Every London borough ranked from happiest to most miserable in 2024

by · Time Out London

There are two versions of London. There’s the one that is alive with incredible culture, fantastic green spaces and warm community spirit versus the one that has miserable grey skies, unafforable housing and an unfriendly reputation. Our city is huge, so it’s no surprise that it’s home to some of the happiest and most miserable people, according to Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index 2024. 

To come up with the ranking, Rightmove asked 35,000 people from towns, cities and villages across the UK about 15 ‘happiness factors’, including sense of community, access to green spaces, employment opportunities, cultural activities and access to amenities like good schools and doctors. 

With its huge green spaces, affluent neighbourhoods and artsy hubs, Richmond was named London’s happiest borough and the second happiest area nationally. The average house price in the borough is just under £1 million, so it’s little wonder that home owners there are content.

Kensington and Chelsea was named the city’s next happiest area. It’s got huge cultural landmarks like the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum, a bunch of five-star eateries and, according to Rightmove, its house prices over the last year have averaged almost £2m. It was followed by southwest borough Wandsworth in third place. 

At the other end of the spectrum, Barking and Dagenham was voted London’s unhappiest area (third unhappiest nationally, with Slough last), followed by Brent and Croydon. 

All of London’s boroughs ranked from most to least happy in 2024, according to Rightmove

  1. Richmond upon Thames 
  2. Kensington and Chelsea
  3. Wandsworth
  4. Westminster
  5. Southwark
  6. Bromley
  7. Waltham Forest
  8. Hammersmith and Fulham
  9. Hackney
  10. Camden
  11. Lewisham
  12. Merton
  13. Islington
  14. Kingston upon Thames
  15. Haringey
  16. City of London
  17. Greenwich
  18. Redbridge
  19. Tower Hamlets
  20. Lambeth
  21. Ealing
  22. Barnet
  23. Harrow
  24. Sutton
  25. Hounslow
  26. Enfield
  27. Hillingdon
  28. Havering
  29. Bexley
  30. Newham
  31. Brent
  32. Croydon
  33. Barking and Dagenham

I grew up in the ‘most miserable town in the UK’ – this is what it’s really like

This south London home has been crowned Britain’s ‘house of the year’ for 2024. 

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