The British public certainly do love the seaside and have chosen Leigh-on-Sea in Essex as the happiest place to live. Is your hometown in the top ten? Words: Katie Avis-Riordan

The Essex coastal town beat more than 200 other towns and cities across the country to top the happiness board. Property website Rightmove set up the poll by asking users of their website to rank places in terms of a range of factors, including safety, arts and culture and friendly people. More than 24,000 people took part.

Two more coastal places made it into the top ten; the Scottish town Troon ranked at number two and Lytham St Annes in the North West of England.

Leigh-on-Sea came out as winner for the categories of sports and recreational activities, arts and culture, opportunities to develop skills and non-essential amenities. 

THE TOP TEN HAPPIEST PLACES
1 Leigh-on-Sea, East of England
2 Troon, Scotland
3 Harrogate, Yorkshire & the Humber
4 Hertford, East of England
5 Lytham St Annes, North West
6 Shepperton, South East
7 Stanford-Le-Hope, East of England
8 Shrewsbury, West Midlands
9 Hitchin, East of England
10 Woodbridge, East of England

Of course we know here at Coast that life is better by the sea.

Enjoy this read? Check out more coastal guides here, or read the magazine for further travel inspiration. 

 

Enjoy this read? Check out more coastal guides here, or read the magazine for further travel inspiration.