Richmond upon Thames has officially been named the best place to live in London, according to a new national ranking compiled by Reach PLC's data team – despite being one of the most expensive areas in the country.

The borough ranked 64th out of 294 local authorities across England, but claimed the top spot for quality of life within the capital, based on a combination of factors including schools, NHS performance, crime rates, and access to green space.

High House Prices Drag Down Overall Score

While Richmond's overall national ranking may appear modest, the borough was heavily penalised for its soaring average house price of £788,485 as of February 2025 – placing it at 291st out of 294 in terms of housing affordability.

Top Marks for Education

One of Richmond's strongest areas was education. The borough was ranked 9th nationally for schooling, with an average Attainment 8 score of 56.4 for 2023/24.

This GCSE-based measure gives extra weight to English and Maths, and Richmond's performance placed it well above the national average.

Pupils in the borough also made above-average progress, with a Progress 8 score of 0.43, meaning local students gained more from their schooling than peers across England with similar prior attainment.

Strong NHS Access

Richmond also fared well in healthcare, ranking 12 nationally for access to NHS services. As of March 2025:

• 65.2% of patients were seen for treatment within the NHS's 18-week target.
• The median waiting time was 11.4 weeks.
• 83.7% of patients rated local GPs as 'good'.

Relatively Safe, But Room for Improvement on Amenities

In terms of crime, Richmond ranked 96th out of 294 with a crime rate of 61.7 incidents per 1,000 people in 2024 – notably lower than many other parts of London.

However, when it comes to local amenities, the borough placed further down the list at 180th.

Key statistics for October 2024 included:

• Parks and play areas: 72.6 per 100,000 people
• Pubs: 61.4 per 100,000 people
• Community facilities: 47.6 per 100,000 people
• Post offices: 8.2 per 100,000 people
• 78% of residents lived within a 15-minute walk of a railway station

A Strong Showing – With One Major Drawback

Reach PLC said Richmond's relatively modest national ranking was largely due to its housing market, explaining: "Local authorities in London are consistently let down by high house prices – if these weren't taken into account, Richmond upon Thames would have ranked 22nd overall."

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