Access to nature and essential services and friendliness of the people led ‘gateway to the Dales’ to top Rightmove index

It is nicknamed “the gateway to the Dales”, is home to one of England’s best-preserved medieval castles and, for trivia fans, was the birthplace of half of Marks & Spencer. Now, the Yorkshire market town of Skipton has been named “the happiest place to live” in Great Britain.

It received the accolade from the property website Rightmove, which runs a “ happy at home ” index that is now in its 14th year. The survey asks residents how they feel about their area based on a range of factors.