The borough ranked first in the country for the healthy habits of its residents
With walks along the Thames, Richmond Park on the doorstep and plenty of places to escape London’s bustle, Richmond upon Thames has a lot going for it. Now the borough has topped a study of healthy habits, adding another achievement to an area already recognised as a great place to call home.
Richmond upon Thames recorded the lowest unhealthy habits score in ZAVA’s 2026 Healthy Habit Index, at 2.66 out of 10. The index combines five indicators: adult obesity, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and the number of fast food outlets near gyms, with lower overall scores indicating better performance.
According to the index, around 75.3 per cent of Richmond’s residents reported doing at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week, while adult obesity prevalence stood at 10.5 per cent and smoking prevalence at 6.6 per cent. Its obesity and smoking figures were the lowest among the study’s five highest-ranked areas.
That put Richmond ahead of West Berkshire, which scored 3.64, followed by Oxford on 3.85, South Gloucestershire on 4.12 and Cheshire East on 4.22. While the study did find an average of four fast food outlets within 1km of each gym in Richmond, its strong activity figures show that plenty of residents are finding ways to keep moving.
According to ZAVA, 57 per cent of the borough’s land is covered by more than 100 parks and green spaces. The study also says 45 per cent of residents walk regularly.
For locals, that means exercise needn’t involve a gym membership, with a stroll beside the Thames or a walk through the vast, 2,500-acre Richmond Park offering a chance for residents to stretch their legs while taking a break.
Richmond’s village-like atmosphere, riverside setting and great access to nature also helped cinch its position as London’s best place to live in the Sunday Times’ 2026 guide earlier this year.
Council leader Gareth Roberts said: “We’ve been the happiest place to live, we’ve been the safest place to live, we’ve been the healthiest place to live, we’ve been the most recommended place to live, and now The Times has confirmed what we’ve all known for years, Richmond is the best place to live in London.”
He added: “And it’s no accident that the judges came to that conclusion. When you have gorgeous views of the River Thames that inspired Turner on your doorstep, when you have the wild majesty of Richmond Park just up the road, the gorgeous splendours of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, along with some of London’s best open spaces, shops and restaurants, what’s not to like?”
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