New research has ranked every London borough by community connection and friendliness, revealing stark contrasts across the capital. Richmond-upon-Thames emerged as the friendliest borough in London, scoring 91 out of 100 and ranking fifth nationally among England's 296 local authorities. At the other end of the scale, Barking and Dagenham received just 8 points, placing it last in the entire country.
Richmond Leads with Strong Community Ties
The National Conversation study analysed official government data to measure loneliness, neighbourly trust, civic participation, and local pride across England's local authorities. Richmond's standout performance included only 3.3 percent of residents reporting frequent loneliness, while 77 percent said they feel they belong to their neighbourhood, significantly above the national average of 62.1 percent.
Further highlighting Richmond's community spirit, 92 percent of residents agreed that people from different backgrounds get on well, and 70 percent reported chatting with neighbours at least monthly. These figures positioned the royal borough as a clear outlier in London, far ahead of the second-placed borough.
Barking and Dagenham Ranks Last Nationwide
Barking and Dagenham's score of 8/100 placed it at the bottom of the national rankings. Only 58.3 percent of residents said they feel they belong to their neighbourhood, and just 21 percent agreed that many of their neighbours can be trusted, compared to a 40 percent national average. The borough trailed significantly behind even the second-to-last London borough, Newham, which scored 15.
The full London ranking shows a wide spread of scores. After Richmond, Bromley scored 62, followed by Kingston-upon-Thames and Westminster tied at 58, and Wandsworth at 55. Mid-ranking boroughs included Camden (54), Barnet (50), Hackney (49), and Southwark (49). Lower down, Enfield scored 26, Ealing 25, Tower Hamlets 23, and Havering and Hillingdon both 20.
Survey Seeks to Capture Real Community Views
The National Conversation acknowledged that its data so far reflects 'researchers measuring the country from the outside'. To address this, it has launched a 10-minute survey aimed at building a fuller picture of connection across England. The survey is being conducted by the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, co-chaired by former Conservative MP Sajid Javid and former Labour policy coordinator Jon Cruddas.
Cruddas explained the motivation behind the initiative, stating that 'government stats miss a lot of what really makes an area tick'. He added: 'But that's why we have developed [the survey]. To spark a conversation – because what we really want is your view on your area.'
The commission hopes the survey results will complement the official statistics, providing deeper insights into how communities truly feel. Residents across all 32 London boroughs are encouraged to participate, helping to create a more nuanced understanding of community cohesion in the capital.
