Northumberland town voted happiest place to live in the UK

The town in question is Northumbrian seaside gem, Berwick-upon-Tweed, which was voted the happiest place to live in England, Scotland, and Wales in 2025, by readers of The Guardian.

In the Guardian's article, writer Hilary Osborne said: "People who know it (Berwick), adore it - it is a great place to live with community spirit in bundles."

The criteria that The Guardian laid out specified that it valued easy access to the countryside, easy links to doctors, pharmacists, and dentists, good broadband speeds, and great entertainment, leisure, and hospitality options.

After reading the Guardian's golden formula for a happy place, it's easy to deduce why the historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed ranked so highly.

With a population of just 13,000, Berwick still manages to have an abundance of local amenities and activities to keep you busy and entertained.

From weekly markets on Wednesday and Saturday, and an eclectic film and media arts festival, to braving a swim in the North Sea and taking in the views on a countryside walk, there is something for everyone.

Berwick is also steeped in history. After England and Scotland fought over the coastal settlement for centuries, it was eventually established as an English town in 1482. It has housed visitors like Queen Victoria, LS Lowry, and Robert Stephenson over the years, as well as being home to some of the best preserved Elizabethan town walls in Europe.

One of Berwick's best features has to be its proximity to a variety of countryside options - with riverside walks, sandy beaches, and Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, and Warkworth castles all on its doorstep - it is hard to beat.

The Guardian also noted Berwick's links to British major cities like Edinburgh and Newcastle, both of which are just a short 45-minute train ride away.