Adorable market town named one of the happiest places to live in the entire UK

10 March 2024 , 07:23

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Wokingham came fourth in the Happy at Home index (Image: Getty Images)

An adorable market town located in the Berkshire countryside has been named one of the happiest places to live in the UK.

Wokingham, a town and civil parish near Reading and Bracknell, came fourth in the Happy at Home Index published by Rightmove. The survey asks residents how they feel about their area based on 13 happiness factors - including the club-together community spirit of a local area, having green space on the doorstep, or the sense of belonging in a local community.

In 2023, more than 26,000 people living in towns, cities and villages across Great Britain explained how they feel about their local areas. Their votes were then used to create a ranking of the happiest places to live in the country.

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The town centre has been renovated recently (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Wokingham was voted the best place in Berkshire and fourth in the country. Although the popularity of the market town is rising, according to Rightmove, house prices in the town were 3 percent lower in 2023 than they were in 2022. As well as being listed as one of the UK's happiest towns, it has also been classed as one of the safest places in the region, reported The Reading Chronicle.

The town boasts a crime rate 24 percent lower than the rest of Berkshire, according to public safety data reports. There is also a brand-new leisure centre, alongside an arcade and bowling alley, in the newly renovated town centre.

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According to Visit South East England, the official tourist website for the region, Wokingham means "Wocca's people's home". Wocca was apparently a Saxon chieftain who would also have owned lands at Wokefield in Berkshire and Woking in Surrey.

During the Tudor period, Wokingham was well-known as a producer of silk. Some of the houses involved in these cottage industries are still to be seen in Rose Street. The top activities in Wokingham, as listed by TripAdvisor, are visiting Dinton Pastures Country Park and California Country Park.

Adorable market town named one of the happiest places to live in the entire UK

Wokingham Town Hall is a Grade II listed building (Wokingham Times)

A popular attraction is Siren Craft Brew, a brewery that recently won Supreme Champion Beer of Britain. Nirvana Spa is a luxurious pure water spa offering spa days and packages to those who want to relax while enjoying beautiful natural surroundings.

Richmond upon Thames took the top spot in the Happy at Home index - and Rightmove said it was the first time in the 12 years that the survey has been published that a London area was named the happiest place to live. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "I'm delighted for Richmond to win this award. It has so much of what makes London so special – its access to beautiful green spaces, its real sense of community, and an array of shops, cafes and local culture that makes it stand out."

The southwest London borough is home to two Royal Parks, world-famous botanical gardens and the arty enclave of Eel Pie Island – is home to the local areas of Twickenham, Hampton and Richmond itself. Dawn Platt, Associate Director of Chestertons’ Richmond branch, says: "Richmond really has got it all. Access to nature, schools, entertainment, good eateries, bars and shops. On top of access to nature, schools, entertainment, good eateries, bars and shops, the borough benefits from a riverside location and great transport links.

"Thanks to its lifestyle offerings, it's not difficult to see why Richmond has established itself as one of London's most sought-after locations nor why residents are happy living here. Due to its community feel, many see Richmond as an area to settle down in long-term," she added.