"This is such a special, special place. It is magical'

Alex Croft meets the residents of the UK's happiest towns

- ALEX CROFT

The residents of Britain's happiest places to live have lauded the "magical" community spirit and luscious green surroundings of their beloved homes. Woodbridge, a quaint civil parish in East Suffolk of around 8,000 people, topped this year's list, pipping last year's winner Richmond-upon-Thames, which came second, to first place.

The survey, carried out by Rightmove, asked residents to give their opinions on factors such as the pride they feel in their hometown, their sense of belonging, community spirit, whether they earn enough to live comfortably, sports opportunities and recreational infrastructure.

"Woodbridge is incredible, such a special, special place. It is such a magical place," Shona Norman, the headteacher of Woodbridge School, told The Independent in reaction to the news. Ms Norman, who moved to Woodbridge to take up her first teaching position and "completely fell in love" with the town, said the people she lives around have "become my family".

"It has been so kind, so supportive and so nurturing. You never feel alone, you always feel part of it, and there was always something there to inspire you and help you," she said. "It is such a little gem, and there is just a very special atmosphere about it, which you can only appreciate when you come and visit it."

The study said Woodbridge had ranked particularly highly for the community spirit, friendliness of the people, and access to essential services such as doctors, or schools. “We have a number of students who come from overseas as well. They say they love the really safe, welcoming, beautiful surroundings of Woodbridge, and how they feel part of that community,” Ms Norman added.