burton on Trent (72)
9. Hereford (99)
10. Solihull (124)
11. Stourbridge (128)
12. Telford (137)
13. Stoke on Trent (153)
14. Sutton Coldfield (184)
15. Coventry (195)
16. Wolverhampton (200)
17. Dudley (201)
18. Birmingham (209)
19. Walsall (216)

The happiest areas to live in Great Britain

1. Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber
2. Richmond upon Thames, Greater London
3. Camden, Greater London
4. Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber
5. Woodbridge, East of England
6. Altrincham, North West
7. Macclesfield, North West
8. Stirling, Scotland
9. Cirencester, South West
10. Hexham, North East

To read more about RightMove’s annual Happy at Home Index, head here.