Cheltenham is, according to a recent survey by online furniture retailer Furniturebox, the happiest place to live in Gloucestershire. The town is already well known for its Regency architecture, its parks and gardens and its mineral spa heritage, but now it’s also known for its great quality of life.
Happiest in Gloucestershire, 44th happiest in the UK
While Stratford-upon-Avon bagged the top spot for the whole of the UK, followed by Harrogate (a fellow spa town), Cheltenham takes the crown for Gloucestershire’s happiest place.
Stroud and Cirencester are second and third in the county, with Chipping Campden and Tetbury being close runners up in fourth and fifth place.
What makes Cheltenham so happy?
The features of Cheltenham that make it Gloucestershire’s happiest town include its obvious scenic beauty and the easy access to open green spaces and parks. There’s also a large number of excellent state schools, relatively affordable housing and lots of great pubs and restaurants.
As well as familiar chain stores and restaurants, Cheltenham is home to more than its fair share of independents, which gives the town a more bohemian, edgy feel. Combined with the abundance of festivals and pop-up events, Cheltenham residents and visitors alike feel welcomed and well catered for on every front.
Who says Cheltenham is so happy?
Furniturebox asked around 5,000 people, featuring panels from the UK’s most significant towns and cities. One thing that the survey found was that many of the 70 places which made it onto the happy list weren’t necessarily the richest in the area.
This shows, according to the retailer, that happiness is about quality rather than quantity. Many of the 70 places on the list had affordable housing, it seems, demonstrating that having access to a good place to live, nature and lots of things to do is what people really want out of life.
You can see the rest of the Furniturebox happy list here.
