The stunning area of Essex named the happiest place to live in the UK

A stunning area in Essex has been named as one of the happiest places to live in the UK. In a list compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)^[1], the happiest places to live in the UK have been revealed - with one Essex area named as one of the best and well above the UK average.

The average 'happiness' score in the UK has been given a rating of 7.4 out of 10, but for Uttlesford in the north of the county, residents are even happier. Uttlesford encompasses areas such as the stunning towns of Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow, to quaint little villages such as Thaxted and Stansted Mountfitchet.

With an impressive happiness rating of 7.7 out of 10, residents in the Essex district are not just the happiest in the whole county, but also one of the happiest in the UK. The district covers a largely rural area in the north-west of Essex and the area is also the district where Stansted Airport lies.

In the district, you will find quaint, chocolate box thatched cottages, lively market towns, historical sights such as castles, not to mention the stunning countryside views.

The district name of Uttlesford is derived from its location within the ancient hundred of Uttlesford, formed in April 1974 after the merger of the borough of Saffron Walden, Dunmow Rural District and Saffron Walden Rural District. In the Domesday manustript of 1086, it was usually spelt Vdelesford or Wdelesford - possibly coming from 'Udel’s ford.'

The River Uttle flows from Elmdon to meet the River Cam at Wendens Ambo. There was originally a ford at Wendens Ambo on the main road immediately to the West of The Old Forge, before a bridge was constructed to the East and the road moved to its current position.

References

1. ^{^} Office for National Statistics (ONS) (www.ons.gov.uk)
2. ^{^} Essex parks named among the best as they receive prestigious Green Flag Award (www.essexlive.news)