Britain’s ‘happiest place to live’ has £1m average price tag for a home

Résumé détaillé

The "happy at home index" revealed the happiest places in Britain with locals praising the top areas for their green spaces, desirable jobs and essential services

Richmond upon Thames has been crowned the happiest place to live in Britain in a new survey – but living there comes at a price, with the average asking price for a home there standing at more than £1 million.

The borough, which is often voted one of most desirable parts of the capital to live in, has easy access to central London and residents are able to stroll down the Thames pathways, spot roaming deer, and enjoy boutiques and cafes.

Harrogate in North Yorkshire was placed second, while Cirencester in Gloucestershire was third, according to Rightmove’s 15th annual “happy at home index”. In Wales, Monmouth was the highest ranked, while in Scotland Kirkcaldy took the top spot.

Last year’s winner, Skipton in North Yorkshire, also remained among Britain’s 10 happiest places to live, ranking seventh in this year’s study, which collected responses from more than 24,000 people.

Richmond upon Thames has returned to number one after previously winning in 2023 and finishing second last year.

The leafy London borough ranked particularly highly across several aspects of local life, including 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, Rightmove said.

Fans of hit TV series Ted Lasso will also recognise filming locations in Richmond. Second-placed Harrogate also ranked highly for access to nature and green spaces, as well as residents’ agreement with the statement: “I can be myself,” according to the study.

Across Britain, four-fifths (81 per cent) of people who took part in the survey said they are happy with where they live. Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “Richmond stands out for offering a combination many people value: easy access to nature and green spaces, without having to give up local services, places to eat and shop, or employment opportunities.

“That balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider…

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