We live in Britain’s unhappiest town – it’s rough and we won’t go out at night: West London locals say gang crime is blighting their streets (but the UK’s happiest town just 12 miles away say it’s better than the south of France!)

Residents in ‘Britain’s unhappiest town’ say crime and gang activity has blighted their streets and keeps them from going out at night.

Hillingdon was yesterday revealed as Britain’s unhappiest place to live in Rightmove’s Happy at Home index. The borough – where the average house price is £483,556 – is the largest in west London and takes in Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip, Uxbridge, and Yiewsley and West Drayton.

A longtime Hillingdon resident is not surprised the suburb – where celebrities including James Cordon, Andy Serkis and Ronnie Wood come from –  was named one of the worst places to live in the country, saying it’s ‘pretty rough’ and filled with ‘pickpockets, beggars and gangs’.

Meanwhile, less than 10 miles away in Richmond-upon-Thames, locals welcomed the news it had been voted the happiest place to live in Britain, with one even claiming the area was ‘better’ than the south of France.

The southwest London borough, home to both Sir David Attenborough and Britain’s Got Talent’s Amanda Holden, scored points for its picturesque green spaces and strong sense of belonging.

But it’s not a cheap enclave of the capital, with house prices averaging £952,305. 

Margaret Ward (pictured) who lives in Uxbridge said she thought the survey result was ‘bonkers’

Richmond upon Thames has been voted the happiest place to live in Britain, followed by Winchester and Monmouth

Richmond upon Thames has been voted the happiest place to live in Britain, followed by Winchester and Monmouth

Sleeping bags, cardboard, a mug and some rubbish is pictured under shelter in Uxbridge

Sleeping bags, cardboard, a mug and some rubbish is pictured under shelter in Uxbridge 

However, others reacted with surprise to the news that Hillingdon had been voted ‘Britain’s unhappiest town’. 

Uxbridge local Margaret Ward, 31, said: ‘I think it’s bonkers that Hillingdon came out last. I came here as a baby and it’s a really homely place to live. Whenever I go on holiday I am always aching to get back home.’

‘We have everything on our doorstep here, and I can walk to the shopping centre that has every kind of shop you might need.

‘The only thing that is not great is the introduction of the new ULEZ tax locally.’

Friends Carol Toombes, 75, and Donna Norman, 63, were also shocked to hear their borough sank to last in the ratings. 

Sipping mulled wine from a stand in the nearby Christmas market, Carol, from Uxbridge, said: ‘Look around you, it’s a fantastic place to live. I can’t believe that so many people here claim to be unhappy. 

‘It’s got everything you need, and has brilliant amenities for OAPS. I love using my Hillingdon resident card to get discounts.’

Carol said the only thing she was sad about was the fact that Boris Johnson was no longer the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Donna, who brought up her family in nearby Ickenham, added: ‘The open spaces here are great, and were especially so during lockdown. 

‘We have an excellent leisure centre and a local lido, and some great parks. The centre of London is on our doorstep, so is Windsor Castle, and if we ever need to go anywhere, we can jump on the M25.’

Donna Norman, 63, said she was shocked to hear Hillingdon was last in the happiness ratings

Donna Norman, 63, (pictured) was also shocked to hear her borough sank to last in the ratings

Ilva Henderson, 74, has lived in Uxbridge since 2010 and said she loved the 'community spirit'

Ilva Henderson, 74, (pictured) has lived in Uxbridge since 2010 and said she loved the ‘community spirit’

The Chimes shopping centre in Uxbridge, which is within the London Borough of Hillingdon

The Chimes shopping centre in Uxbridge

A bus passes through Uxbridge in West London, which is part of the Borough of Hillingdon

Uxbridge, a borough in Hillingdon 

Ilva Henderson, 74, has lived in Uxbridge since 2010, and used to work as admin clerk before retiring.

‘When I first came here from Fulham, I found it very quiet. But I love the community spirit here and the facilities like the local libraries are great,’ she said. 

She said that she found the results of the survey ‘really odd’ adding that  Hillingdon won a Green Flag award earlier this year for being the greenest borough in London for the eleventh year running. 

One resident, 74-year-old Malcolm John Innes – who used to work as a groundsman at Brunel University – has lived in Uxbridge for over 30 years and said the area has gone down hill.

Malcolm John Innes has lived in Uxbridge for over 30 years and said it has gone downhill

Malcolm John Innes (pictured) has lived in Uxbridge for over 30 years and said the area has gone down hill

South Ruislip (station picured) is one of the areas that comes under the Borough of Hillingdon

South Ruislip (pictured) is one of the areas that comes under the borough of Hillingdon, which was ranked the unhappiest place to live

West Drayton is also within the London Borough of Hillingdon which came bottom of the list

West Drayton (pictured) is one of the areas that comes under the borough of Hillingdon, which was ranked the unhappiest place to live

He said: ‘The crime rate here is pretty bad. It’s pretty rough in many of the town centres, and there are pickpockets, beggars and gangs around. I certainly would not go out here at night.’ 

