The historical North Yorkshire city has been unveiled among Britain’s happiest places, according to new research by The Guardian.
It was just one of three areas in the North of England to make the newly announced list.
York was hailed for its “modesty and unreserved warmth” as well as “exceptional” pubs London could only dream of having (and these were only a few of the high-ranking factors).
The publisher explained about its latest lifestyle guide: “When we tried to work out the happiest places for Guardian readers, easy access to countryside and parks, sea, lakes and rivers were high on the list of ingredients, as studies have shown that getting out and about in nature can help improve your mood.
“Being fit and well, and able to see a doctor when you are not, are also helpful, so we looked at the average driving time to GPs, hospitals, pharmacist and dentists. These sets of data, together with information about air quality were contributed to by the Geographic Data Science Lab at the University of Liverpool.
“The things that make life easier are also likely to lead to a happier life. For this reason we included broadband speeds, marking areas down where, according to Ofcom, they were below 30MB.
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“We thought about transport, and what could take some of the strain out of travelling. Our measure of this was how far you could get on public transport within half an hour, reflecting the local infrastructure and ease of getting around without a car. And we included crime figures.”
The Guardian also looked at “importance of culture and community” and gave “extra weight” to these factors, “as measured by proximity to cinemas, theatres and museums, pubs and libraries, using data from sources including the Food Standards Agency, and various industry reports and listings websites”.
The publisher added: “Our lengthy initial list was the basis for discussion, research and on the ground reporting. Out of that came our pick of places that generally scored highest as happy places to live.”
Take a look at the happiest places to live in England, Wales and Scotland online.
@inceptiontravelers How to Spend a Full Day in York, England 👻🇬🇧 From medieval streets to spooky legends, here’s how to make the most of a day in York! 👇🏼✨ 📍 Morning: 1. 🏰 Stroll through The Shambles – one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the world! 2. 👻 Visit the famous Ghost Merchants for a unique (and haunted) souvenir. 3. 🧙♂️ Stop by The Shop That Must Not Be Named for a magical experience. 4. 🍵 Enjoy a delicious scone at Parlormade Scone House. 📍 Afternoon: 5. ⛪ Marvel at the stunning York Minster, a true Gothic masterpiece. 6.🚶♂️ Find Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate – the shortest street with the longest name! 7. 🎄Step into the festive wonderland at Käthe Wohlfahrt. 8. 🏰 Climb Clifford’s Tower for incredible city views. 9. 🏰 Walk along York’s City Walls and soak in the history. 10. 🏛️ Explore the atmospheric ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey. 📍 Evening: 11. 🍻 Dinner at Guy Fawkes Inn, the birthplace of the infamous plotter! 12. 🌙 Experience The Shambles at night – it’s even more magical (or eerie 👀) after dark. Would you visit York? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️✨ #York #VisitYork #YorkEngland #Yorkshire #HistoricYork #TheShambles #YorkMinster #CliffordsTower #YorkCityWalls #GhostMerchants #GuyFawkesInn #HarryPotterShambles #YorkshireTravel #UKTravel #BeautifulDestinations #TravelUK #HistoricEngland #MedievalTown #ChristmasInYork #WanderlustUK ♬ original sound – inceptiontravelers
What makes York one of Britain’s happiest places to live?
The Guardian shared: “This North Yorkshire city can sometimes be overlooked in favour of its bigger and edgier northern neighbours, but with its cobbled streets, eccentric independent shops and snuggly pubs it contains all the charm of Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield put together.”
There also had to be a notable nod to York’s history, as The Guardian said: “It was the ancient Romans who first created a town – Eboracum – from a small settlement here and since then York has gone through many iterations, including as the Viking city of Jorvik, with evidence of 2,000 years of history strewn across the highly walkable centre.
“The medieval period is particularly well-preserved in everything from the city walls – the longest medieval town walls in England – the higgledy-piggledy timber-framed shops of the Shambles, the remains of York Castle known as Clifford’s Tower sitting atop a steep mound, and of course the spectacularly impressive York Minster cathedral.”
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York was also described as having “modesty and unreserved warmth that sets it apart from other places” and “exceptional” boozers that, if they were in London, would be considered “among the best in the capital”.
This includes the likes of: House of Trembling Madness, The Fat Badger, Pivni, Eagle & Child, The Hop, Guy Fawkes Inn, Minster Inn, The Punch Bowl and The Market Cat.
Also complimented was York’s picturesque River Ouse, “perfect for a calm walk or as the backdrop for a pint on a sunny evening”.
Meanwhile, York Racecourse, which is one of the major venues in the racing world, was also highlighted due to hosting everything “from classic car events to festivals several times a year”.
Most ‘desirable’ areas to buy a house in York revealed
When it comes to best places to live, The Guardian wrote: “The popularity of York as somewhere to live is in part due to it being a rare northern city with good rail links to London, thanks to its Victorian role as a major transport hub (it once laid claim to having the largest train station in the world). King’s Cross is around two hours away on a reasonably reliable LNER or Grand Central service.”
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It continued: “Bishopthorpe Road (Bishy Road), Clifton and Fulford are among the most desirable areas, while around £250,000 would get you a two-bedroom terrace house in Holgate, within a pleasant 30-minute walk of the train station.
“Flooding is a city-wide issue, though defences have and continue to be built to mitigate it.”
The publisher concluded: “All this makes York a shining example of a great modern historical city – cool and stylish (yes, perhaps a little bougie), all amid awe-inspiring millennia-old architecture.”
