Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland and a popular tourist destination, was recently ranked as one of the happiest cities in the United Kingdom.
The city is known for its historic and geographic landmarks, such as Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat, was named the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004 – where the likes of Sir Walter Scott, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling all found inspiration to write – and the Old and New Towns have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.
The publication Edinburgh By Numbers, an annual report providing statistical data about the city, found Edinburgh to rank highest in two factors contributing to personal well-being.
Data is distributed across nine categories, one of which is Health and Wellness, and the personal well-being of city residents was measured using four indicators: Worthwhile, Life Satisfaction, Happiness, and Anxiety.
Edinburgh ranked highest in the Worthwhile and Life Satisfaction components in comparison to the eight largest cities in the UK — Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield. London was excluded from the report and the data was supplied by The City of Edinburgh Council.
The Happy City Index of 2025, which includes cities from all around the world, recently categorized Edinburgh as a “Silver City” and one of the top ten happiest cities in the UK.
Edinburgh was also named as the “Leading Cultural City Destination” in Europe in 2024 by the World Travel Awards – a global awards program that celebrates a city’s cultural uniqueness.
Students at the University of Edinburgh, the fourth oldest in Scotland and the oldest in Edinburgh, shared various opinions about their experiences in the city and whether it is as happy a place as it is acclaimed to be.
Aiden Martin, a fourth-year student, says that “the vibe of the city is really lovely” and that “Edinburgh is packed with friendly people.” Ellie Coonie, another fourth-year, shares a similar sentiment and describes Edinburgh as “a fun place to be” while saying that “there’s a fantastic mix of cultures and demographics, so it’s never boring.”
Mirin Cowey, however, finds Edinburgh to be “less friendly and happy than Glasgow,” as that is her hometown. Niamh Dillon, another student from Glasgow, says that although “Edinburgh does give good vibes,” she thinks “Glasgow is even better.”
Nonetheless, Cowey and Dillon admire Edinburgh and its charm, with Cowey saying that she has “really enjoyed living in Edinburgh and [is] going to continue living [there] once [she] graduates,” and Dillion saying that “the view of the castle [when] walking along Princes Street never gets less stunning.”
As Edinburgh remains a popular place to visit and a happy city to call home, it is no surprise that the city attracts millions of travellers from all across the globe every year.
Image by Jack Snaddon.