On the other side of the capital, it was the first time Richmond upon Thames has topped the ‘happy at home’ poll conducted by Rightmove – which asked more than 26,000 people how they feel about where they live.

John Osborne, who has lived in the town of Richmond for 43 years, said: ‘I am not at all surprised. It’s a lovely town. 

‘Apart from the high street you only have to look around to see all the green spaces we can enjoy. I regularly enjoy a visit to the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.’

Mr Osborne, 76, who brought up his family in the town and whose children attended local schools, added: ‘The community spirit is great here, you don’t actually need to leave as it’s all on your doorstep, including two excellent theatres.’

Janet Lewis said Richmond is an expensive place to live but she loves the independent shops

Janet Lewis said Richmond is an expensive place to live but she loves the independent shops 

The Cricketers pub in Richmond upon Thames in South West London is a popular spot

The average price for a house in Richmond upon Thames (pictured) is an eyewatering £952,305, while runner-up Winchester has a significantly lower average of £571,613 

John Osborne, who has lived in Richmond for 43 years, said he was not surprised at the borough coming top of the Rightmove happiness index because it is a 'lovely town'

John Osborne (pictured), who has lived in the town of Richmond for 43 years said he was not surprised as it is a ‘lovely town’

Elizabeth Ward, 67,  has lived in Richmond for 15 years and said it is a 'fantastic place to live'

Elizabeth Ward, 67, originally from Belgium, has lived in Richmond for 15 years and said it’s a ‘fantastic place to live’

Richmond sits next to the Thames, with the path alongside the river a popular walking area

Richmond (pictured) is home to both Sir David Attenborough and Britain’s Got Talent ‘s Amanda Holden

Richmond upon Thames features more than 500 hectares of green areas such as Kew Gardens and Bushy Park, and is also home to attractions such as Hampton Court Palace. 

Elizabeth Ward, 67, originally from Belgium, has shared a flat in Richmond for 15 years with her British lecturer husband. 

She said: ‘I love it here. We also have a house in the South of France, but every time I come back here, I literally punch the air. It is a fantastic place to live, and it makes me happy being here.’

The book editor added: ‘Yes the South of France has good weather, but there are things better here, if you don’t mind the cold and rain. For example, I am vegetarian and the restaurants are amazing here.’

Richmond-upon-Thames is known for its green spaces. Pictured above are deer at Bushy Park

Richmond Upon Thames is known for its green spaces. Pictures here are deer in Bushy Park

The borough of Richmond is home to Kew Gardens (above), the world-renowned green space

The borough of Richmond is home to Kew Gardens (pictured), a world renowned green space which royalty from around the world have visited 

And Janet Lewis, from nearby Kingston (covered under the borough of Kingston upon Thames) said: ‘It’s a very expensive place to live. When my children were young we took them to the local pantomime, and all the independent shops and boutiques here are amazing.’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: ‘I’m delighted for Richmond to win this award. 

‘It has so much of what makes London so special – its access to beautiful green spaces, its real sense of community, and an array of shops, cafes and local culture that makes it stand out.’ 

Dawn Platt, associate director of Chesterton’s Richmond branch, said: ‘Richmond really has got it all. Access to nature, schools, entertainment, good eateries, bars and shops.’ 

Last year’s winner, St Ives in Cornwall, fell further down the list in ninth place this year. 

The average price of a house in St Ives is £515,352 – significantly lower than Richmond upon Thames’ average. 

