Britain’s ‘happiest place’ revealed: Richmond upon Thames tops ‘happy at home’ index where locals feel ‘pride, belonging and community’ – does YOUR hometown make the list?
- The average price for a house in Richmond upon Thames is £952,305
Richmond upon Thames has been voted the happiest place to live in Britain, followed by Winchester and Monmouth.
The southwest London borough, home to both Sir David Attenborough and Britain’s Got Talent’s Amanda Holden, scored points for its picturesque green spaces and strong sense of belonging.
It marks the first time Richmond upon Thames has topped the ‘happy at home’ poll conducted by Rightmove – which asked more than 26,000 people how they feel about where they live.
The average price for a house in Richmond upon Thames is an eyewatering £952,305, while runner-up Winchester has a significantly lower average of £571,613.
Dawn Platt, associate director of Chesterton’s Richmond branch, said: ‘Richmond really has got it all. Access to nature, schools, entertainment, good eateries, bars and shops.’
Richmond upon Thames has been voted the happiest place to live in Britain, followed by Winchester and Monmouth
RICHMOND UPON THAMES: This London borough has been voted the happiest place to live in Britain
RICHMOND UPON THAMES: It is home to attractions such as Hampton Court Palace
Locations for the poll were judged based on factors such as green spaces, community spirit, job opportunities and amenities such as schools.
Richmond upon Thames features more than 500 hectares of green areas such as Kew Gardens and Bushy Park, and is also home to attractions such as Hampton Court Palace.
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.’
Last year’s winner, St Ives in Cornwall, fell further down the list in ninth place this year.
The average price of a house in St Ives is £515,352 – significantly lower than Richmond upon Thames’ average.
RICHMOND UPON THAMES: The area was praised for its selection of great shops, bars and eateries
WINCHESTER: Winchester was runner-up this year, with an average house price of £571,613
WINCHESTER: The area was also praised for its good shops, nice scenery and sense of community
MONMOUTH: The average price for a property in Monmouth, Wales, is £349,312
ST IVES: St Ives in Cornwall was last year’s winner and fell further down the list in ninth place this year
Monmouth in Wales came in third place, Wokingham in Berkshire came fourth, and Cirencester in Gloucestershire came fifth.
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert, said: ‘Searching for new areas outside of the city that are still commutable on office days and looking for cheaper properties that are in need of renovation are just some of the actions we’ve seen determined movers take this year.
‘The results of this year’s study highlights that residents continue to value living near green spaces and natural beauty, features that became all the more important during the pandemic.
‘With moving to an area that makes them happy a key motivator for people looking for their next home, highlighting these types of features nearby could really help sellers looking to appeal to potential buyers.’
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