A London borough has taken the crown as the number one ‘happiest place’ to live in Great Britain according to a survey carried out by Rightmove. Richmond upon Thames took thetop gong from 2022’s worthy winner, St. Ives in Cornwall.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was proud a London borough had won the accolade, and 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.”
The survey asked residents how they felt about the area they lived in based on 13 happiness factors. They included the community spirit, having green space, or the sense of belonging. Rightmove received responses from more than 26,000 people across Great Britain.
The south-west London borough is home to two Royal parks, world-famous botanical gardens, and the arty enclave of Eel Pie Island.
Dawn Platt, associate director of Chestertons’ Richmond branch, spoke to Rightmove: “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.”
She added: “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.”
The price for a property in Richmond upon Thames in the last 12 months is well above the national UK average at £981,551.
Richmond Park receives more than five million visits a year, according to Royal Parks, and having a beautiful park on the doorstep of your home may be a reason for one positive “happiness factor” rating in the Rightmove survey.
Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve and home to over 630 red and fallow deer who have been roaming freely since 1637.
The area is also a huge tourist destination which has recently become a pilgrimage for fans of the comedy show, ‘Ted Lasso’.
St Ives in Cornwall topped the Rightmove table last year, and in 2021 it was the market town of Hexham in Northumberland. This time round, those two locations were ranked ninth and 10th place, respectively.
In the current 2023 survey results, Winchester in Hampshire was ranked as the second “happiest place” to live in Britain.
