It may be the proud home of David Brent, but new research suggests Slough is the most miserable place to live in the UK.
Located within a 20-minute train ride from central London and boasting Europe’s largest trading estate, the Berkshire town gained the unwanted title in a happiness study carried out by property website Rightmove.
Slough landed at the bottom of their 2024 happiness index – a list of 220 locations across the UK – after 35,000 people were asked about their sense of pride in the area they live.
MailOnline went to speak to locals and found that many agreed with the findings, with one claiming there were ‘gangs, homeless people and drugs’ everywhere in the town.
The scene described is a far cry from that found in the leafy green south-west London borough of Richmond, located just under 20 miles away, which was named Britain’s happiest place to live.
As well as speaking to residents in Richmond, MailOnline also went out to speak to locals in some of the happiest areas, including Woodbridge in Suffolk, Hexham in Northumberland and Sevenoaks in Kent.
And to strike a balance, those living in Bradford were quizzed on their experience living in the west Yorkshire town – after it was revealed to be the second most miserable place to live in the country.
Slough (most miserable place to live in Britain)
Richard, 57, (left) who works as a rubbish collector, said Slough needed more investment and more police officers. Meanwhile, Alex, 17, (right) agreed that it was the most miserable place to live in Britain
MailOnline spoke to locals on a rainy day on Slough high street
Some of Slough’s residents felt it was a ‘little unfair’ that their town had been named the most miserable place to live in Britain.
Brothers Richard Clark, 81, and Barry, 77, said: ‘I’d say it’s not that bad. It seems okay to me but I’m on the outside, even though I only live four or five miles away.’
And Zain, 17, a market trader, said: ‘It’s the best place I’ve lived in my life. Best food and just in general. It’s a happy place.
‘Before I used to live in Middlesbrough and I prefer it here. Give Slough a chance!’
But others felt the assessment was fair.
Richard, 57, who works as a rubbish collector, said: ‘I live in Langley, but I work in Slough, I would say it’s not really a safe place. It can be, but I don’t think it is.
‘I think you need more police on the streets with all this knife crime going on.
‘It definitely needs more shops to bring people in. If you look from there down to here, it’s all takeaways, top to bottom. People don’t want to see that. People want to shop.
‘I think if they do it all up, spend a bit of money, get more police, they can make this into a nice town.
Howard Robinson, 63, who has lived in Slough for 25 years, said: ‘Slough was built as an industrial town so all the people who live here probably came from miles away, so it’s devoid of friendliness’
Alex, 17, who goes to sixth form in Slough and has lived in the area all his life, argued that Slough is the most miserable place to live in Britain.
‘You’ve got a bunch of homeless people, a bunch of gangs, there’s drugs and everything in Slough. It’s not a safe place to live,’ he said.
‘[The area] needs more financing, but the council is bankrupt so that’s not going to happen.’
Howard Robinson, 63, who has lived in Slough for 25 years, said: ‘Slough was built as an industrial town so all the people who live here probably came from miles away, so it’s devoid of friendliness.
‘When people say now how it’s dying, the high street is dying, it’s because all high streets are dying, mainly because of the finances.’
‘But it’s a general thing. You find a lot of high streets. Now as you look behind us here. This shop used to be Debenhams. It was a thriving part of the town.
‘If you look around now, all these towns and it’s all living accommodation, so that is part of the problem.’
Slough was heavily bombed in World War Two, making it a hotspot for widely hated post-war architecture
Looking at how Slough has changed over the 25 years he has lived here, he added: ‘At one point it was one of the biggest trading estates in Europe and there’s so much industry in this area. But because of technology, it’s mainly a base for data processing centres.
‘So the actual workforce of the area is depleted, but it’s cheaper and it’s more economical for the council to have a data processing center. It’s financially more viable. So that’s probably one of the reasons why the area has died.’
Indira, 37, a mother-of-two who used to live in Birmingham and Swansea, said: ‘If you compare Slough with Birmingham or Swansea, Slough is very safe because I have two kids that are young ones so I feel very safe to walk around.
‘To be honest I love the place. I believe everyone trusts it now and it is a place you can start a business.
‘Birmingham and Swansea, they’re worse. I saw the police every single day there. There were gangsters and criminals in Birmingham. I didn’t want my kids growing up there.’
