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According to a survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Colchester is the most miserable area in the UK.
The historic city of Essex, once the capital of Roman Britain, ranked lowest in terms of how ‘happy’ people said they were in the ONS’s most recent well-being survey.
It was followed by Redditch in Worcestershire and the upmarket Kent town of Tunbridge Wells where residents reported being the least happy.
At the other end of the scale, Torridge in North Devon ranked as the UK’s ‘happiest’ area, followed by Pendle in Lancashire and Lichfield in Staffordshire.
The figures are from the ONS’s most recent annual well-being survey, which asked people to rank “how happy were you yesterday” from 0 to 10.
The data, which the ONS says is just a well-being measure it records along with overall life satisfaction, fitness and anxiety, was recorded between April last year and March this year.
The responses, which were taken at different points throughout the year, were then pulled together to create an average ‘happiness’ for each area.
Least happy areas
Colchester
Colchester
Colchester ranks lowest in terms of ‘happiness’ in the ONS survey, with an average happiness score of 6.8 out of 10.
The city of Essex, about 80 miles north-east of London on the River Colne, was famously the capital of Roman Britain, leading to its claim to be Britain’s oldest city.
Today, it is an important area for military bases and home to many art galleries, Colchester Zoo and the University of Essex.
Redditch
Redditch
The Midlands town of Redditch, south of Birmingham, was once home to the world’s fishing tackle and needle industries.
At one time, 90% of the world’s needles are said to have been produced there, according to records at the Forge Hill Needle Museum.
But Khushi found the Worcestershire town the most challenging catch, with Khushi averaging 6.8 out of 10.
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells
A perhaps surprising inclusion considering Royal Tunbridge Wells was voted by whom? Only last year was Kent’s best town to live in, but the town received an average rating of 6.9 out of 10.
Considered a wealthy tourist town 30 miles southeast of London, the area was once popular with royals, including Queen Victoria.
His son, King Edward VII, awarded the town a Royal surname in 1909 to recognize its links with royalty and members of the aristocracy over the centuries.
Norwich
Norwich
Norwich, the county city of Norfolk in the east of England, has one of the country’s largest cathedrals, dating back to the Norman period.
The city, which is popular for city breaks, also has many cultural attractions, including a medieval castle and the Theater Royal.
But the city ranked joint third in the happiness survey with an average rating of 6.9 out of 10.
Lambeth
Lambeth
One of the most central districts of London, Lambeth includes the Oval, parts of Brixton, Streatham and Clapham, among other areas.
It is home to many well-known London landmarks, including the London Eye and Lambeth Palace, the official home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Its residents were the fifth least happy in the UK with an average rating of 7 out of 10.
Happiest areas
Torridge
Torridge District
Torridge is a council area in North Devon, which includes the historic port town of Bideford, where the authority is based.
Other towns in the area include the market town of Holsworthy and the seaside village of Westward Ho! Named after the 19th century author Charles Kingsley’s book of the same name.
The area is popular with tourists and, according to the ONS survey, its residents too, with an average rating of 8.2 out of 10.
Pendle
Pendle
The Lancashire town of Pendle is infamous as the site of the Pendle Witch Trials in the 17th century, in which 11 people were tried for witchcraft.
10 – nine women and two men who went on trial – were found guilty of witchcraft and hanged, while the 11th was found not guilty.
Modern-day Pendal is all about the magic of machine-driven movement, with engine and car maker Rolls Royce having a factory in the district.
The area is also the second happiest in the UK, with an average rating of 8.1 out of 10, according to ONS data.
Litchfield
Litchfield
Just north of Birmingham, the cathedral city of Lichfield is known as the birthplace of Samuel Johnson, who wrote the first authoritative dictionary of the English language.
It is also home to Lichfield Cathedral, one of only three cathedrals in the UK to have three spires.
An affluent commuter town to Birmingham, Lichfield is one of the happiest places in the UK with an average rating of 8.1.
Hambleton
Hambleton District
The Hambleton district in North Yorkshire is home to the market towns of Northallerton and Thirsk, home to Thirsk Racecourse.
It is located in the beautiful Vale of Mowbray, between the cities of York and Middlesborough, with the North York Moors National Park to the east.
It joins Pendle and Lichfield as the second happiest area in the UK with an average rating of 8.1.
Newry, Morne and Down
Newry
The only area outside England to appear above or below the list is Newry, Morne and Down, a local government district on the southeast coast of Northern Ireland.
The area, which is home to around 170,000 people, includes large parts of County Armagh and County Down and all of the Morne Mountains Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Along with Pendle, Lichfield and Hambleton, it scored an average of 8.1 in terms of happiness in the ONS survey.
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