Macclesfield is one of the happiest places to live in Great Britain

Macclesfield has been named one the happiest place to live in Great Britain in Rightmove’s annual Happy at Home Index.

The annual study is completed by thousands of residents across more than 200 local areas, and gives them an opportunity to share how happy they feel about where they live.

Macclesfield ranked seventh overall and was the second happiest place in the Northwest, narrowly pipped to the post by Altrincham.

Whilst there are a whole range of factors that determine what makes someone happy with were they live, there was a recurring trend around the types of locations that are most likely to improve happiness levels. 

Rural locations and those close to riverside and woodlands were more likely result in happier residents, as was proximity to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Macclesfield is surrounded by beautiful countryside and sits on the edge of the Peak District National Park, which is no doubt one of the many reasons that it is so popular.

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert said: “Each year our study celebrates all the different things that make us feel happy with where we live – our neighbours, green spaces, having access to important services. A lot more goes into choosing an area to live other than the home itself. Being within easy reach of nature and green spaces regularly comes out as an important factor for people, along with having friendly neighbours and feeling you can truly be yourself where you live.”