Joy polloi

Winchester, East Renfrewshire, Monmouthshire and Lisburn and Castlereagh top the Royal Mail UK Happiness Index in each of the UK’s four countries, according to our latest study.

The findings are based on an index that is composed of eight measures which are relevant to one’s happiness.

Winchester claims the top happiness spot for England and the UK overall

Winchester in South East England claims the top spot in our UK Happiness Index, largely driven by the local authority’s high earnings, a high reported sense of well-being from residents and low levels of deprivation.

In second place was Babergh, a local government district in Suffolk in the East of England. Primarily a rural area, the local authority scored the highest ranking for low carbon emissions, while its access to health services also contributed to its high placement.

Ruschliffe in the East Midlands and Ribble Valley in the North West came in at number three and number five, respectively, with both areas boasting low levels of deprivation and crime. Fourth in the list, Chiltern, had the highest score for life expectancy in the region, and the second highest score for access to health services.

Waverley (sixth), Surrey Heath (eighth), Elmbridge (ninth) and Epsom and Ewell (10th) in the South East, as well as Forest Heath (seventh) in the East, complete the top 10 list.

East Renfrewshire is top for the Scots

East Renfrewshire tops our Happiness Index for Scotland. Its position is cemented with help from its high placing in the earnings index, scoring in the 90th percentile across all local authorities in the UK for earnings.

The next highest ranked local authority in Scotland for this measure, East Dunbartonshire, scores in the 60th percentile by comparison. East Dunbartonshire (second) boasts low levels of crime and scores highly on the access to health services measure, a feat that is repeated across all of the local authorities in Scotland’s top 10. Aberdeenshire completes the top three.

Monmouthshire wins for Wales

As with England and Scotland, most of the happiest local authorities in Wales are situated in the southernmost parts of the country. Taking first place, Monmouthshire has the highest life expectancy and earnings in Wales. Following closely behind is Vale of Glamorgan (second), the southernmost local authority in Wales, scoring highest for access to health services.

Neighbouring local authorities, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, are third and fourth on the list as they make the top five Welsh local authorities for low levels of deprivation. Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire (fifth), Bridgend (sixth) and Neath Port Talbot (seventh) are buoyed by their scores for low crime and access to health services.

Lisburn and Castlereagh is number one for Northern Ireland

With just 11 local authorities in Northern Ireland, a ranking of the top five provides a better analysis for happiness in the country.

All top five local authorities have a very similar overall index. Making up the outer suburbs of Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh tops the list, thanks to its low level of carbon emissions and good access to health services.

Newry, Mourne and Down (second), as well as Causeway Coast and Glens (third), score particularly well on their reported sense of personal well-being.

Ards and North Down (fourth), along with Mid Ulster (fifth), boast notably low levels of crime compared not just to local authorities in Northern Ireland, but to the UK as a whole.