The Lake District has edged out Norway and New Zealand to be named the 'World's Happiest Travel Destination'.

Not only did it beat the Fijords and the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings, but it did so by some margin.

With so many travellers sharing their favourite holiday snaps on Instagram, the Travel Insurance experts at InsureandGo have analysed thousands of photos posted on the social media platform to reveal which holiday hotspots are home to the happiest tourists. 

The researchers analysed 100 popular global holiday destinations, collecting a sample of pictures from famous tourist attractions within each location, before using facial recognition technology to analyse the expressions of visitors and in turn, give each an average ‘smile score’.  

10 Happiest Holiday Hotspots:

  1. Lake District 
  2. Norway 
  3. New Zealand 
  4. Canada 
  5. Australia 
  6. China 
  7. Panama 
  8. Ireland 
  9. Malaysia 
  10. Philippines 

The Lake District ranks as the number one happiest holiday hotspot in the world, followed by Lofoten and Queenstown.

Cumbria’s National Park tops the charts thanks to an impressive smile score of 88.4 out of 100, with most of its photos showing visitors smiling and enjoying their trip to the region. 

Home to the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike, and offering no end of picturesque villages and spectacular vistas, there’s a lot to smile about, and it seems not even the great British weather can stop visitors from grinning for the camera. 

Russell Wallace at InsureandGo comments: “Social media platforms like Instagram are a fantastic way to not only share your adventures with friends and family, but also find inspiration for your next travel destination.

"And with the people who surround you while travelling able to make or break your experience, we were incredibly keen to find out if certain tourist hotspots are filled with more grinning tourists than others. 

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“We’re so pleased to see such a huge breadth of exciting destinations make our rankings of the happiest holiday hotspots, from the exotic shores of the Philippines and Panama to the exciting cityscapes of locations like Vancouver and New York City. Wherever your next adventure turns out to be, we hope this list has given you some inspiration.

"However, it's crucial to remember that even in the happiest destinations, unexpected events can occur. That's why we strongly recommend securing a comprehensive travel insurance policy before your trip. This coverage can protect you financially from unforeseen circumstances, from medical emergencies to lost luggage, or trip delays.

"By having the right insurance in place, you can travel with peace of mind, knowing you're protected against potential setbacks, allowing you to fully enjoy your destination and keep those smiles in place throughout your entire journey."