Woodbridge (happiest place to live in Britain)
Resident Shelly Carvill said Woodbridge was a ‘delightful place to live’
Woodbridge, a small historic town on the banks of a river in rural Suffolk, was declared the best place to live in Britain.
It is only ten miles from Ipswich but its residents – old and new – say that their community is the nicest in East Anglia.
Resident Shelly Carvill said: ‘It is a delightful place to live – it is extremely friendly, full of small independent shops and even has its own cinema and museum. There is a wide variety of restaurants and cafes. I have lived around here for 50 years and it is a realty delightful little town.
‘It is peaceful, there are lots of good walks and the countryside is right on our doorstep. There are good state and independent schools and if you want to go to London it is just 100 minutes away by train. I’d happily agree that it is the happiest place to live in the country.’
Another local Annette Roberts said: ‘I came here forty years ago and it is a delightful and idyllic place to live. It’s still a working town but it has managed to keep its charm and character. It is a lovely close-knit community where everyone knows everyone. There is a positive feel about it and everyone is very friendly.
‘And if you want to live here properties range from £250,000 bungalows to £1 million pound plus historic houses in the centre.’
Alice Culf, 30, who runs a letting agency in Woodbridge said: ‘This is a highly desirable town – it is quite expensive but nice people live here. It is a small place and everyone is very friendly. It has a lot to offer – apart from the restaurants and hotels there are plenty of leisure facilities.
‘Demand here for somewhere to live is high – we recently advertised a two-bed flat in the town centre for £150 a week and it was gone in 24 hours. A lot of people want to come to Woodbridge.’
Alice Culf, 30, who runs a letting agency, said the town was ‘highly desirable’ with house buyers
Woodbridge is only ten miles from Ipswich but its residents – old and new – say that their community is the nicest in East Anglia
Local restaurant manageress Kelly Bloomfield said: ‘We are only a few miles away from Ipswich but Woodbridge is very different. The people here are lovely and polite and the community spirit is very strong.’
And Katie Griffin, 64, who has also lived abroad, said: ‘Woodbridge was recommended when I wanted somewhere nice to live after recently being in London.
‘It feels a safe place – walking home alone and night holds no fears for me and I feel safe – the town still has a village feel to it. It is also a very happy place – the people are all very friendly. It’s liker going back in time sometimes.’
Amy Hudson-Newman who moved to the Suffolk town from London three years ago with her two children to bring up her family in a better environment.
She said: ‘Woodbridge has got everything I need – a good high street and lots of shops. It is a nice community, there are lots of good places to eat and drink and the town has a really nice feel about it.’
Anne Day who came to the town in 2011 from a nearby village said: ‘This is the perfect place to live. There’s a railway station, a cinema, great shops and the river – plus it is small enough to get to know people. The community has been very friendly and supportive.’
And Katie Evans who lives in a village a few miles away said: ‘I always come to Woodbridge to shop rather than slog into Ipswich with its traffic and parking problems.
‘This is a delightful place and has a feel of a proper community about it. There are supermarkets around but you can get everything you need from the small traditional shops here.’
Local restaurant manageress Kelly Bloomfield said ‘community spirit is very strong’
Woodbridge is a small historic town on the banks of a river in rural Suffolk
Katie Griffin, 64, said Woodbridge was recommended to her when she wanted ‘somewhere nice’ to live after recently being in London
The town’s proud mayor Councillor Robin Sanders said: ‘Woodbridge is a lovely small traditional town.
‘Our ancient buildings are looked after and we have specialist shops that are thriving.
‘We have a new square for public events as well as a town’s museum and a community boatshed which is being used to build an extraordinary full-size version of the famous Sutton Hoo burial ship that starred in the film The Dig – and the actual burial ground is just across the river.
‘And in the boatshed there are displays of more than 30 new tapestries known as the King’s River Tapestries all completed by local volunteers and forming an historical record of the town and river.
‘The building is also being used to build a full-sized version of the famous Sutton Hoo burial ship, which featured in the recent film The Dig and was filmed here – the actual burial ground is just across the river.
‘Our town square faces the Grade 1 listed Tide Mill – which still produces flour by using tidal water power. We have a lot of public open spaces, beautiful riverside and town walks and well-established and highly successful sports clubs and youth groups with facilities for all ages.
