St Albans Named One of the Happiest Places to Live in the UK in 2026

Well, St Albans… we can’t say we’re surprised. 💛

St Albans has been named as one of the happiest places to live in the UK in Purplebricks’ latest 2026 round-up, continuing to lead the way among destinations in the South. And the timing couldn’t be better for us, because we’re right in the middle of creating the very first Ace Places St Albans pack.

As we’ve been getting to know the city properly, speaking to local businesses, uncovering hidden gems and finding the people and places that make St Albans tick, one thing has become very clear. There’s a huge amount of love for this place.

So what makes St Albans such a happy place?

Purplebricks highlights St Albans for its historic high street, excellent schools and speedy train links into London. All big ticks, of course, but as we’ve been discovering while working on the St Albans pack, there’s so much more to the city than the things you can easily measure.

There’s history around practically every corner, plenty of green space, a brilliant food and drink scene, independent shops full of personality and a real sense of community. It’s the sort of place where the old and the new sit happily alongside each other, and where there always seems to be another café, market stall, local story or tucked away gem worth discovering.

And that’s exactly the sort of thing we’re looking for as we build the St Albans deck.

We’re discovering St Albans one card at a time

Every Ace Places pack is made up of the businesses, charities, places, stories and local legends that help give a town or city its personality. We’re not just looking for the biggest names or the most obvious attractions. We want the independents people genuinely love, the places locals send their friends, the community organisations doing brilliant things and the hidden gems you might walk past every day without realising what’s behind them.

Working on the St Albans pack has already given us the chance to see just how much there is to celebrate here. The more conversations we have, the more recommendations we receive and the more of the city we explore, the more we understand why St Albans has earned its place on a list like this.

Because happiness in a place probably isn’t about one spectacular landmark or having the perfect high street. It’s all the little things added together. It’s knowing where to get the best coffee, bumping into someone you know while you’re out, having a favourite independent shop, returning to the same pub garden every summer and taking a walk you’ve done hundreds of times but still enjoy.

It’s that feeling of belonging somewhere.

St Albans has local gems in spades ♠️

That sense of belonging is a huge part of what Ace Places is about. A thriving independent scene and a strong community don’t happen by accident. They exist because people choose to shop locally, recommend one another, organise events, volunteer, start businesses and put their energy into the place they call home.

Our job is to capture a little bit of that spirit in 54 cards.

So seeing St Albans recognised as one of the happiest places to live in the UK feels particularly lovely while we’re busy creating its Ace Places pack. We’re already discovering some brilliant places and people, and there are plenty more still to find.

Which brings us to you…

What makes YOU happiest about St Albans?

Maybe it’s an independent business you couldn’t live without, a favourite café, a brilliant local charity, a pub, a market stall, a beautiful walk or a hidden corner of the city that deserves more love.

We want the St Albans pack to feel like St Albans, and the best way to do that is to hear from the people who know and love it best.

So tell us your local gems. You never know, they might just find their way into the pack. 🃏💛

Read the full article from Purplebricks here: https://www.purplebricks.co.uk/happiest-places-to-live-in-the-uk-in-2026