There’s no way to define happiness using a single metric and what makes one person feel content might make another feel miserable.
Some people enjoy living somewhere that’s full of hustle and bustle where there’s no shortage of ways to keep entertained or places to have fun on the weekend whereas others prefer a slower pace. This makes it hard to determine what makes a place happy to live in but a big factor is the standard of living.
Access to healthcare, education and housing are a few factors that come into this. Research by The Guardian identified that Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is the happiest place to live in the UK.
Located in Northumberland, it is the northernmost town in England and lies very close to the Scottish border. Jordan Sangha, the winner of ITV’s Big Brother in 2023, visited Berwick and shared an informative video on TikTok.
At the start of the clip, the reality TV star, from Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire said: “Am I in England or Scotland? Well…I’m in Berwick.”
He added: “Over the years Berwick has changed hands between England and Scotland as if embroiled in a custody battle in a bitter divorce. The Scots took it from Anglo-Saxon Northumbria in the 12th century.”
It was finally recaptured by Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III) in 1483 so Berwick permanently became a part of England and was officially incorporated into the county of Northumberland in 1974. It is now known for its well-preserved, complete Elizabethan town walls and unique Anglo-Scottish features.
Visitors can also see the remnants of Berwick Castle, an important site during the Anglo-Saxon conflict. Jordan included clips of the Elizabethan walls and ramparts, Georgian buildings, the Town Hall and rolling hills.
He joked that the most “perilous threat” in Berwick nowadays is the seagulls. The Big Brother Winner concluded: “As I sat on the ruined castle, the wind, an industrial hair dryer, I reflected on how charming Berwick now is.”
His TikTok video has garnered thousands of views, more than 900 likes and dozens of comments. One user said: “Gorgeous place described so brilliantly by yourself. It looks so calm and interesting, it certainly has seen history happen there.”
Another added: “What a charming place.” A local chimed in: “My lovely little home town.” A different viewer exclaimed: “So interesting to learn the history behind this place!”
Someone else chimed in: “Berwick has a very interesting past. Thanks for showing us around.”
Berwick is set on the Northumberland coast on the mouth of the River Tweed and is recognised for its three iconic bridges, the Berwick Bridge, the Royal Tweed Bridge and the Royal Border Bridge. There are also multiple sandy beaches in the town, panoramic views of the Northumberland coast, museums and art galleries.