Richmond upon Thames crowned Britain's happiest place to live

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 11 Nov, 00:13 · Archive

Richmond upon Thames has been ranked the happiest place to live in Britain in Rightmove's latest survey, with the average home costing over £1 million.

Richmond upon Thames has been crowned the happiest place to live in Britain in Rightmove's 15th annual Happy at Home Index, based on responses from more than 24,000 people. The leafy London borough reclaimed the top spot after winning in 2023 and finishing second last year. Residents ranked the area highly for its access to nature and green spaces, essential local services, shops and restaurants, employment opportunities, and their pride in the local area.

Harrogate in North Yorkshire came second, whilst Cirencester in Gloucestershire placed third. Across Britain, Monmouth was the highest-ranked location in Wales, and Kirkcaldy in Scotland. Last year's winner, Skipton in North Yorkshire, remained in the top ten, ranking seventh. Across all surveyed locations, 81 per cent of respondents said they were happy with where they lived.

Richmond's desirable status comes at a cost: the average asking price for a home there stands at more than £1 million. The borough offers easy access to central London, riverside pathways along the Thames, and local amenities including boutiques and cafes. Councillor Nancy Baldwin, Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, said the recognition was 'especially meaningful because residents highlighted their pride in the local area, beautiful parks and green spaces, and the local services they rely on every day'.

How it is being reported

• Britain’s ‘happiest place to live’ has £1m average price tag for a homeThe "happy at home index" revealed the happiest places in Britain with locals praising the top areas for their green spaces, desirable jobs and essential servicesThe Mirror · 11 Nov, 00:02
• Do you live in the happiest place in Britain... or one of the worst? See where your home town fares in 221-strong rankingsRightmove's Happy at Home Index reveals the happiest and gloomiest locations to live in across Britain, according to their own residents.This is Money · 11 Nov, 00:02
• The UK's ‘happiest place to live’ where homes have an average price tag of £1mMore than 24,000 people responded to Rightmove’s 15th annual ‘happy at home index’ studyThe Independent · 11 Nov, 00:01
• Britain’s ‘happiest place to live’ has £1m average price tag for a homeRightmove has revealed the results of its 2026 survey, which indicated four-fifths of people are happy with where they live.Evening Standard · 11 Nov, 00:01

In this story: Richmond upon Thames · Rightmove · Harrogate · Cirencester · Monmouth · Kirkcaldy · Skipton · Nancy Baldwin

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