HOVE has been crowned one of Britain’s happiest places to live in an annual poll.

The “happy at home” index, now in its 10th year, asked more than 21,000 people across Britain how they feel about various aspects of where they live.

Hove was named the happiest place in the southeast and ranked in fourth place nationally.

The Argus: Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said"it’s no surprise that Hove has been named such a great place to live"Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said"it’s no surprise that Hove has been named such a great place to live"

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said: "With the beach and Downs in walking distance, amazing restaurants and places to shop it’s no surprise that Hove has been named such a great place to live.

"But for me it’s the strength of our community, we’re bursting with civic activity and active residents who look out for each other and always have an eye open for the chance for fun and laughter. "It’s no surprise that being here makes you happy because it always has for me."

Happiness measures in the index compiled by Rightmove include friendliness and community spirit, whether people feel they can be themselves, nature and green spaces, opportunities locally to develop skills and amenities including schools, restaurants, shops and sports facilities.

The Argus: Hove seafront during sunsetHove seafront during sunset

Rightmove’s study also found that people living in coastal villages tended to be the happiest group in the study.

Around a third of this year’s top 20 happiest towns are market towns, it added.

The market town of Hexham previously topped the index in 2019.

St Ives in Cornwall, which came top last year, was eighth in this year’s rankings.

Harrogate in North Yorkshire, with its Victorian spa heritage, boutique shops and afternoon tea establishments, took the third spot.

Stirling was identified as the happiest place to live in Scotland, while Llandrindod Wells was named the happiest place to live in Wales.

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many people to move home in order to make lifestyle changes.

The study found that more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of people who had moved in the last year relocated to a different area. Nearly two-thirds of these people (64 per cent) reported feeling happier where they now live.

Eight in ten (81 per cent) of those who had moved from a town to a village said they now feel happier with where they live.

Rightmove predicts 1.5 million house sales will have taken place this year.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s director of property data, said: “It’s been an incredibly busy year in the housing market, with a lot of people deciding that now is the right time to move.”

Here are the happiest places in Britain, according to Rightmove, with the average asking price for a home and the average monthly asking rental price:

1. Hexham, North East, £297,088, £842

2. Richmond-upon-Thames, London, £1,196,892, £3,235

3. Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber, £353,624, £1,163

4. Hove, South East, £525,906, £1,879

5. Llandrindod Wells, Wales, £193,601, £445

6. Stirling, Scotland, £191,226, £877

7. Monmouth, Wales, £312,649, £929

8. St Ives, South West, £494,393, £1,150

9. Anglesey, Wales, £278,391, £776

10. Leamington Spa, West Midlands, £350,981, £1,203

Here are the happiest places to live in England’s regions, according to Rightmove, with the national ranking in brackets:

– East Midlands, Chesterfield (68)

– West Midlands, Leamington Spa (10)

– East of England, Hitchin (12)

– London, Richmond-upon-Thames (2)

– North East, Hexham (1)

– North West, Kendal (14)

– Yorkshire and the Humber, Harrogate (3)

– South East, Hove (4)

– South West, St Ives (8)

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