RIGHTMOVE HAPPY AT HOME INDEX 2023: THE FULL LIST OF 218 AREAS 
PLACE NATIONAL RANK REGIONAL RANK
Richmond upon Thames 1 1
Winchester 2 1
Monmouth 3 1
Wokingham 4 2
Cirencester 5 1
Skipton 6 1
Hemel Hempstead 7 1
Kensington and Chelsea 8 2
St Ives 9 2
Hexham 10 1
Leigh-on-Sea 11 2
Harrogate 12 2
Clacton on Sea 13 3
Kendal 14 1
Galashiels 15 1
Weymouth 16 3
Woodbridge 17 4
Anglesey 18 2
St. Albans 19 5
Stourbridge 20 1
City of London 21 3
Bishop’s Stortford 22 6
Camden 23 4
Leamington Spa 24 2
Wandsworth 25 5
Tunbridge Wells 26 3
Guildford 27 4
Kingston upon Thames 28 6
Altrincham 29 2
Worcester 30 3
Farnham 31 5
Dorchester 32 4
Tonbridge 33 6
Chorley 34 3
Llandrindod Wells 35 3
Plymouth 36 5
Worthing 37 7
New Quay 38 4
Windsor 39 8
Islington 40 7
Hereford 41 4
Horsham 42 9
Chester 43 4
Southwark 44 8
Newcastle upon Tyne 45 2
Bromley 46 9
York 47 3
Stratford on Avon 48 5
Hitchin 49 7
Hammersmith and Fulham 50 10
Bracknell 51 10
Falmouth 52 6
Inverness 53 2
Salisbury 54 7
Dumfries 55 3
Exeter 56 8
Wirral 57 5
Dundee 58 4
Bury 59 6
Poole 60 9
Halifax 61 4
Macclesfield 62 7
Chichester 63 11
Sevenoaks 64 12
Cheltenham 65 10
Bath 66 11
Shrewsbury 67 6
Solihull 68 7
Isle of Wight 69 13
Whitby 70 5
Hove 71 14
Aylesbury 72 15
Chesterfield 73 1
Southport 74 8
Maidenhead 75 16
Gloucester 76 12
Wrexham 77 5
Perth 78 5
Hastings 79 17
Falkirk 80 6
Fareham 81 18
Norwich 82 8
Ayr 83 7
High Wycombe 84 19
Stirling 85 8
Bridgend 86 6
Newbury 87 20
Torquay 88 13
Barnstaple 89 14
Edinburgh 90 9
Bury St Edmunds 91 9
Bournemouth 92 15
Brighton 93 21
Swansea 94 7
Sheffield 95 6
Greenwich 96 11
Kilmarnock 97 10
Stockport 98 9
Cambridge 99 10
Llandudno 100 8
Lichfield 101 8
Stafford 102 9
Waltham Forest 103 12
Telford 104 10
Oxford 105 22
Hertford 106 11
Sutton Coldfield 107 11
Huntingdon 108 12
Bristol 109 16
Hackney 110 13
Westminster 111 14
Truro 112 17
Leeds 113 7
Southampton 114 23
Weston Super Mare 115 18
Glasgow 116 11
Milton Keynes 117 24
Nottingham 118 2
Lewisham 119 15
Northwich 120 10
Aberdeen 121 12
Sutton 122 16
Ipswich 123 13
Ely 124 14
Canterbury 125 25
Folkestone 126 26
Lincoln 127 3
Merton 128 17
Burnley 129 11
Lambeth 130 18
Watford 131 15
Epsom 132 27
Carlisle 133 12
Ealing 134 19
Kirkcaldy 135 13
Cardiff 136 9
Colchester 137 16
Stevenage 138 17
Durham 139 3
Warrington 140 13
Cleveland 141 4
Crewe 142 14
Enfield 143 20
Lancaster 144 15
Grimsby 145 8
Salford 146 16
Paisley 147 14
Preston 148 17
Chelmsford 149 18
Fleet 150 28
Hull 151 9
Huddersfield 152 10
Woking 153 29
Tower Hamlets 154 21
Stoke on Trent 155 12
Taunton 156 19
Bedford 157 19
Redhill 158 30
Leicester 159 4
Mansfield 160 5
Darlington 161 5
Eastbourne 162 31
Derby 163 6
Loughborough 164 7
Blackburn 165 18
Barnet 166 22
Northampton 167 8
Hounslow 168 23
Caerphilly 169 10
Harrow 170 24
Coventry 171 13
Reading 172 32
Barnsley 173 11
Wolverhampton 174 14
Crawley 175 33
Basingstoke 176 34
Liverpool 177 19
Manchester 178 20
Haringey 179 25
Blackpool 180 21
Bexley 181 26
Swindon 182 20
Bolton 183 22
Yeovil 184 21
Portsmouth 185 35
Wakefield 186 12
Wigan 187 23
Gateshead 188 6
Redbridge 189 27
Walsall 190 15
Doncaster 191 13
Motherwell 192 15
Havering 193 28
Maidstone 194 36
Sunderland 195 7
Birmingham 196 16
Kettering 197 9
Southend on Sea 198 20
Ashford 199 37
Middlesbrough 200 8
Dartford 201  38
Peterborough 202 21
Rochdale 203 24
Rochester 204 39
Basildon 205 22
Oldham 206 25
Newport 207 11
Brent 208 29
Banbury 209 40
Dudley 210 17
Luton 211 23
Barking and Dagenham 212 30
Newham 213 31
Croydon 214 32
Rotherham 215 14
Bradford 216 15
Slough 217 41
Hillingdon 218 33

Reference

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