Kirkcaldy named happiest place to live in Scotland

Kirkcaldy promenade. <i>(Image: Gordon Terris)</i>
Kirkcaldy promenade. (Image: Gordon Terris)
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Kirkcaldy has been named the happiest place to live in Scotland in a nationwide survey by property website Rightmove.

The Fife town ranked 18th overall in the 2026 Happy at Home Index, which surveyed more than 24,000 people across Great Britain about their happiness with where they live.

It was the highest-ranked Scottish location, ahead of Perth in 39th place, Inverness in 40th and Dundee in 43rd.

The survey asked residents in 221 locations to rate their area on factors including access to nature and green spaces, local services, amenities and employment opportunities.

Nature and green space featured strongly among the highest-ranked locations, with eight of the top 10 also scoring highly for access to the outdoors.

The findings also suggested that happiness with where people live increases with age. More than a third (35%) of people aged over 75 gave their area a perfect 10, compared with 16% of those aged 18 to 24.

Across Great Britain, 81% of respondents said they were happy with where they live, while 9% said they were unhappy.



Richmond upon Thames in Greater London took first place overall, reclaiming the top spot after previously winning in 2023 and finishing second last year.

Colleen Babcock, Rightmove property expert, said: "Richmond stands out for offering a combination many people value: easy access to nature and green spaces, without having to give up local services, places to eat and shop, or employment opportunities.

"That balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings. Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important. This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both."

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