Happiness comes in all shapes and sizes. For some, it might come from spending time outdoors, for others, from losing all inhibitions on the dance floor, or from tucking into a hearty meal surrounded by loved ones. Whatever it is that brings you joy, where you live will undeniably have an impact on how happy you feel on a day to day basis. So, as part of our best cities survey 2025, we wanted to get a gauge on where in the world city dwellers feel most content.
Our survey asked more than 18,000 city dwellers across the world how far they agreed with five statements: My city makes me happy; I feel happier in my city than other places I’ve visited or lived; the people in my city seem happy; I find joy in the everyday experiences my city offers and the sense of happiness in my city has grown a lot recently. Our list of the happiest cities in the world is made up of the places with the highest percentage of positive responses.
Brighton
After we crunched the data from thousands of responses, Brighton emerged as the top ranked UK city on the list, landing in 11th place. Given how the seaside city did across the rest of our survey, the levels of happiness aren’t surprising. It was the only British city that made it onto our roundup of the world’s best cities for nightlife, with 81 percent of locals rating its after dark scene either ‘good’ or ‘amazing’. With its complex of gorgeous lanes full of local boutiques and cafes, miles of pebbly beach, the iconic Brighton pier and compact size, locals also voted it the most walkable city in the UK (and third worldwide).
On top of that, our survey found that Brighton is the world’s third most diverse and inclusive city, too. It’s affectionately known as the UK’s gay capital, with a higher proportion of people identifying as bi, pan, asexual and non-binary than any other city in England and Wales, and one of the most popular Pride celebrations in all of Europe. All key ingredients for a happy city, we say.
Glasgow
The only other British city to make the top 20 was Glasgow. It landed in 20th place. There’s plenty of things going on in Glasgow to keep locals content. For those who find happiness in a good night out, it’s home to our favourite club night of 2025, the hair-salon-slash-club-night-slash-immersive-theatre-show Ponyboy; for those who get their joy from great food, there’s a thriving food scene; and if cultural experiences boost your mood, there’s an abundance of historical and artsy sites to explore. Another study also named the Scottish city one of the best places in the world to go for live music.
As it happens, both places are also home to areas that feature on Time Out’s list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK in 2025. In Brighton, there’s the buzzing London Road and in Glasgow, there’s trendy Finnieston. Do you need any more reasons to visit?
Read more about the 20 happiest cities in the world in 2025, according to locals, here.
ICYMI: The vibrant British city that has been named one of the friendliest places in the world.
Plus: A major Barbie exhibition is making its Scottish debut in Glasgow in 2026.
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