Winchester Tops Royal Mail Happiness Index

WINCHESTER has been named as the happiest place to live in the UK, according to the Royal Mail’s 2019 happiness index.

The results of the index are based off of a survey conducted earlier in the year, and research analysing the following eight factors: reported personal well-being life expectancy, earnings, inequality, carbon emissions, crime, deprivation, and access to health-services.

Tobias Bates, a lifelong Winchester resident, told The Link: “It’s a great place to grow up, very safe and relaxed, lots of lovely places to eat and drink and a country village atmosphere encased in a city setting.”

“As well as this, the city has a fantastically rich history, with a wealth of sites such as Winchester Cathedral, The Great Hall, and the Military Quarter. This city is beautiful and I can’t say I’m surprised that it’s been named as the happiest place in the UK.”

Stephen Tarn, who recently relocated to Winchester from Croydon, spoke to The Link about his reasons for moving: “I had become a little bit fed up of life in London, and needed to move somewhere with more of a countryside feel to it. Since moving I’ve absolutely loved life here, the people are friendly, the air feels cleaner, and the architecture is quite refreshing compared to Croydon!”

“I worried about being away from London as I still work there, but there’s great rail links from Winchester so I get the best of both worlds.”

It’s another jewel in the crown for Winchester and its history. The rural area of Babergh in Suffolk took second place in the index.