In a nationwide survey into the satisfaction of the nation, Brighton and Hove was crowned the happiness capital, with over a third of the city’s population choosing the word “happy” to describe their lives.
In contrast, just 16 per cent of Edinburgh residents described their lives as “happy” favouring the words “anxious” and “depressed” instead.
Brighton, renowned for its party atmosphere, beat competition from Leicester and Portsmouth to take the top spot.
Oxford, Norwich and Bristol also appeared in the top ten happiest cities to live in, while Manchester, Belfast and Cardiff all took high positions.
Marketing Director Kerry Collinge, for 9NINE Super Seed brand, which commissioned the study, said: “Brighton residents have found themselves topping our happiest city chart.
”Maybe it’s the sea air and sunny weather that keeps them smiling.’’
The study asked 3,000 Brits to consider their general life satisfaction and rate how they feel on a scale of one to ten.
Oxford came top in the life satisfaction stakes with a score of 6.72 out of ten, while Edinburgh found itself at the bottom of the table with a life satisfaction average of 5.89 out of ten.
When asked to rate their life satisfaction on a scale from one to ten the average Brit gave themselves a middling 6.37 out of ten.
Just one in ten rated their life satisfaction at nine or above, indicating excellent life satisfaction.
Researchers also looked into the ways we boost our mood and found three in five look to bed for comfort in hard times, and over half lean on family for support.
Forty three per cent play their favourite music when they need to raise their spirits with reading a book proving more popular for boosting our serotonin levels than sex.
And it’s the typical British weather which is most likely to get us feeling down in the dumps first place, with 40 per cent claiming inclement weather has a negative effect on their emotions.
Kerry Collinge added: “Our study has helped to show that when it comes to the secret of happiness the simple things in life are usually best.
“Forty winks, close friends and enough time with our favourite food and entertainment seem to keep a smile on the faces of most.”
THE HAPPIEST CITIES IN THE UK:
1. Brighton and Hove
2. Leicester
3. Portsmouth
4. Newcastle
5. Oxford
6. Chelmsford
7. Norwich
8. Bristol
9. London
10. Cambridge
11. Manchester
12. Belfast
13. Coventry
14. Cardiff
15. Birmingham
16. York
17. Plymouth
18. Sheffield
19. Leeds
20. Glasgow
21. Southampton
22. Liverpool
23. Edinburgh
BEST UK CITIES FOR LIFE SATISFACTION:
1. Oxford
2. Bristol
3. Brighton and Hove
4. Chelmsford
5. Leeds
6. Leicester
7. Newcastle
8. Southampton
9. Manchester
10. Portsmouth
11. London
12. Norwich
13. Glasgow
14. Cardiff
