WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT SKIPTON?

The North Yorkshire market town of Skipton has been named as one of happiest place to live in Great Britain, and it’s easy to see why the town is so popular according to leading local estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley.

The research was compiled by property portal Rightmove, which looked at how people feel about their local areas, and it ranked Skipton in second place, just behind the Cornish coastal town of St Ives. The only other Yorkshire town to make the top 20 was Harrogate at number nine. 

Factors used include community spirit, a sense of belonging, friendly locals, sport and recreational activities, artistic and cultural activities, green spaces, services such as schools, and amenities including shops and restaurants.

Overall, Rightmove found people in rural and coastal areas were happier with their surroundings - with lockdown seeing people value nature being on their doorstep more.

Jacob Taylor, from Dacre, Son & Hartley’s Skipton office, said: “Skipton is a fantastic place to live, with a beautiful town centre complete with a traditional market, medieval castle and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal running through the heart of the town. There are also lots of shops, restaurants, cafes and traditional pubs, as well as some of the region’s best schools and rail links to Leeds and Bradford. 

“In addition, Skipton is surrounded by spectacular countryside and is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, so residents can enjoy a wonderful lifestyle here and there is a huge choice of property types and styles on offer. These range from modern town centre apartments and traditional terraces through to large country homes and farms in Skipton’s surrounding villages, which all adds to the area’s appeal.”

Tim Bannister, Rightmove director of property data, said: "This year’s study shows a greater appreciation for green spaces and nature, and a strong correlation between people living in coastal and rural areas and how happy people are where they live.

"Since lockdown we’ve since a trend towards more people looking to live in smaller communities, and so it’s very fitting to see that the picturesque town of St Ives has taken the top spot in 2020.”

The 20 happiest places in Great Britain in 2020
1.    St Ives, Cornwall
2.    Skipton, Yorkshire & The Humber
3.    Leamington Spa, West Midlands
4.    Llandrindod Wells, Wales
5.    Perth, Scotland
6.    Kendal, North West
7.    Stratford-upon-Avon, West Midlands
8.    Dorchester, South West
9.    Harrogate, Yorkshire & The Humber
10.    Richmond upon Thames, London
11.    Falmouth, South West
12.    Hexham, North East
13.    Weymouth, South West
14.    Shrewsbury, West Midlands
15.    Tonbridge, South East
16.    Plymouth, South West
17.    Poole, South West
18.    Northwich, North West
19.    Barnstaple, South West
20.    Guildford, South East