‘And these features have led to a very cohesive and inclusive community where residents can thrive and develop yet it is in easy reach of larger towns and cities by train.
‘The community spirit is strong – we celebrate Christmas each year with an open air carol service on the market square where more than 2,000 residents traditionally gather to welcome in Christmas and enjoy the pubs and restaurants around the square.
The town’s proud mayor Councillor Robin Sanders said ‘it is no surprise that people love it here’
Woodbridge was declared the best place to live in Britain
The town has many independent stores, coffee shops and cafes
‘It was a pleasure to hear Woodbridge has been ranked as the happiest place to live. The mood of residents is a reflection of the vibrant town centre which boasts many listed buildings, many used as independent shops, pubs and restaurants.
‘There is also a long and established link with the film industry and we have our own independent cinema and a thriving and historic riverside area to enjoy the vista of the beautiful and internationally-designated River Deben estuary. ‘
Richmond (second happiest place to live in Britain)
Those living in Richmond were full of praise for the area and claimed ‘it was the best place to live’.
Bill Coley, who runs a boat shop on Richmond riverside, said: ‘I’ve been here over 50 years.
‘We’re lacking a few shops, you can’t buy a telly in Richmond, you know, but once people have been here once, no matter where they’re from, they always want to come back.
‘They love this bit of river. It’s not lovely at the moment because it’s all in floods. But it is a lovely place when the sun’s out in the summertime. Even in the winter, when the sun’s out, it’s still nice.’
Asked what Richmond needs to do to get the top spot back next year, he added: ‘We just need to do more of what we’re doing.
‘I’m not here in the evenings, but a bit of drug dealing is going on, which is not nice at all. But that doesn’t affect me. Thank goodness.’
Ruth Cawdron, 29, who lives and works in Richmond, said: ‘I think the poll is fairly accurate, but by far the happiest place has to be Liverpool for me. Richmond will always be second to that’
The riverside in Richmond, which is particularly popular with families – if they can afford to live there!
Richmond is well known for its plentiful pubs
Mike Slyn, 45, a director of an IT company who lives in Richmond with his family said: It’s a very beautiful place. Obviously, we’ve got the river, there’s lots of green open spaces.
‘It is a pretty affluent place which I think, obviously has a significant impact on people’s well being and happiness.
‘And, you know, it’s a pretty liberal place as well, which is probably really important for people’s happiness.
‘I have no idea what the criteria for the rankings are. But, maybe it’s a move to slightly more rural.
‘It’s an interesting thing, judging people’s happiness, isn’t it? But I’m pretty sure there’s a close correlation between wealth and happiness.
‘Although I don’t think Slough is the poorest place in the country, so if that was bottom, it would suggest that there are significant other factors, like environment and other things that may come into that.
‘Richmond is a nice safe place. It’s the kind of place that’s the best of both worlds. You’ve got really quick access to central London. Therefore, you’ve got all of the benefits of a big city.
‘But you’re in a very green and leafy area, there’s very good schools as well. So, yeah, we think it’s the best place to live.’
Mike Slyn, 45, (left) described Richmond as a ‘beautiful place’, while Geoffrey, 93, (right) was also effusive in his praise
Ryan, 40, who lives in Twickenham, said: ‘There’s lots of things to do in Richmond. There’s lots of pubs. There’s lots of, you know, nice walks and those those kind of things. So it’s especially nice for families.
‘And in the summer, you’ll get people that come to visit, like, from all over London. So that’s probably a good sign If people are coming to visit where you live.’
Gavin Sit and Tash Liem, who are visiting Richmond with Gavin Sit from Australia, said: ‘Look, it’s really pretty. I have to say, and, the lights and everything makes it, you know, makes it more whole and cosy.
‘We were just saying, like, it would be very nice, a nice place to retire, you know, when we’re a bit older.
Mr Sit added: ‘I’ve seen it during the summer, so it’s a very beautiful place. How could you be unhappy, you know?
‘Obviously comparing it to Australia, back home we have the sun but we really like it here.’
Ruth Cawdron, 29, who lives and works in Richmond, said: ‘I think the poll is fairly accurate, but by far the happiest place has to be Liverpool for me. Richmond will always be second to that.
