Every year, Rightmove asks thousands of people across Great Britain about their feelings toward where they live, covering factors such as community pride, safety, and overall satisfaction.
This year’s study was completed by over 35,000 residents, providing a broad and representative picture of local happiness levels across the country.
Of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London included in the survey, Bexley ranked 29th, making it the lowest-ranked borough in south east London and the second lowest across all of south London.
Croydon was named the unhappiest borough in south London as a whole, placing below Bexley in the wider city rankings.
Several factors may explain why Bexley received this low ranking.
One significant reason is its limited public transport options.
Bexley is one of the few London boroughs without access to the London Underground or the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) network.
As a result, many residents rely heavily on bus services and National Rail trains to commute, which can often lead to longer and less convenient journeys.
This limited connectivity also increases car dependency among residents, contributing to higher traffic congestion, especially during peak travel times.
These transport challenges can negatively impact day-to-day life and residents’ satisfaction with their local area.
In terms of safety, Bexley continues to maintain a reputation as one of the safer boroughs in London.
Although its overall crime rate remains below the London average, recent data from the Metropolitan Police indicates a rise since January in certain types of offences, including physical violence, theft, vehicle-related crimes, and arson and criminal damage.
The annual crime rate in the Bexley postcode area currently stands at 57.8 crimes per 1,000 residents.
While these increases are concerning, Bexley still compares favourably to other boroughs with higher crime levels.
In contrast to Bexley’s ranking, the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames was named the happiest borough in London in the same Rightmove survey.
Richmond also earned recognition as the safest place to live recently in a report by RentLondonFlat and was ranked the second happiest place to live in Great Britain by Rightmove overall.
Interestingly, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) offers a somewhat different perspective.
In 2024, Bexley was listed as the fourth happiest borough in south London, with a satisfaction rating of 7.39 out of 10.
