The 9 Happiest Places To Live In Britain

The Office for National Statistics has ranked Britain's happiest areas.

9. Flintshire.

National Assembly for Wales / Flickr: nationalassemblyforwales

Happy fact: The people of Flintshire are so passionate about ploughing that every March they gather on a muddy field in Connah's Quay for an annual ploughing competition. There have been 105 so far.

8. Bath and North East Somerset.

Dave / Flickr: rnddave

Happy fact: In 2008, in order to raise money for a a new cycling path, 104 decorated pigs were displayed around the Bath in a public art event called "King Bladud's Pigs in Bath".

7. Monmouthshire.

The JR James Archive / Flickr: jrjamesarchive

Happy fact: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded in Monmouthshire's Rockfield Studios. Oasis, Manic Street Preachers and Spiritualized have also all recorded songs there.

6. Argyll and Bute.

Phillip C / Flickr: flissphil

Happy fact: Some of the late scenes in From Russia With Love were filmed around the lochs of Argyll and Bute.

5. Cheshire East.

Joseph Swan / Flickr: wistaston

Happy fact: Nantwich's parish church's misericord includes an image of a cheeky mermaid beating her husband with a ladle.

4. Gwynedd.

Orangeaurochs / Flickr: orangeaurochs

Happy fact: According to legend, the sword Excalibur was thrown into the lake Glaslyn in Snowdonia, Gwynedd after the death of King Arthur.

3. The Highlands of Scotland.

Whats the rush / Flickr: hughcl

Happy fact: The Scottish Highlands are the home of the Scottish wildcat, the only member of the cat family native to Britain.

2. Dumfries and Galloway.

John Thurn / Flickr: thurm

Happy fact: On a clear day, you can see Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cumbria from Dumfries and Galloway.

1. Eilean Siar.

colinjcampbell / Flickr: cjc

Happy fact: On the Oa Peninsula in Eilean Siar, the sand sings when you rub the sole of your shoe across its surface.