‘I think Richmond strikes that perfect balance of being kind of part of London, but simultaneously kind of it’s got its own thing going on. But again, compared to the North, it hasn’t really got anything on it.’
Bill Coley, who runs a boat shop on Richmond riverside, said that once people had seen Richmond ‘they always want to come back’
The 29-year-old added: ‘It is an expensive place to live, even within London.
‘I’ve got friends who live in Putney and Fulham down the road who say Richmond is lovely but couldn’t afford to live here. So I think it is pricing some people out.’
Geoffrey, 93, who has lived in Richmond for 40 years, said: ‘For me, it’s been the happiest to live. I think it’s a very nice place to live if you don’t drive, it’s better if you don’t drive. Parking is terrible.
‘I mean, it’s a lovely, lovely, self enclosed bit of London and very close to London itself. So I mean it wins on location.
‘But it’s different. It’s changed over 40 years. Money has come into it. Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t nice people but it is different.’
Noah Rodney, 20, who is a music student from the area, said: ‘I think the people are pretty friendly in Richmond. The houses are nice, even though they’re really expensive. The pubs are great. It’s just nice.’
Asked whether people are only happy in Richmond because of it being a more affluent area, he said: ‘I don’t think money is everything. People are just happy aren’t they.’
He also added: ‘I think [the nightlife] is probably catered more to elderly people, but there’s more and more things that are coming that are for younger people. It’s getting a little bit better.’
Talking about tourism in the area from the show Ted Lasso, he explained: ‘There’s a lot of American people and the Ted Lasso Pub, I went near it the other day, and it was full to the brim.
‘It’s weird seeing this place become a tourist location, since I’ve been here since I was really young, but, yeah, it’s weird.
‘As long as people aren’t getting in your way, yeah, I think it’s fine, but it’s a little bit annoying.’
Hexham (third happiest place to live in Britain)
Residents of ‘beautiful’ Hexham, in Northumberland, have spoken of their love of living in the picturesque market town after it was voted one of the happiest places to live in the UK.
The quaint parish, situated 25 miles north of Newcastle, boasts quiet cobbled streets lined with independent stores and restaurants that cater to every shoppers whim.
The rural town also features stunning Hexham Abbey, a Grade I listed church originally built in AD 674. The church was built up during the 12th century into its current form and sits overlooking The Sele park.
The close-knit community sees neighbours greeting each other in the street and exchanging pleasantries.
Emma Dunphy, 55, and Louise Simpson, 54, were spotted laughing on a park bench in the shadow of the historic Abbey.
Emma, an artist, said: ‘It is the happiest place to live. People are really friendly. It’s the perfect place, you don’t need to go anywhere else as everything is here.
‘I feel safe in Hexham, it’s very inclusive.
‘You get the best of both worlds, you have beautiful countryside and everything is in Hexham. You don’t really need to leave.
The quaint parish, situated 25 miles north of Newcastle, boasts quiet cobbled streets lined with independent stores and restaurants that cater to every shoppers whim
Emma Dunphy, 55, and Louise Simpson, 54, were spotted laughing on a park bench in the shadow of the historic Abbey
The close-knit community sees neighbours greeting each other in the street and exchanging pleasantries
‘You have brilliant charity shops, brilliant places to eat, very friendly people and you can take the dogs into the cafes.
‘Everyone in Hexham is happy.’
Louise, a carer, added: ‘You have the town but you are straight out for a lovely dog walk within five minutes.
‘Everybody is lovely. Everybody knows everybody. There are a lot of dogs and all the shops keep dog biscuits. It’s a really tight-knit community.
‘Every year the shops do a little quiz for the kids at Christmas and this year it’s ‘spot the elf’. It’s just brilliant.
‘It’s beautiful here. They have the Christmas tree up at the moment and when you walk past the Christmas lights are twinkling and it’s just the perfect place.’
Jonathan Ewen, 73, the former director of Barnardo’s charity in the North East: ‘It’s a beautiful place surrounded by very beautiful countryside with friendly people.
‘It’s got a real sense of community, we’ve lived in the area for nearly 50 years.
The rural town also features stunning Hexham Abbey, a Grade I listed church originally built in AD 674
Jonathan Ewen, 73, the former director of Barnardo’s charity in the North East, said the town was surrounded by ‘beautiful countryside’
‘What I love about Hexham is that wherever you walk around we meet people we know, and that’s really lovely.
