Richmond upon Thames has been named Britain's happiest place to live in Rightmove's 2026 Happy at Home Index. This marks a return to the top position for Richmond, which also led the rankings in 2023.
The findings are based on a survey of over 24,000 residents across 221 locations in Great Britain. Harrogate and Cirencester secured second and third place respectively.
Despite Richmond's high ranking, Greater London recorded the lowest overall happiness levels among all regions. Barking and Dagenham finished last out of all 221 locations surveyed.
Richmond's top spot comes with a high cost of living. In October, the average asking price for property in Richmond reached £1,021,256, and average advertised rents were £3,298 per month.
Access to nature and green spaces was a significant factor in the rankings, with eight of the top ten happiest locations performing strongly in this area. Richmond ranked first for access to nature, essential services, shops, and restaurants, and was also rated highly for employment opportunities and local pride.