'People look out for each other': Skipton is named happiest place

Itis nicknamed “the gateway to the Dales”, is home to one of England’s best-preserved medieval castles and, for trivia fans, was the birthplace of half of Marks & Spencer. Now, the North Yorkshire market town of Skipton has been named “the happiest place to live” in Great Britain.

- Rupert Jones

It received the accolade from property website Rightmove, which runs a “happy at home” index - now in its 14th year - where it asks residents how they feel about their area based on a range of factors.

With its picturesque location on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Skipton was ranked particularly highly for its access to nature and green spaces, the friendliness of the people, and access to services such as schools and doctors.