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People in Woking are among the happiest in the UK – and they’re getting happier, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Confirmed this year as Surrey’s happiest place to be, Woking also reached peak happiness in the government’s official national wellbeing index, scoring an average happiness level of 8.1 out of 10. The UK-wide average was 7.6.
Woking’s happiness ranking has been climbing steadily since the index was first launched eight years ago, reaching a record this year and outstripping the majority of towns and cities nationwide.
Cllr David Bittleston, Leader of Woking Borough Council, said the results were a testament to the town’s shared energy and ambition: “I am delighted to see that Woking has scored so highly nationally and regionally and that our residents are officially among the UK’s happiest. Woking is a forward-looking, ambitious town with a strong community at its heart and which continues to invest in its future. In an excellent location, great spaces, places and events to enjoy, Woking is a fantastic place in which to live, work, visit and invest.”
Popular for its wealth of green spaces, Woking has a growing population of more than 100,000 and is a major draw for its strong retail and hospitality offer for hundreds of thousands of visitors. With over 300 shops and more than 30 restaurants, Woking enjoys a vibrant and diverse community.
The town, which is located around 14 miles from Heathrow and just 25 minutes by train to London, is currently nearing the end of a major £540 million transformation.
The Victoria Square project is a key feature in Woking’s future growth plans, delivering 429 residential apartments in two iconic sky-high towers, a four-star Hilton Hotel, two public plazas, a medical centre, 125,000 sq. ft. of new retail space including a flagship M&S store and 2,800 parking spaces.
The government surveyed 150,000 people to determine the results.