Cornwall is bucking the national mood as the UK faces the aftermath of “Blue Monday,” with new research revealing that almost three-quarters of residents describe themselves as happy and smile or laugh every day.
The snap poll, conducted in January 2026 by adventure park operator Hangloose Adventure among 400 UK adults, found that Cornwall stands out as a bright spot amid wider national gloom.
Across the UK, fewer than half of respondents (39%) say they feel happy, while over a quarter (27%) report feeling sad or angry. More than one in five adults admit they only occasionally or rarely smile, with work pressures, financial worries, and the cost of living affecting day-to-day moods. Cornwall, however, paints a more positive picture. Thirty percent of locals say they feel happier than in previous years, with strong social ties and personal relationships cited as key contributors.
Almost four in ten Cornish respondents (39%) say a happy marriage or relationship is the most significant factor in their wellbeing, compared to just over a third nationally. Thirty-one percent highlight being in a loving relationship, while 24% credit improvements to health and wellbeing for lifting their mood. Social connections also play a notable role: roughly one in five locals say close friendships and an active social life help maintain their positivity.
David Bellamy, author and former founder of the Happiness Lab, commented on the findings: “In many respects, it’s a little surprising that the data isn’t worse. Once you look beyond the temporal aspect that this is a January survey, what we’re looking at is a perfect storm for most people – the world both locally and globally feels a little less certain than it has in prior years. Most of us feel that through constant news about geopolitical movement and economic woes, but more locally, this generation will be feeling less confident about their own futures – life and work is much more changeable and less predictable than it was 20 years ago. All of this is amplified when we feel we can’t do anything about it.”
He added: “As the Cornwall findings show, the counterpoint is community and relationships – humans coregulate, and being part of a tribe is crucial to our ability to cope with challenging situations and conditions. Almost all longitudinal studies of happiness and wellbeing put the quality of our relationships as the biggest determinant of our overall happiness.”
Aiming to harness this positivity, Hangloose Adventure, with sites at the Eden Project near St Austell and Bluewater in Kent, has launched its ‘Share a Smile’ campaign. The initiative encourages visitors to step away from daily pressures and try new experiences together, reflecting the importance of shared moments highlighted in Cornwall’s survey.
As part of the campaign, Hangloose is tracking smiles via a live on-site “smile counter” and inviting visitors to nominate someone who makes them smile to take on an adventure challenge together. A campaign video also showcases the joy captured during these experiences, demonstrating the transformation from fear to exhilaration.
Brian Phelps, Managing Director of Hangloose Adventure, said: “Everyday we see a mixture of emotions coming through our parks, as well as a huge amount of excited faces, some arrive looking stressed, tired or nervous – and may not expect their mood to change. Our Share a Smile campaign is all about building social connections and encouraging people to try something new because doing something different, especially with someone else, really can change how you feel. We see people go from anxious to laughing, proud of themselves and buzzing afterwards – and those moments and happy memories matter, especially now.”
Adrenaline also plays a key role in boosting wellbeing. Matt George, 46, from Kernow Coasteering, explains: “Adrenaline and happiness is the ultimate form of tension and release. The adrenaline part is often a combination of facing your fears, doing something physically demanding, and something that gets the heart racing. The happiness often comes after. It’s the reward and feeling of satisfaction you get for having overcome the challenge. This can be an immediate dopamine hit, or a longer-lasting feeling of satisfaction. I can remember a number of adventures where the ‘high’ of the adventure has literally lasted for days.”
Hangloose Adventure’s Eden Project site features England’s fastest and second-longest zipwire, offering opportunities for people to reconnect, try new experiences, and enjoy shared moments away from routine life. From 24 to 31 January, the company is offering 40% off across both locations to encourage visitors to celebrate the end of January with adventure and fun, while planning their February half-term activities.
