THE happiest places to live in the UK for 2024 have been revealed. 

Woodbridge in Suffolk topped the list for the first time, with last year’s happiest place to live, Richmond upon Thames in London, falling to second place.

Hexham in Northumberland, which has also previously topped the list, came in third place.

The results came after estate agents Rightmove asked 35,000 people across Briain how they feel about where they live and analysed the results.

Rightmove said its study indicates that, overall, residents in Scotland, Wales and the South West are most happy with where they live, while those in the East and West Midlands are the least happy.

The only place in the West Midlands to make the top 20 this year was Stratford-upon-Avon, which ranked number 13.

Last year, Stourbridge was named the 20th happiest place to live in the UK but has since fallen down the ranking.

According to the survey, the top five happiest places to live in the West Midlands are:

1. Stratford-upon-Avon (13th overall)

2. Leamington Spa (21st overall)

3. Lichfield (27th overall)

4. Sutton Coldfield (36th overall)

5. Worcester (58th overall)

Rightmove looked at topics such as how proud residents feel about where they live, their sense of belonging to an area, community spirit, whether they can be themselves, whether they can earn enough to live comfortably in their area, public transport, sports and recreation, green spaces and artistic and cultural activities when curating their ranking.

The study also found that Gen-Z generation (18 to 24-year-olds) were the most likely to say that they thought they would be happier living in a different area, while those aged 55-plus were the least likely.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “It’s the younger generation who are most likely to say they would be happier living somewhere else, many of whom have to travel to cities for education or to find their first jobs.”