Group trips to the happiest places in the UK

A recent Rightmove survey has revealed the top ten happiest places to live in the UK. We’ve done some research to find out if any of them are worth a group visit. Here are our conclusions.

According to Rightmove Leigh-on-Sea is the happiest town in the UK. Located in Essex, it’s popular for rambling. The town – that even has its own rambling group – boasts walking routes that take in woods, parks, rivers and historical sites, plus the coast.

The seaside town also hosts many festivals, including the Leigh Folk Festival that takes place in June and offers music, dance and poetry.

Second place went to Troon in Scotland, which is known for being a golfing hotspot. There are seven courses in the town, including Royal Troon which regularly hosts championship golf and welcomes visitors.

The town itself has a bustling harbour with a fish market and windsurfing, kitesurfing and other water based sports are on offer at the local beach.

Groups can enjoy theatre, gardens and castles in Harrogate, which was listed as the third happiest place to live. At Ripley Castle, groups can take a tour of the castle, followed by a self-guided visit to the walled gardens, pleasure grounds and deer park. The curious Mother Shipton’s Cave and The Petrifying Well is also a popular choice for groups.

Next up is Hertford. Groups van visit Hertford Museum to discover the history of the country town and its surrounding parishes. The museum is set in a 17th century historic house and boasts a Jacobean-style knot garden. Hertford Castle is worth a visit, too.

Lytham St Annes in Lancashire is a seaside resort that offers beaches, gardens and lots of history. Lytham Hall is a good choice for groups, as they can take a tour of the hall, arrange refreshments and choose from a variety of talks. Meanwhile, boat rides can be taken on Fairhaven Lake.

In sixth place is Shepperton. Shepperton is a quiet town, but groups may enjoy a visit to the marina, where a slow stroll viewing the boats and scenery wouldn’t go amiss on a warm summer’s day.

The town is also a short drive from Thorpe Park, so visiting groups could drop in to get their fix of the local happiness before moving on for some thrills at the theme park.

Thurrock Thameside Nature Park is probably your best bet for groups visiting Stanford-Le-Hope in Essex. Nature lovers will enjoy exploring the 120 acres of nature park, ideal for birdwatching and ship watching. There’s also a visitor centre.

Next up is Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is based on the River Severn and has plenty for groups from museums and castles to nature and wildlife.

Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery will provide some culture for groups and the collections are based within a set of different buildings, including a Medieval town house and an early Victorian Music Hall.

Hitchin is a market town and is number nine on the list of happiest places to live in the UK. Stotfield Watermill and Nature Reserve is ideal for groups. The Watermill can be explored for free, and the eight acre nature reserve is great for walking and spotting wildlife.

Finally, Woodbridge boasts art galleries, water sports centres and nature reserves. There’s also plenty of museums, such as the Bentwaters Cold War Museum, which is based in the former USAF hardened command post on the former Bentwaters airfield. Groups visiting can discover what the building was used for during war time, with many of the rooms having been restored to their original purpose.