The five West Midlands towns named among happiest places to live in Britain 2026
The survey gathered responses from more than 24,000 people across Britain
Five West Midlands towns and cities have been named among the happiest places to live in Britain, according to a new survey.
Lichfield, Leamington Spa, Shrewsbury, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield all featured in Rightmove's annual Happy at Home Index for 2026.
The survey, which gathered responses from more than 24,000 people across Britain, ranked locations based on how happy residents are with where they live.
Lichfield was named the happiest place to live in the West Midlands, coming 14th in the national rankings.
The Staffordshire cathedral city was followed by Leamington Spa, which placed 25th nationally, while Shropshire's county town of Shrewsbury came 34th.
Tamworth was ranked 36th across Britain, with Sutton Coldfield completing the region's top five in 37th place.
However, no towns from the Black Country made the regional top five.
The findings come as four in five people surveyed across Britain said they were happy with where they live.
Nationally, Richmond upon Thames in London was crowned Britain's happiest place to live, followed by Harrogate in North Yorkshire and Cirencester in Gloucestershire.
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: "This year's results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren't simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both."
Shrewsbury's inclusion comes just weeks after the town was recognised in the latest Muddy Stilettos guide for 2027, which praised its "historic charm, independent businesses and enviable access to the countryside".
Meanwhile, Llandrindod Wells, just across the border in Mid Wales, was ranked eighth nationally, making it the highest-placed location in the wider region.
The five happiest places to live in the West Midlands are:
- Lichfield – 14th nationally
- Leamington Spa – 25th nationally
- Shrewsbury – 34th nationally
- Tamworth – 36th nationally
- Sutton Coldfield – 37th nationally
Rightmove's research was based on responses from people contacted through its database, meaning participation in the survey was self-selecting.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.