‘It’s got one of the loveliest parks in Britain, Sele. You can see right out to the countryside from it and it’s a gorgeous place to walk.
‘There are so many quaint shops. One of the things I love is that you can walk to wherever you want to go from your home.
‘We can walk to any shop we want to or sit here and have a coffee after walking in the Sele.
‘It is a stunning place. One of my passions is photography and I love that everywhere you go in Hexham you find little corners with really interesting architecture.
‘I first came to Hexham when we were looking for a house over 50 years ago and I landed just outside the Sele and it was February. It was blue skies and then the hail came sweeping in and I thought “this looks really beautiful”.
‘I fell in love with the town ever since. Our kids went to school here and we keep getting accosted by their old school friends.’
The market town was crowned the third happiest place to live in Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index.
Louise said ‘you can find lovely dog walk within five minutes’ anywhere in the town
Residents spoke of their love of living in the picturesque market town
The market town was crowned the third happiest place to live in Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index
Locals have boasted of the surrounding countryside to the quiet hamlet, which is near Northumberland National Park and Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sarah Reed, 59, a dog groomer said: ‘I find the people friendly, I’m from London but I’ve lived up here for quite a while.
‘I moved from London to the sticks, then back to London and I’ve always come back because it’s a comfortable town.
‘I do find people very friendly. It’s like a close-knit family. I feel very safe here. Everyone worked together to get through Covid.
‘Hexham is the best of both worlds. You haven’t got far to go to the countryside. You have that release of nature.’
Katherine Dutschak, 61, the owner of Opulence jewellery store in the town, said: ‘There are a lot of nice people.
‘It’s fabulous, you have the park and the theatre. There’s a swimming pool and fabulous new restaurants.
‘There are loads of new, independent shops. I’ve been living here for three years, it’s a nice place to live.
Sarah Reed, 59, a dog groomer, said she found the local people to be very friendly
Locals have boasted of the surrounding countryside to the quiet hamlet, which is near Northumberland National Park and Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site
Stephanie Armstrong, 34, said she didn’t feel safe following the murder of Holly Newton, 15, on the high street in 2023
Katherine Dutschak, 61, the owner of Opulence jewellery store in the town, said there were loads of ‘fabulous’ restaurants in the area
‘However, as a business owner – the trade is getting difficult here as people are shopping online and the footfall has declined.’
Stephanie Armstrong, 34, has lived in the town her whole life. Despite the high rank on Rightmove’s list, the mum claims Hexham doesn’t feel as safe following the murder of Holly Newton, 15, on the high street in 2023.
The carer said: ‘I love Hexham, I’m born and bred here. I’m happy where I am. The shops are lovely and people are always friendly when you go into stores.
‘I have family here. It’s home and I’m a homely person. I love the countryside and going on long walks with the kids. I like to be near nature and I live near the woods so we go up there often.
‘It’s a historic town. You have the Abbey and lots of churches. There are a lot of old buildings, we have the old jail. People like the history in Hexham because it’s a very old town.’
‘But, it’s not as safe as it used to be when I was a child. There are nice people but they are bringing people from other villages and down the town and that’s how the trouble has started.
‘There was a murder a couple of years ago and that changes you. I feel like my kids aren’t safe now. I’ve got a 16-year-old and I’m always worried when she’s out.
‘There could be more for kids, if we had a shop that catered for the younger ones that would be nicer.’
Sevenoaks (seventh happiest place to live in Britain)
The pretty commuter town of Sevenoaks, Kent, was recently voted one of the happiest places to live in Britain.
The smart stockbroker belt town sits close to the M25 in Kent within half an hour by train from the centre of London it is also close to the stunning Weald of Kent.
Independent boutique stores and restaurants are commonplace in the town.
Strictly judge Anton Du Beke grew up in Sevenoaks which is also home to TV presenter Gloria Hunniford.
Princess Diana was a pupil at West Heath School in Sevenoaks as a child.
Other celebrity residents who have called Sevenoaks their home include comedian Joe Wilkinson and double winter Olympic gold medallist Lizzie Yarnold.
