Caernarfon named among the happiest places to live in the UK
Introducing the list, the news outlet said: "What makes a place somewhere good to live? Where might we be happiest if we had the choice of going anywhere?
"It's an almost impossible question, as we do not all thrive on the same things, but there are some that are universally agreed to be conducive to cheeriness.
"Our lengthy initial list was the basis for discussion, research and on-the-ground reporting.
"Out of that came our pick of places that generally scored highest as happy places to live.
"There may well be people who disagree with our choices. And I'm afraid we cannot guarantee a joyous life to everyone who lives in any of the places we have featured.
"But one of them could be your happy place."
The Guardian considered several factors when coming up with the list:
The top three happiest places to live in the UK, according to The Guardian, are:
North
South
Midlands
Scotland
Wales
London
"It is difficult, perhaps even impossible, to conjure an image of Caernarfon without the grey stone castle that towers over the town," The Guardian said.
"One of the most historically important buildings of the middle ages, it is where King Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales on 1 July 1969 while the world watched on."
But it's not just the iconic castle that makes Caernarfon one of the best places to live in the UK, but its location as well.
"It is difficult, perhaps even impossible, to conjure an image of Caernarfon without the grey stone castle that towers over the town." (Image: Getty Images) The news outlet continues: "Both the dramatic mountain landscapes of Snowdonia, and the beautiful sandy beaches of the Llŷn Peninsula, are within an hour's drive.
"Although Caernarfon itself has no beach, it is only around seven miles to Dinas Dinlle, a long stretch of sand, more damp and brown than soft and white, with pebbles at the farthest section from the water's edge, but gloriously peaceful.
"The highlight among the beach's smattering of amenities is Braf cafe, offering generous plates of locally sourced fare; Welsh halloumi, Waunfawr mushrooms, and homemade bread."
While the town itself has plenty to offer, from Galeri Caernarfon to its very own holiday park and golf course.
The Guardian explains: "For culture, Galeri Caernarfon houses a cinema, gallery space, and theatre that plays host to music, drama and dance.
"While the cafe has some of the best coffee in town, the real highlight is its terrace, overlooking the harbour, with views across the Menai Strait to Anglesey.
"Cross the bridge on the far side of the harbour, and you'll find an expanse of green grass stretching out towards the water, with a skate park, basketball court, and children's playground.
"There's a holiday park, and a golf course up here, but also plenty of space to take a stroll."
When it comes to the best places to eat in Caenarfon, the news outlet recommended The 16th-century Black Boy Inn, Sheep and Leeks and/or Osteria.
RECOMMENDED READING:
North Wales town 'steeped in history' among nation's most sought-after places to live
'Vibrant' seaside town in North Wales among the UK's best to move to in 2025
North Wales seaside town with sandy beaches and scenic views named Britain's cheapest
The Caernarfon Food Festival is also worth a visit, taking place in spring each year.
If you're looking for the best place to buy in the North Wales town, The Guardian suggests Upper Llandwrog, describing it as a "desirable" spot with prices between £340,000 and £395,000.
The news outlet continues: "Closer to town – and the sea – houses on Bangor Road are around £775,000 for a four-bedroom property, or £330,000 for a two-bed bungalow."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The tiny village once named ‘most picturesque' in Scotland that's even featured in famous TV show
Holidaymakers are spoilt for choice in this picturesque retreat STUNNING STAYCAY The tiny village once named 'most picturesque' in Scotland that's even featured in famous TV show Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A QUAINT Scottish village once crowned the 'most picturesque' in the country is the perfect staycation destination - and it's even featured in a hit TV show. With a stunning royal palace and scenic walking trails that date back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, Falkland is a must-visit gem tucked away in the heart of Fife. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Bruce Fountain in the Falkland dates back to 1856 Credit: Alamy 2 The village is famed for it stunning palace Credit: Alamy Previously named one of Scotland's most picturesque villages by tour operators Absolute Escapes, Falkland sits nestled between the two Lomond Hills in the Howe of Fife. It is most renowned for Falkland Palace, which was commissioned by King James IV and later became a favourite retreat of his granddaughter, Mary Queen of Scots. The palace boasts stunning formal gardens and houses one of Britain's oldest tennis courts. The Falkland Estate spans across lush woodlands and features enchanting walking trails. Visitors can also enjoy a light lunch at the estate's cafe, tucked away in a serene woodland garden. At the heart of Falkland lies the historic Bruce Fountain, which dates back to 1856. It is surrounded by a delightful array of shops and businesses, offering everything from antiques to unique gifts. Outlander fans will know that's where the ghost of Sam Heughan's Jacobite character Jamie Fraser visits time-traveller lover Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe). For those looking to stay, Falkland offers no shortage of cosy options. From charming cottages to welcoming hotels, holidaymakers are spoilt for choice in this picturesque retreat. Stunning Scots island with gorgeous 'Caribbean' beaches and crystal-clear blue waters and it's only an hour from Glasgow Elsewhere, we told how three Scottish cities have been named among the ten best stacation spots across the UK. With abroad holidays becoming increasingly more expensive year after year, it's no wonder that families across Britain are choosing to go on staycations instead. New research, conducted by experts at Chicks Gold, scored UK locations out of 100 based on several factors.
