The happiest place to live in Britain has been revealed, but anyone hoping to move there may need deep pockets, with average house prices now topping £1million. Richmond upon Thames in south-west London has been crowned the happiest place to live in Great Britain in Rightmove’s annual Happy at Home Index. The borough reclaimed the top spot after previously winning in 2023 and finishing second last year. However, the desirable location comes with a hefty price tag. The average asking price of a property in Richmond reached £1,021,256 in October 2026, while average monthly rents stood at £3,298.
More than 24,000 residents across 221 locations took part in the research, rating how happy they were with where they lived. The survey considered factors including access to nature and green spaces, local services, shops, restaurants and employment opportunities.
Richmond came first in Great Britain for access to green spaces, essential local services, shops and restaurants, employment opportunities and residents’ pride in their area. Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert, 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 findings.” She added that the happiest locations were often those combining the best elements of urban and rural living.
Harrogate in Yorkshire and the Humber took second place, with average asking prices of £395,776 and monthly rents of £1,750. Cirencester in Gloucestershire came third, where the average asking price was £407,368 and rent averaged £1,633 a month.
Monmouth was named the happiest place in Wales, while Kirkcaldy topped the Scottish rankings. The research also found that access to nature was a common feature among the highest-ranked locations, with eight of the top ten also scoring highly for green spaces.
Despite the appeal of rural living, the survey suggested people still wanted everyday conveniences close by. More than half of respondents said they would ideally live somewhere rural, but 66% wanted shops and amenities nearby, 62% wanted green spaces and 61% valued good public transport.
Across Great Britain, four in five people (81%) said they were happy with where they lived, compared with just 9% who said they were unhappy.
The South West recorded the highest average happiness rating, while Greater London had the lowest overall, despite Richmond taking the national top spot.
Age also appeared to play a role. More than a third (35%) of people aged over 75 gave their area a perfect 10 for happiness, compared with just 16% of those aged between 18 and 24.
The average happiness score rose from 7.3 out of 10 among the youngest age group to 8.2 among those aged 75 and over.
The Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Councillor Nancy Baldwin, said: “It is wonderful to see Richmond upon Thames recognised as the happiest place to live in Great Britain.
“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.”
She added that the borough’s people and communities were what made it such a happy place to call home.
