The most northerly town in England has been named as the happiest place in Britain. Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland has the best of both worlds with a thriving high street and stunning nature on its doorstep.
Various factors were assessed including easy access to beauty spots, average driving time to things like hospitals and pharmacies, broadband speeds and proximity to cultural and community hotspots like cinemas, theatres and museums, pubs and libraries. All the above data – considered key to a happy lifestyle – were used by The Guardian in presenting the envious title. While Berwick came out on top, market town Evesham, Worcestershire, and royal town Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales, finished second and third respectively.
Berwick, with a population of around 13,000, was described by newspaper as an “often overlooked jewel” that’s a “great place to live with community spirit in bundles”.
Its history and architecture was singled out too – Berwick’s Elizabeth town walls, used to keep out marauding Scots, are said to be considered among the best preserved in Europe.
Also receiving praise was Berwick’s community spirit, shops and regular markets.
Famous 20th century artist LS Lowry regularly visited Berwick on holiday and made more than 30 sketches, drawings and paintings while visiting the area, according to VisitBerwick.
Today a Lowry Trail follows in the footsteps of the Manchester artist allowing visitors to experience some of the places he discovered while holidaying there, identifying places where he produced some of his artwork.
Berwick town is picturesque and home to cobbled streets, hidden courtyards and pretty parks.
Its rich coastline has two sandy beaches perfect for the summer and there are also stunning riverside walks along the meandering Tweed.
The town’s northerly location also makes it ideal for those looking to visit Scotland.
It is just a few miles from the border and around an hour’s drive from the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.
The Guardian reported despite Berwick being in Northumberland, it has a “definite Scottishness to it” and explained how its football side, Berwick Rangers, plays in the Scottish leagues.
The newspaper noted how the town’s rich history included it switching between England and Scotland more than 13 times.
The average house price in Berwick is £220,000 – less than the UK average of £268,000 (February 2025).
