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A small and "charming" town has been crowned the happiest place to live in England.

Sleaford boasts a modest population of approximately 17,600 residents and is an ancient market town with roots stretching back to the Iron Age.

History enthusiasts and tourists alike are drawn to the town for its shops and restaurants, while those who enjoy the great outdoors can take advantage of scenic walks along the River Slea and hiking trails through neighbouring woodland areas.

Visit Lincolnshire described Sleaford as a "charming town" and notes that it is "nestled" in the heart of Lincolnshire.

Tourism chiefs said: "It is a hidden gem that promises a delightful experience for visitors of all ages. With its rich history, bustling market, eclectic shops, and array of local attractions there's plenty to see and do. Why not take a relaxing stroll beside the River Slea? Sleaford is located on the River Slea and Sleaford Canal which makes for lovely scenic walks.

The tourism body also says nearby villages are worth a visit for those using Sleaford as their base. These include many countryside villages where there are walking routes to escape the city.

It added: "There is also plenty of woodland and unspoilt countryside to explore and the nearby villages Ruskington and Heckington are worth the visit for picturesque walking routes and Heckington Windmill - the world's only eight sail windmill."

The Office for National Statistics findings form part of the Annual Population Survey, which measures happiness, life satisfaction and anxiety levels.

It revealed that between March 2022 and 2023, people throughout the UK reported feeling less happy and satisfied while experiencing heightened anxiety compared to the previous year. This trend, however, was not reflected across all regions.

The data also enables an overall "happiness score" to be assigned to individual locations throughout the country.

In England, the district of North Kesteven in Lincolnshire claimed the top position with a score of 8.09 out of 10. It's also well worth a visit for those with an interest in planes and military history.

Visit Lincolnshire added: "For aviation enthusiasts, there's Cranwell Aviation Centre and RAF Digby Ops Room offering great insight into local and British aviation history."

While North Kesteven secured the top spot for happiness in England, two Scottish locations actually ranked higher across the entire UK. Other highly ranked areas included Pendle in Lancashire, Malvern Hills in Herefordshire and Torridge in Devon.

The Shetland Islands in Scotland claimed the crown for having the highest happiness rating with a score of 8.22 out of 10. The runner-up which also achieved a high happiness rating in the nationwide survey was Na h-Eileanan Siar, in the Outer Hebrides, which secured an impressive score of 8.12.