Croydon has been named as the unhappiest place to live in south London.
Every year, real estate company Rightmove ask thousands of people across Great Britain how they feel about where they live, and this year’s survey study was completed by over 35,000 residents.
Of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London, Croydon ranked 32nd, the lowest of all the south London boroughs.
Croydon boasts scenic parks, lively community spaces, and a strong sense of local pride.
However, the borough has also faced negative attention in recent years.
Residents have criticised the high street as “depressing” and expressed frustration over ongoing delays to the much-anticipated Westfield shopping centre development.
Additionally, social housing associations have merged into larger organisations which, despite their names, have been criticised for not prioritising the upkeep and availability of social housing stock.
The annual crime rate in the Croydon postcode area stands at 38 crimes per 1,000 residents, nine per cent higher than the national average.
Nearly 29 per cent of all reported crimes are classified as violent offences, highlighting ongoing concerns about safety in the borough.
Croydon was named as the second-worst place to live in London, with Barking and Dagenham in east London coming at the bottom of the rankings.
The happiest borough was revealed to be the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, which was also named the safest place to live by RentLondonFlat recently.
Richmond was also named the second-happiest place to live in Great Britain by Rightmove.
In 2024, Croydon was also listed as the unhappiest borough in south London, scoring a 7.11 satisfaction rating out of 10 by the Office for National Statistics.
In February, New Addington was named the most depressing place to live by review site iLiveHere.com.
Interestingly, Croydon was also listed as the best place to live in 2025 by The Times in December 2024.
