Four Greater Manchester areas have been named among the top 20 happiest places to live in the North West for 2024.
It’s all according to Rightmove’s annual ‘Happy at Home Index’ – which is now in its twelfth year.
In a bid to help property experts understand what really makes the residents of some areas happier than others, every year, leading property platform Rightmove asks people all across the UK to say what makes them happy about where they live and what makes it so special, as well as what things make a place feel like home.
The annual survey asks residents how they feel about their area based on 13 happiness factors – including things like the community spirit of a local area, having green space on the doorstep, or the sense of belonging in a local area.
More than 26,000 people living in towns, cities, and villages across the UK had their say this year, and based on the scores they gave their local areas, Rightmove has ranked the happiest places to live.
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A list of the top 25 areas within each geographical region of the UK have been released by Rightmove this month – with four Greater Manchester areas making the North West’s ranking – as well as list of the top 10 happiest places in the UK all together.
The Trafford town of Altrincham has been named the second happiest place to live in the North West, according to the ranking for 2024, while the towns and cities of Bury, Stockport, Salford, and Manchester all make the top 20 at sixth, ninth, sixteenth, and twentieth place, respectively.
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When looking at the bigger picture, the number one happiest place to live in the UK has been named as the London borough of Richmond upon Thames, with the city of Winchester in Hampshire taking second place, and Monmouth in Wales claiming the third spot.
Top 10 Happiest Places to Live in the UK
Richmond upon Thames
Winchesteter
Monmouth
Wokingham
Cirencester
Skipton
Hemel Hempstead
Kensington and Chelsea
St Ives
Hexham
Rightmove says the results of this year’s study showed that the most important contributors to happiness were feeling a sense of pride, belonging, and community within an area.
Access to green space and nature was also identified as being important to residents, with those living in a rural area near a national park, or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more likely to feel happy where they live.
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2023 was also the first time Rightmove asked people whether they thought they might be happier if they moved to to somewhere else in the UK, and around one in three (30%) of residents who responded to the survey said they would be happier living in a different area.
And over half of those would consider moving to an entirely different region of the UK.
Featured Image – Super Straho (via Unsplash)
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There’s a FREE Children in Need event coming to MediaCityUK
Thomas Melia
An all-new and completely free to enjoy Children in Need event is making its way to MediaCityUK later this November, and it’s bringing along some iconic brands.
Everyone’s favourite yellow bear is returning to Manchester to take over MediaCityUK and rename it Pudsey’s Piazza for one night only.
Pudsey Bear is heading down to MediaCityUK and he’s bringing all the best activities, games, famous food, live music and more for four hours of FREE family-oriented fun.
You can expect to see Pudsey and the team alongside a whole host of celebrities, brand partners and lots of friends when Children in Need hosts its celebration later this November.
Some of the brands which have been announced include staple high street bakery Greggs, a collaboration between McDonald’s and its sports counterpart, Fun Football UK.
DJ AG is just one of the special guests preparing to take over MediaCityUK this November for Children in Need (Credit: Supplied)
Also joining the bill is viral TikTok potato-loving duo Spud Bros, who will be serving up their famed jacket potatoes with an array of fillings to choose from inside their recognisable big red van.
Greggs will be bringing a huge double-decker bus to Pudsey’s Piazza at MediaCityUK with treats on hand throughout this evening celebration, as well as interactive games for you to play.
You’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of a replica Red Arrows jet, which will be situated on the piazza all night long courtesy of aerial experts Royal Air Force.
If that wasn’t enough for you, your night will be soundtracked by the one and only viral nomad music maker DJ AG, who’ll be playing out tunes as part of a charity livestream at the bandstand.
MediaCityUK is the home of BBC Children in Need, so it’s only fitting that Pudsey would throw one of his biggest parties yet right here in Greater Manchester.
Pudsey and his friends are transforming MediaCityUK into Pudsey’s Piazza on Friday, 14 November from 4pm to 8pm, and they’re encouraging anyone to come along, especially since it’s FREE.
Featured Images — David Dixon (via Geograph)/Supplied
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Adventurous cat caught taking a train from Yorkshire to Manchester Airport
Daisy Jackson
Train conductors have reunited an adventurous senior cat with her owners after she was caught taking a train all the way to Manchester Airport.
15-year-old Angel was discovered on board an hour-long TransPennine Express service from West Yorkshire to the airport.
The black-and-white moggy had been strolling along the train making friends with passengers on board, following conductor Will Saunders through the carriages.
It turns out Angel is something of a local legend in Brighouse, and has been caught riding rail replacement buses in the past too, as well as making herself at home in the local pub.
On this occasion, she fancied herself a little holiday and hopped on board the 3.55am service from Brighouse to Manchester Airport.
Will kept a close eye on the gorgeous cat all the way to Manchester Airport, where they settled her into a cardboard box at the station.
Will then took Angel home to Stockport for the night to keep her safe, later discovering a phone number on Angel’s collar.
He and his partner then drove Angel all the way back home to Brighouse.
Will Saunders, conductor at TPE, said: “As a cat lover myself, I couldn’t leave her to fend for herself. She was so calm and confident on the train – it was like she’d done it before!
“I’m just glad we could keep her safe and get her back home. She’s clearly a much-loved cat.”
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director at TPE, added: “Our teams are used to helping customers reach their destinations, but this was definitely one of our more unusual passengers.
“We’re just glad we could make sure this adventurous feline made it home safely.”
Now back where she belongs, Angel’s tale shows that even the most curious traveller can count on TPE to help them land on their paws.
Emily Sergeant -
13th December 2023 
