The riverside space was named ‘London’s Happiest Place to Stay’ for the eighth 12 months operating

The south-west London borough is thought for its inexperienced areas — comparable to the two,500-acre, deer-infested Richmond Park and Kew Gardens — riverside pubs and the 82,000-seat Twickenham Stadium.

Favored by the likes of Holly Willoughby, Sir David Attenborough and Tom Hardy, it has lengthy been one among London’s most sought-after locations to reside, topping Rightmove’s annual Completely satisfied at Dwelling Index for the previous eight years.

The examine, which has been ongoing for 11 years, measures the impact of things comparable to a way of belonging, entry to inexperienced areas and robust group on total happiness. The highest spot throughout the UK this 12 months is Cornwall’s St Ives, adopted by Galashiels in Scotland and Woodbridge in Suffolk.

Total, Richmond ranks eleventh^Th happiest place to reside within the UK and is the one place in London to make the highest 20. Final 12 months, Richmond got here in second nationally.

Private elements – comparable to having pleasant neighbors and a way of belonging – are taking part in an more and more vital position in residents’ happiness, explains Rightmove’s Tim Bannister.

“This 12 months’s Completely satisfied at Dwelling survey actually reveals that what makes folks pleased to reside of their space isn’t a lot the bodily facets of that space however extra the private facets, comparable to our sense of belonging, the group and the folks.

“The previous few months have undoubtedly been tough for a lot of, and as we discovered throughout one other tough interval in 2020, it is typically after we look to our neighborhood and group for help and happiness,” mentioned Bannister.

Why Richmond?

In response to Rightmove, Richmond’s sports activities and leisure services and entry to inexperienced areas and nature are key to residents’ happiness.

“It’s going to come as no shock to see Richmond topped the happiest place to reside in London as soon as once more,” mentioned Xavier Marqués-Wicks of Chesterton property company in Richmond, who has lived within the borough for many of his life and has labored as agent. there for 17 years.

“It is a very stunning space. It is your traditional city village with an enormous quantity of inexperienced area proper on the doorstep. Richmond Park is gorgeous, and the Thames Towpath has among the most stunning stretches of the Thames.

“It supplies a really snug life-style for folks — you may have that nation, outside life-style or the city, metropolis life-style. You are able to do each from Richmond.”

Town’s good transport hyperlinks and colleges are additionally key to its enduring enchantment, significantly amongst households, argues Marqués-Wicks. Amongst its longtime residents, Richmond is well-liked with younger professionals trying to transfer to the suburbs to boost households — a development that has intensified for the reason that pandemic. “However as soon as individuals are right here, they do not often transfer out of the district. As soon as you purchase a home right here, it often would not come up for a very long time.”

Richmond is likely one of the capital’s costliest areas to purchase a property, with properties costing £935,644 on common, in response to Rightmove’s newest figures.

Nevertheless, regardless of rising demand for property within the borough and restricted growth alternatives, costs are extra steady than virtually anyplace in London. “It’s not a brand new space that has out of the blue tripled in worth. It is rather more established — there’s a whole lot of previous cash right here. It’s perceived as a haven when it comes to cash if you happen to purchase a home, says Marqués-Wicks.

London’s Happiest Areas

After Richmond, Islington is London’s second happiest space, adopted by Westminster and Wandsworth, ranked 49^Th51^St and 53^rd nationwide.

This 12 months’s information for the capital suggests interior London boroughs have gotten happier locations to reside. Final 12 months Bromley, Kingston upon Thames and Wandsworth have been ranked because the happiest areas after Richmond, whereas this 12 months Islington, Westminster, Southwark and Camden have all climbed up the checklist.

Rightmove’s outcomes present that Islington advantages for its entry to eating places and retailers, whereas Westminster residents additionally scored extremely for his or her space for this and for the supply of important companies comparable to docs and colleges.

These are additionally among the costliest areas within the capital to purchase a house. Westminster is London’s second costliest borough after Kensington and Chelsea, with properties costing a median of £1,458,992. Camden is third, with a median residence costing £1,073,183. In Wandsworth, properties value £824,945, adopted by £796,579 in Islington.

There’s additionally a correlation between affordability and happiness ranges on the opposite aspect of the desk. Barking and Dagenham ranks as London’s least pleased borough, and it is also the place the place property costs are the bottom, at £375,517 on common.

Newham and Enfield, the place properties value £467,883 and £513,295 respectively, sit above Barking and Dagenham in Rightmove’s examine.

So, does cash purchase happiness?

“I am positive cash helps,” Marqués-Wicks says of Richmond, although he places his constantly excessive luck scores right down to different elements. “I’d add it extra to the world. Geographically, it is a good place to spend your days off; to boost your youngsters…It is in regards to the life-style it supplies. It’s totally inexperienced, very scenic, which is sweet for everyone happiness.”

Exterior of London

In 2021, commuter cities comparable to Guildford, Horsham, St Alban’s and Hitchin have been all within the high 20 happiest areas to reside within the UK. This 12 months, they not find yourself within the high spots, as distant work and hybrid work have gotten extra frequent. In response to Rightmove, 65% of respondents mentioned they may earn a living from home, permitting consumers and tenants to be extra versatile of their seek for a property.

Together with Richmond, St Ives, Hexham, Harrogate, Leamington Spa and Perth are constantly among the many happiest locations to reside. Paul Le Bas, Enterprise Improvement Gross sales Supervisor at Millerson, attributes St Ives’ success to the standard of life: “St Ives has a vibrant and energetic local people that enjoys all of the native golf equipment and leisure services throughout the winter months.

“In the course of the summer season months we get to benefit from the three award successful seashores and implausible browsing at Porthmeor while becoming a member of the holidaymakers. All 12 months spherical we will go to the implausible eating places and café bars, most of that are extremely rated within the nationwide press. The coastal walks are second to none.. . Because the seasons change, so does town.”