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Tour of Britain 2025: Pontypool road closures announced
The town will host stage five of the men's Tour of Britain cycling event on Saturday, September 6. To ensure the safety of the riders and spectators, a series of road closures will be enforced throughout the day. These include a short rolling road closure along Usk Road, from Pontymoile Park Gates to Mamhilad, between 11.30am, and 11.45am, allowing the riders to safely depart from Pontypool Park and commence the race towards Monmouthshire. A full road closure will be in place from Blaenavon along the B4246 Abergavenny Road to Usk Road, Pontypool, between 1.30pm and 2.30pm, to facilitate the race's return through Torfaen. Riders are expected to traverse this section in under 30 minutes, with roads reopening promptly once the peloton has cleared. A final road closure will be implemented from School Lane, Govilon, to Garn Road junction, Blaenavon, between 6.30am and 6.30pm to accommodate the race's final stage. The leader of Torfaen Council, Councillor Anthony Hunt, said: "The council is working closely with race organisers to minimise disruption and ensure road closures are kept to the shortest possible duration. "We encourage residents and businesses to plan ahead and enjoy the spectacle safely. "Hosting Stage Five of the Tour of Britain is a fantastic moment for Pontypool and the wider Torfaen community. "It's a rare opportunity to see some of the world's best cyclists up close, and we're thrilled to be part of this iconic event." Further details, including route maps and spectator guidance, are available on British Cycling's website. The 2025 professional cycle race will feature two stages across South Wales, culminating in an overall finish in Cardiff on September 7. Welsh cyclist, Geraint Thomas, who will make his final road race appearance in the event, will be among the competitors. The first stage, on September 6, will see the world's top cyclists take on a 133.5-kilometre (83-mile) route from Pontypool to a summit finish atop The Tumble in Monmouthshire. The route will then head to Usk and Chepstow, tackling the first of five categorised king of the mountains ascents at Llangwm, averaging 4.7 per cent over its 3.6 kilometres. Immediately after Chepstow, the race surmounts Itton Hill, the second climb of the day, almost five kilometres in length, and heads on to Monmouth, and then the Old Ross Road climb on the way to Abergavenny. From the town, the race will head to its first ascent of The Tumble, averaging over 8 per cent across its 4.9-kilometre distance, before a fast descent into Blaenavon and along the Afon Lwyd valley to Pontypool. The stage retraces its route to Usk, turning north via the Chain Bridge across the River Usk, to head back to The Tumble and the final, gruelling race up to the finish line at the summit, after more than 2,330 metres of ascent during the day, for an expected finish just before 3pm.
