Richmond Upon Thames: The happiest places to live in London according to Rightmove

The borough of Richmond Upon Thames has been named the ‘happiest place to live’ in London, according to an annual Rightmove report.

The southwest borough also ranked as the second most jolly place in the UK, after Woodbridge in Suffolk.

Sadly, this is a demotion for Richmond Upon Thames, which was awarded the coveted top spot in last year’s list. It was narrowly beaten by the Suffolk town, following gleaming reviews from residents and high praise for its amenities and highly reviewed restaurants.

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Often regarded as London's most attractive borough, Richmond Upon Thames has long been a longstanding favourite with royalty and the rich and famous. Some of its most notable royal residents include King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, and King George III.

Visit Richmond says: “Richmond upon Thames is located in South West London only 20 minutes from London Waterloo and accessible by all the travel links available in London. Well known for its beautiful green open spaces, rich history and a favourite destination for thousands of local and international visitors.”

According to Rightmove, the average asking price for a home in Richmond Upon Thames is £939,329. While the average monthly rent costs an eyewatering £3,131.

But Richmond wasn’t the only place in London to make the list! Kensington and Chelsea ranked as the 16th happiest place to live in the UK, while Wandsworth came in 19th place.

The average asking price of a home in Kensington and Chelsea is £1,667,573 while rent is likely to see you back somewhere in the region of £5,345.

This compares to an average asking price of £865,205 in Wandsworth, and £3,159 per month for rent.

Top five ‘happiest places to live in London’, according to Rightmove

1. Richmond upon Thames (2nd nationally)

2. Kensington and Chelsea (16th nationally)

3. Wandsworth (19th nationally)

4. Westminster (24th nationally)

5. Southwark (46th nationally)

The study which is now in its 13th year, was completed by more than 35,000 people across Britain.

Rightmove said its study indicates that, overall, residents in Scotland, Wales and the South West are most happy with where they live, while those in the East and West Midlands are the least happy.

The Gen-Z generation (18 to 24-year-olds) were the most likely to say that they thought they would be happier living in a different area, while those aged 55-plus were the least likely.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said: “It’s the younger generation who are most likely to say they would be happier living somewhere else, many of whom have to travel to cities for education or to find their first jobs.”