A new study has ranked all 32 London boroughs in order from best to worst with the winner named a ‘peaceful haven’
The leafy borough of Richmond has yet again been named the best place to live in London. The South West London area is never far from the top of lists ranking the most desirable neighbourhoods to move to or the happiest locations in the country.
Now a new study by the Telegraph has ranked and rated the 32 London boroughs in order, with Richmond, Westminster and Camden sitting on the podium. The points were tallied up covering categories including crime rates, ‘good vibes’, hospitality and the outdoors alongside others.
So MyLondon ventured to Richmond to gain a first hand understanding of why it has been deemed the best borough in London. Richmond has a charming and uplifting aura as soon as you arrive, it seems this happiness is due to the community feel within the location.
At the base of the borough is a solid support network between locals who live in Richmond and the independent businesses populating the cobbled streets. Mary Spiteri, owner of Titfertat Hats on Paved Court, shared: “I am unfortunately not a local, but I aspire to be, and I dream to live in Richmond one day.”
Mary has been the owner of Titfertat Hats for 29 years, commuting in each day, specialising in boutique millinery designs for special occasions, and described the borough as a ‘peaceful haven’. She told MyLondon: “As soon as I arrive in Richmond I think of happiness. I feel calm and happy because everything is there. I feel like I’m on holiday. It feels like a dream to be there.”
The historic buildings hold a special place with Mary, who added: “The Victorian style roads and fronted buildings make it so authentic and give it character and personality.” This glowing account of Richmond also comes from the sheer amount of open spaces making the borough feel special. “You don’t have anywhere like that in London,” she said.
With Richmond Park, the Green, Bushy Park and the River Thames all on the doorstep of the borough, locals, runners, cyclists and tourists are drawn to the nature within the area.
Bridget Baronti-Hunt is the owner of the gelato shop Gelateria Danieli, with two sites, one located on the attractive Brewers Lane, and one that faces Richmond Green. She said: “I think Richmond has always been a happy borough. We’ve been here 20 years, I lived here 30 years ago and I’ve always seen it as happy.
“We know all of our regulars by name, we know what flavours they like, we know their children. People have come in since we first opened with their babies and their ‘kids’ now are 20 years old.”
This is a business in the heart of the borough that does not just serve sweet treats, but it creates memories for customers. Bridget added: “People come in because they had an elderly parent who loved our hot chocolates and ice cream and now they’ve sadly passed away, but members of the family still come as they have fond memories here.”
This sentimentality and personable nature of Richmond is what attracts visitors from other parrots of London and tourists visiting. Gelateria Danieli created a hot chocolate recipe that was popular amongst the locals in Richmond for a matter of years.
An influencer then came in and posted a reel which gained millions of views. Bridget added: “It was an overnight success, I mean we went from serving a couple of hundred a day to serving a couple of thousand a day overnight.”
The traction Richmond creates has started luring in young people who are ready to reside and start families due to the low crime rate and safe, friendly feel of the borough.
Margaret Wallice, co-owner of the community bookshop The Alligator’s Mouth on Church Court, shared with MyLondon: “We have a lot of repeat customers and loyal customers from Richmond and the surrounding areas. Richmond is pretty and not far from Heathrow Airport, so we get quite a lot of tourists especially in Summer, we are a destination as well.”
People come from far and wide to be charmed by the borough, and this has increased due to tourists visiting to lay eyes upon locations shot in the TV show, Ted Lasso. Margaret said: “Some shops have pushed a giant cardboard cut out into the window to attract customers to come into the shops.”
The Ted Lasso effect has created a buzz around the borough, both helping businesses and taking over the streets with their local walking tours of the area, and booking out the infamous The Prince’s Head Pub. But the beauty and charm of Richmond existed even before the borough became a backdrop to the popular series.
The diverse and historic borough is one to put on the visit list and is beautifully located with Richmond Station connecting you to Vauxhall, Waterloo and the Mildmay Line.
London boroughs ranked from best to worst, according to the Telegraph
- Richmond-upon-Thames
- Westminster
- Camden
- Greenwich
- Southwark
- Bromley
- Hackney
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Tower Hamlets
- Waltham Forest
- Hounslow
- Wandsworth
- Barnet
- Lambeth
- Haringey
- Merton
- Islington
- Havering
- Croydon
- Bexley
- Enfield
- Lewisham
- Sutton
- Hillingdon
- Ealing
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Kingston-upon-Thames
- Redbridge
- Harrow
- Barking and Dagenham
- Newham
- Brent
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