North Wales Live
9 hours ago
- North Wales Live
I ate at one of Wales' best restaurants a stone's throw from the beach and it was perfect
The Inn at the Sticks, a unique restaurant in Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire was established by two women with a vision to blend the best of both worlds, is not your everyday dining place. They offer small plates of locally sourced ingredients with a Spanish twist all in a relaxed environment that feels cosy, welcoming and in no wayuptight. The restaurant has received several awards and rave reviews. It was crowned the Best Local Restaurant in Wales by the Good Food Guide in 2024, which is a title that I can fully vouch for. I had the pleasure of spending a night at the Inn at the Sticks last summer and was obsessed with everything about it. The site features a deli selling premium wine, cheese, and a variety of other products, and it's definitely one of those places that feels good for the soul. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here The concept for their food is simple: choose a few small savoury dishes, perhaps to share, or to enjoy on your own. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes that celebrate Welsh produce. Their 'From The Sea' menu features Welsh seafood, from prawns to mackerel and cockles. Meanwhile, their 'From The Land' menu includes traditional plates like faggots and Welsh beef. But fear not vegetarians, as their 'Garden menu' also incorporates plenty of meat-free alternatives. I decided to sample the skewered shiitake mushrooms served on a bed of hummus from their specials board. Without wanting to sound overly dramatic, it's possibly one of the best dishes I've ever encountered. The mushrooms were delightfully salty, tasting incredibly earthy and cooked to perfection. They were served with the most divine, creamy hummus with fresh, herbal flavours which acted as a comforting base to balance out the bold flavours from the mushrooms. It's a combination I could eat all day. I visited the restaurant with my partner, who is a huge foodie, and opted for a beautifully presented plate of burrata with locally sourced aged ham. He noted it was "full of flavour and each ingredient complemented the others very well", and he particularly praised the light texture and rich flavour of the ham. For pudding, we opted to share the sticky toffee dessert. Despite my initial lack of a sweet tooth, this proved to be an excellent choice. The sponge was delightful and airy, soaked in a warm, buttery toffee sauce that was bursting with caramel flavour without being overly sweet. It was perfectly complemented by just the right amount of vanilla ice cream, providing a creamy contrast. The following morning, we were greeted by a fantastic breakfast, served in two stages. To start, we both enjoyed fresh croissants, which were light and flaky, accompanied by jam, butter and marmalade as well as refreshing coffees and orange juice. For the main course, I chose one of my brunch favourites - eggs florentine. Two slices of toast arrived topped with a poached egg and a generous portion of sautéed spinach. The spinach was superb, striking the perfect balance, paired with the silky texture of the poached egg. I can't think of another place where you're welcomed with sandy shoes, while savouring top-notch food in a relaxed setting, not to mention the tasteful décor that blends country classic with a trendy finish, ensuring everyone's satisfaction. Before dinner, I'd been for a swim in the water down at Llansteffan beach, and hadn't spent hours on a full face of makeup or tamed my hair, but I realised when going downstairs (to my delight) that it wasn't that kind of place. Every staff member I interacted with seemed genuinely pleased to be there, and it's by no means intrusive. Everyone is treated like a regular. I overheard two friends being served next to me, who had journeyed from somewhere in England and didn't appear to have visited before. Yet they were addressed by the waitress as if they had been faithful locals for years. The Sticks is owned by Teej Down and Tracy Jenkins, a former police officer and a hairdresser. Teej took on the building in 2015 after having been part of the police force for 12 years. She was an officer in Gwent Police and it was around the time when lots of things were changing in the force that she applied for a career break and it was granted. She said: 'I've always loved food and eating out and wine and the whole experience that comes with that. So I'd always wanted to try my hand at cheffing and cooking. "I started work in a little bistro in Carmarthen called Calon Cafe and just fell in love with it. So I did that for a year and I used to walk the dogs down Llansteffan at the time. 'The Inn at the Sticks had been on the market and been empty for a few years. So we ended up buying it basically. I handed my notice in to the police and it took about a year to renovate altogether.' But the vision was to renovate it to a standard which would reflect its past while making a real moment of the present. Teej said: 'We were given a photograph by one of the villagers showing how the property looked back in 1840 or something I think it was. And that was basically the inspiration behind the design now." Tracy also added that when they met, which is now seven years ago, it was "always Teej's baby." She added: "She always said after we got together that we would either go and live in Spain or come back here so it was a new world for me." Tracy continued: "When the lease came back up after it was rented out that's when we made the decision to come here.' But before making the move Tracy had to make a tough decision about what would be best for her as she was already running a successful hair salon in Cardiff. She said: 'Teej and I had already decided to get married so we knew we were going to be together forever. 'But it was a case of: 'Do I give up a business I've only just started three years ago?' My mum had passed away and left me some money which had made it possible as I'd been a hairdresser since I was 22. 'So I thought: 'I'm going to do something with that money.' I did wonder whether I should give up something I love and have done all my life. But if I was going to do it I needed to do it then because I was 51 and Teej was nearly 50.' But fast forward to today and she is enjoying life in west Wales just as much as Teej as they co-run the entire business together. She said: 'I love village life. I feel as though I was born here actually. 'I come from a little tiny village in the Rhondda so it feels very familiar. I'm a part of a choir so I'm part of the community here and I felt as if I fitted in straightaway. "I'd only ever seen the building at the Sticks once before we made the decision to come here but I fell in love with Llansteffan and the whole area." You can read more about Teej and Tracy's story here. It's safe to say that all of the risks the couple took at the time have paid off, as staying and eating here was definitely a core memory and I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a mixture of great food, beautiful scenery and the joy of staying with such lovely business people.
