Chesterfield one of the happiest places to live in East Midlands

A study by Rightmove has revealed the UK locations with the cheeriest residents.

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According to the report, Loughborough is the happiest place to live in the East Midlands, followed by Chesterfield, Northampton, Derby and Lincoln.

The study is based on a number of factors, including residents’ sense of community spirit, their feeling of belonging and local services such as schools.

Tim Bannister, of Rightmove, said: “Our latest research shows that despite all the challenges that this year has brought, many people have been able to reconnect with their local area and community which has had a positive effect on how they feel about where they live.

“Overall, I think lockdown has enabled people to rediscover what’s on their doorstep, and spending more time in their local areas has made people value their surroundings and communities so much more.

“Since lockdown we’ve seen a trend towards more people looking to live in smaller communities.

“Obviously for many people this year has not been a happy one, so we wanted to use our report to shine a light on the happiest places only, and to find out how lockdown has changed how people feel about where they live.”

According to the study, the idyllic coastal town of St Ives, a world-renowned surfing hotspot in Cornwall, is the happiest place to live in the whole of Great Britain.

Demand for property in St Ives has more than doubled (+120 per cent) compared to this time last year, the report found.

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