London's happiest boroughs to live ranked: 'Green spaces, community and culture'

Find out where your borough ranks among the happiest places to live in London.
Andre Langlois
By Andre Langlois
Published 12th Dec 2023, 06:30 GMT
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This year, Richmond topped a chart of the UK's happiest areas - a first for a London borough.

Rightmove's annual Happy At Home index is created using a survey of more than 26,000 people across the country, asking them how they feel about where they live.

Richmond upon Thames was crowned the happiest place to live by those that live there. Winchester, in Hampshire, came in second nationally, and Monmouth in Wales was third.

Rightmove said the results of this year’s study showed that the most important contributors to happiness were feeling a sense of pride, belonging and community. Access to green space and nature is also important to residents, with those living in a rural area near a national park, or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more likely to feel happy where they live.

Happiest London boroughs in order

Here are the London boroughs (and the City of London) ranked according to Rightmove's Happy At Home Index. In brackets is each borough's national ranking.

  1. Richmond upon Thames (1)
  2. Kensington and Chelsea (8)
  3. City of London (21)
  4. Camden (23)
  5. Wandsworth (25)
  6. Kingston upon Thames (28)
  7. Islington (40)
  8. Southwark (44)
  9. Bromley (46)
  10. Hammersmith and Fulham (50)
  11. Greenwich (96)
  12. Waltham Forest (103)
  13. Hackney (110)
  14. Westminster (111)
  15. Lewisham (119)
  16. Sutton (122)
  17. Merton (128)
  18. Lambeth (130)
  19. Ealing (134)
  20. Enfield (143)
  21. Tower Hamlets (154)
  22. Barnet (166)
  23. Hounslow (168)
  24. Harrow (170)
  25. Haringey (179)
  26. Bexley (181)
  27. Redbridge (189)
  28. Havering (193)
  29. Brent (208)
  30. Barking and Dagenham (212)
  31. Newham (213)
  32. Croydon (214)
  33. Hillingdon (218)

Sadiq Khan - 'Delighted'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted for Richmond to win this award. It has so much of what makes London so special - its access to beautiful green spaces, its real sense of community, and an array of shops, cafes and local culture that makes it stand out.” 

Chestertons

Dawn Platt, associate director of Chestertons’ Richmond branch, said: “Richmond really has got it all. Access to nature, schools, entertainment, good eateries, bars and shops. On top of access to nature, schools, entertainment, good eateries, bars and shops, the borough benefits from a riverside location and great transport links.

“Thanks to its lifestyle offerings, it’s not difficult to see why Richmond has established itself as one of London’s most sought-after locations nor why residents are happy living here.  Due to its community feel, many see Richmond as an area to settle down in long-term."

Related topics:LondonPeopleResidentsGreat BritainSadiq KhanRightmoveCultureMayorCommunityNatureSpace