THE Ribble Valley in Lancashire has been rated the happiest place in England.
Its scenic 225 square miles include the mood-lifting Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The area, which has a population of 62,000, came out on top in a study of happiness levels across England’s 296 local government districts.
The survey used data from the Office for National Statistics, and took into account the crime rate, green spaces, waterways, smoking habits, drug use, unemployment levels and earnings.
The average across all districts was 52 out of 100.
Ribble Valley — where settlements include Longridge, Ribchester, Waddington and Whalley — scored 79.
Rita Barnes, 36, who lives in Clitheroe — home of Ribble Valley Borough Council — said she loved her town after moving from Bradford in 2020.
She said: “I’ve only lived here for four years and I’ve fallen in love with it completely.
“It has amazing green spaces and everyone’s so friendly. I’ve yet to meet anyone I haven’t liked.
“It just feels like home from the moment you arrive.”
A spokesperson for GoSmokeFree, which conducted the study, said a “wide range of factors” were crucial to an area’s appeal.
Top Ten (with scores out of 100):
