The UK's "happiest" place to live has been named - and it's not in England or Wales. Inverness, in Scotland, has taken to top spot of the cheeriest place to live in the UK, beating Cambridge, Oxford and Chelmsford to first place. According to travel gurus at hospitality agency Accor, the new social media craze of "soft living" is driving the trend.
With over 32.8 million views on TikTok for the #softlife hashtag, this newfound desire for an easy-going lifestyle is capturing hearts. Research undertaken by travel gurus looked to identify the UK's ten happiest cities perfect for embodying the soft living ethos.
Analysis was carried out using five-year average data from the ONS personal well-being survey, which gauges local happiness levels, life satisfaction, and anxiety across the nation. Inverness, hailed as the cultural centre of the Scottish Highlands, emerged as the happiest city in Scotland and throughout the UK, scoring 7.83 out of a possible 10 on the happiness index.
Renowned spots such as St Abbs and Carlisle were left trailing behind Inverness, a city that marries a relaxed pace of living with a stimulating array of attractions and activities, making it a standout place to reside, reports the Daily Record . The charm of Inverness is undeniable, with ancient landmarks like Inverness Castle and majestic Inverness Cathedral captivating visitors. The grandeur of the castle echoes through time from 1057, while the cathedral stands out as the UK's northernmost Anglican chur.