In 1967 The Beatles made promotional films for their songs Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane in the spectacular Knole Park. The songs were later released as a double A-side single – on 13th February 1967.
And residents in the idyllic town agree with the view that it is a happy place.
The pretty commuter town of Sevenoaks, Kent, was recently voted one of the happiest places to live in Britain
Locals have pointed to a few things that keep them cheerful including the beautiful 1,000 acre Knole Park, the sense of community and great schools.
Heather Wiffen, 75, has lived in the town for almost 40 years, she said: ‘It’s close to the countryside and it’s a very easy commute into London – it takes less than some tube journeys by quite a long way.
‘It’s a proper town and not a suburb.’
The retired teacher added: ‘There’s a good sense of community and lots of community activities like choirs and volunteering – but there is a lot of traffic.
‘And it’s got worse, we’ve lived here 40 years and it’s got a lot worse.’
Katie Elliott, 60, who works as an estate agent, said: ‘I think it’s the close proximity of the M25, Gatwick, Heathrow, really good schools, state and private and very easy to commute to London.
‘I’m an estate agent and I’ve noticed the huge migration coming down from London because of all those things.
‘I don’t know about the happiest part though – I’m not sure we are the happiest place, but it is a very nice place to live.
Heather Wiffen, 75, has lived in the town for almost 40 years, said there was ‘lots of community activities like choirs and volunteering’
Locals have pointed to a few things that keep them cheerful including the beautiful 1,000 acre Knole Park (pictured), the sense of community and great schools
Katie Elliott, 60, who works as an estate agent, said she had noticed a huge migration of people coming down from London to live in the area
‘I like the Vine Cricket Ground and I love Knole Park – having a park right in the middle of the town and lots of lovely places to walk makes it a great place to live.
She added: ‘I was surprised about the happy bit, but it is a great place to live – it’s safe, you can walk around.’
Christopher Woods, 59, who works in finance at an office in the market town, said: ‘I think it has a lovely village feel – it’s not like going into a big town where you’ve got large storey buildings, it’s very intimate and has a nice feel to it.’
He added: ‘It has a handful of very good restaurants.
‘Weirdly, it’s got some incredible charity shops – I have never been into charity shops before coming to Sevenoaks, but now I go in once every two weeks to buy shirts.
‘They have decent, brand name shirts in perfect condition for two pounds – the charity shops are fantastic.’
Christopher has worked from an office in the town for almost three years, he said: ‘It is much nicer than being in central London.
He added: ‘I know the centre very well now, parking is very easy and it has a very friendly atmosphere.
Christopher Woods, 59, said the town had a ‘lovely village feel’
The smart stockbroker belt town sits close to the M25 in Kent within half an hour by train from the centre of London it is also close to the stunning Weald of Kent
‘There are a mixture of young and old people here and they get on very well – it has an upbeat atmosphere.’
Ali O’Brien, 70, has called the Kent town home for almost four decades, she said: ‘It’s a market town and you’ve got Knole Park – so you have the countryside and easy access to London.
‘I like it all, I like the individual little shops, the hairdressers, obviously Knole Park – that’s my favourite, I do a lot of walking.
‘We have been here for 36 years, our children went to school here.’
The keen golfer added: ‘You also have the Wilderness Golf Club and the Knole Golf Club – both very good golf clubs.’
Fiona Bolton, 42, said: ‘There are great schools, it’s nice and green.
‘The outdoor spaces are beautiful, it’s easy to get to London and it’s also easy to get out into the countryside.’
But, the teacher was a little surprised to hear it had made the list, she said: ‘It’s a bit expensive, which can put some people off.’
Ali O’Brien, 70, has called the Kent town home for almost four decades
Fiona Bolton, 42, said the town had ‘some great schools’
Eleanor Mitchell, 24, and her boyfriend Aidan King, 23, were visiting family in Sevenoaks from their home just north of Boston, USA, said they were ‘not surprised’ the town ranked so high
Strictly judge Anton Du Beke grew up in Sevenoaks which is also home to TV presenter Gloria Hunniford
Despite the house prices, which are over £800,000 on average, there is a lot to like, Fiona said: ‘I love the high street and the shops, it has just the right amount, not too big, not too small, there are also lots of cafes.
‘The library is brilliant, we often hang out in the library – we love going into Knole Park.
