Study asked residents to rank 12 lifestyle factors.
Richmond upon Thames has come top for the second year in a row as the place locals say they are happiest in the capital.
Kingston upon Thames comes second, according to Rightmove’s annual Happy at Home Index.
The poll asked residents to rate where they live based on 12 happiness factors, across 206 areas in Great Britain.
The study asks residents to rank 12 factors about where they live, with Richmond scoring highly for friendly neighbours and a strong community spirit, as well as good access to sports activities and nature and green spaces.
The current asking price for property in Richmond is £829,533, so those looking for a less expensive alternative could look to second placed Kingston, which scored highly for good access to non-essential amenities and has an average asking price of £607,330.
Bromley in south London was awarded third happiest place to live. Bromley scored highly for being a place where locals say they earn enough to live comfortably, had a strong sense of belonging and had good access to nature and green spaces. The current average asking price is £531,374.
Rightmove’s research manager Abiola Oni said: “It shows just how important having friendly people in the local community area is alongside the services and amenities to make people happy, which is something buyers often tell us when they are looking for somewhere new to live.
“Space is also one of the most important things when people are looking for a new home, so it’s not surprising that places with good access to nature and green spaces like Richmond upon Thames have featured so highly.”
Xavier Marqués-Wicks, associate director at Chestertons in Richmond, says: “Richmond is one of London’s most pleasant suburbs, with great shops, cafés and restaurants – Petersham Nurseries being a personal favourite – and plenty of culture to be had as well. Plus there’s an abundance of parks and leafy gardens, with plenty of scope for leisure activities such as horse-riding and cycling around Richmond Park, or a walk or jog along the Thames towpath.
“There’s top-class sport on hand too, with rugby, cricket, tennis and archery down at Old Deer Park, and English Rugby’s HQ just across the road in Twickenham. And of course the range of properties on offer here is also exceptional, from funky studio pads with great views of the river to large five-bed family homes surrounded by magnificent gardens. Factor in the excellent transport links to central London and Heathrow, and the borough’s top-class schools, and you really have a winning combination – it’s no wonder this corner of south-west London is so popular!”
