Richmond upon Thames tops happy at home index, Barking at bottom
Rightmove’s 2026 survey placed Richmond first in the nation while Barking and Dagenham ranked 221st, the lowest London borough
News London evidence indexOpen analysis ▾
Trust score 68: includes named officials and Rightmove data, but lacks multiple independent sources.
Higher is stronger
Critic score 72: clear context and quotes, but reads like a press release with limited original reporting.
Higher is stronger
Hype score 30: mildly promotional headline, otherwise measured language without sensational exaggeration.
Lower is better
Richmond upon Thames was crowned the happiest borough in Britain in Rightmove’s 15th annual Happy at Home Index, the Standard reported. The survey also identified Barking and Dagenham as the least happy London borough, ranking 221st across the United Kingdom.
Why Richmond topped the list
Richmond upon Thames named happiest place to live
The London borough tops Rightmove's annual survey, with an average house price exceeding £1 million.
The Rightmove study highlighted Richmond’s blend of extensive green spaces, reliable local services and a vibrant retail and dining scene. Respondents also praised the borough’s employment prospects and the ease of reaching work or leisure destinations by public transport.
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.
Nancy Baldwin, Mayor of Richmond upon Thames
Barking and Dagenham at the bottom
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Barking and Dagenham fell to 221st place, the lowest position for any London borough in the index. The Standard noted that the borough sits alongside Lewisham, Havering, Harrow and Croydon in the capital’s bottom five, suggesting residents there feel less satisfied with local amenities and transport links.
What the ranking means for London
Richmond’s return to the top follows a previous win in 2023 and a second‑place finish last year, showing a consistent level of resident satisfaction. Other London boroughs in the national top twenty include Kensington and Chelsea at 12th and Kingston upon Thames at 13th, indicating pockets of high contentment across the capital.
Rightmove plans to release the next edition of the Happy at Home Index in early 2027. The company encourages local authorities to examine the factors driving satisfaction in top‑ranked areas and to address the concerns highlighted by residents in lower‑ranked boroughs.
Questions this report answers
+Which borough topped the Rightmove happy at home index?
Richmond upon Thames was placed first in Rightmove’s 2026 Happy at Home Index, as reported by the Standard. The ranking reflects residents’ high satisfaction with green spaces, services and employment opportunities in the borough.
+How many people took part in the survey?
The Rightmove survey collected responses from more than 24,000 people across the United Kingdom. Around four‑fifths of those respondents, 81%, said they are happy with where they live, according to the Standard’s coverage.
+Which London borough was ranked the lowest?
Barking and Dagenham was identified as the least happy London borough, placed 221st nationally in the Rightmove index. It appears at the bottom of the capital’s rankings, alongside Lewisham, Havering, Harrow and Croydon.
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Richmond upon Thames named happiest place to live