RICHMOND IS UK’S TOP HAPPY PLACE – New survey says

Richmond upon Thames is the happiest place to live in the UK in 2026, according to Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index.

The area ranked most highly for access to nature and green spaces, essential local services, shops and restaurants, employment opportunities and desirable jobs, as well as residents’ pride in their area.

But it is expensive.

The average asking price in the area is £1,021,256, 175% more than the Great Britain average of £371,015 (Rightmove House Price Index, October 2026).

In second place is Harrogate in Yorkshire and the Humber, and in third place is Cirencester, Gloucestershire in the South West.

Mayor of Richmond upon Thames councillor Nancy Baldwin said: “This recognition is especially meaningful because residents highlighted their pride in the local area, our beautiful parks and green spaces, and the local services they rely on every day.

“Above all, it is our people and communities that make Richmond special.”

Here are the 10 happiest places to live in Great Britain for 2026:

Rank	Place	Region	Average asking price (Oct 2026)	Average asking rent (per calendar month)
1	Richmond upon Thames	Greater London	£1,021,256	£3,298
2	Harrogate	Yorkshire and The Humber	£395,776	£1,750
3	Cirencester	South West	£407,368	£1,633
4	Monmouth	Wales	£366,782	£1,395
5	Hove	South East	£476,115	£2,086
6	Chorley	North West	£234,387	£1,011
7	Skipton	Yorkshire and The Humber	£304,033	£1,110
8	Llandrindod Wells	Wales	£234,417	£531
9	Horsham	South East	£470,577	£1,933
10	Hexham	North East	£317,332	£1,329

 

Rightmove’s 2026 Happy at Home Index is based on a survey of 24,375 people from 221 locations across Great Britain.

Respondents rated how happy they feel about where they live, scoring factors such as access to nature and green spaces, local services, amenities and employment opportunities out of 10.

Scores of 7 to 10 were classed as happy, 1 to 4 as unhappy, and 5 or 6 as neither happy nor unhappy. Overall, 81% of respondents said they were happy with where they live, 9% said they were unhappy, and 10% were indifferent.

Residents of the south-west London borough gave their area the highest average happiness score of all the locations in this year’s study.

Richmond came out on top in Great Britain for several aspects of local life. Residents said they feel proud of the area they live in, and rated it particularly highly for access to nature and green spaces, non-essential amenities such as restaurants and shops, and essential local services such as doctors and schools.

Amy Reynolds, Head of Sales at Antony Roberts in Richmond upon Thames, says: “We see it every week. Families are drawn to Richmond for its excellent schools and green spaces, and they stay for the strong sense of community.

“With Richmond Park and the Thames on the doorstep, a thriving town centre and plenty of places to eat, shop and spend time, it offers a quality of life that’s hard to match in London.

“Add in the easy journey into central London, and it’s easy to see why people are so happy to call Richmond home.”

Place	How residents feel about the local area (highest scoring)	Residents rated the area most highly for
1. Richmond upon Thames	They feel proud to live there	Access to nature and green spaces (1), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (2), essential local services like doctors and schools (3)
2. Harrogate	The people are friendly and polite	Access to nature and green spaces (1), essential local services like doctors and schools (2), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (3)
3. Cirencester	They can be themselves	Access to nature and green spaces (1), essential local services like doctors and schools (2), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (3)
4. Monmouth	The people are friendly and polite	Access to nature and green spaces (1), essential local services like doctors and schools (2), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (3)
5. Hove	They can be themselves	Public transport connections (1), access to nature and green space (2), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (3)
6. Chorley	The people are friendly and polite	Access to nature and green spaces (1), essential local services like doctors and schools (2), public transport (3)
7. Skipton	They feel proud to live there	Access to nature and green spaces (1), essential local services like doctors and schools (2), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (3)
8. Llandrindod Wells	The people are friendly and polite	Access to nature and green spaces (1), essential local services like doctors and schools (2), artistic and cultural activities (3)
9. Horsham	The people are friendly and polite	Access to nature and green spaces (1), sports and recreational activities (2), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (3)
10. Hexham	The people are friendly and polite	Access to nature and green spaces (1), essential local services like doctors and schools (2), non-essential amenities like restaurants and shops (3)