‘I work here, my kids go to school here – and that’s all brilliant really.’
Eleanor Mitchell, 24, and her boyfriend Aidan King, 23, were visiting family in Sevenoaks from their home just north of Boston, USA.
Eleanor said: ‘I’m not surprised.
‘I think compared to where we live in the US, the walkability is something we both find amazing, and you’re just five minutes from public transportation – so having that available every time we’re here is just amazing.
‘We come from a place where you can’t really walk around and there’s no public transport either so this is really nice.’
She added: ‘It also seems like you have a lot of access to things that meet your basic necessities in town – grocery stores, coffee shops, Boots so you can get toiletries, so in a small area, your needs are met which is nice.’
Aidan added: ‘The Knole is lovely, and there’s lots of great coffee shops and things like that, and very walkable.
‘We’re on our way to Gails right now and then a walk.’
Bradford (second most miserable place to live in Britain)
Bradford residents are divided after their home was branded the second most miserable place to live in Britain.
Its listing in the yearly happiness study by property website Rightmove will raise eyebrows since Bradford will celebrate next year as the UK City of Culture 2025.
But critics of the award have accused Bradford of sweeping problems such as homelessness, drug crime, and prostitution under the carpet to impress the judges.
It has even been claimed that rather than rid the city of rough sleepers, police purges have only moved the problem to parks outside the centre where they are huddled under arches or sheltered in make-shift tents surrounded by filth and rubbish.
At the same time, the city centre has been plunged into chaos as 1960s roads are torn up for a new pedestrian and cycle friendly road layout.
There is also concern that Bradford’s attempt at a glitzy new image has failed to tackle the underlying problems of growing lawlessness, prostitution, and aggressive beggars high on spice.
Local hotel worker Damian O’ Neill, 50, said: ‘There is no police at all is there?
‘Begging is illegal but they don’t do anything about it. I drive into work every day and still have people knocking on my windows.
Bradford’s listing in the yearly happiness study by property website Rightmove will raise eyebrows since Bradford will celebrate next year as the UK City of Culture 2025
critics of the award has accused Bradford of sweeping problems such as homelessness, drug crime, and prostitution under the carpet to impress the judges.
Bradford residents are divided after their home was branded the second most miserable place to live in Britain
‘There is no police presence in the evening anywhere around. The bus station is an absolute joke.
‘They have just spent £50m on doing up the new theatre, Bradford Live, which they cannot even open.
‘The operators pulled out so we have a £50m building sat there empty. We already have two theatres, including one right next door, so this would have been a third one.
‘The former Hilton Hotel across the road is just full of asylum seekers and not a pleasant place any more. Everyone is surprised by how nice Bradford looks – but it just looks nice.’
Retired welder Gary Wardman, 79, said: ‘The historic character of Bradford is fantastic. I have lived here all my life but wish I had left when I was younger.
‘I wanted to go to Spain back then. I don’t think it is the worst place to live. But Bradford has changed and definitely not for the better. A lot of the shops and places I knew have gone.’
Tom Rain, 22 said: ‘I am not surprised people do not like the place. I am living in a homeless shelter so I am not best pleased with Bradford at the moment.
‘I have lived here all my life apart from going to university. When I became homeless they gave me a place where there was no central heating and the boiler was too dangerous for me to live there.
Retired welder Gary Wardman, 79, said ‘the historic character of Bradford is fantastic’
‘So they put me in a hotel which was cockroach infested and had a rat hole in it. I am in a better place now but they are threatening to kick me out because of my disabilities. It has improved in aesthetics but not in safety and housing.
‘I would not walk out at night and don’t even like walking in the day without anyone with me. I know people who have been physically attacked or harassed.’
Phoebe Wilkinson , 24, who identifies as trans, said: ‘They have spruced it up a bit but it is still the same underneath. There is a lot of crime.
‘A lot of it could be prevented with better social services and more support for families. The centre of Bradford looks lovely.
‘But they have yet to tackle the real problems.’
Scaffolder Luke Mitchell, 28, said: ‘I am a proper Bradford boy. If you have grown up here it is the best place to live. There is everything you want on the market.
‘It is multicultural. We all go to school together from primary school – Poles, Pakistanis, and Gypsies. So we have all grown up together.
‘Racism does not happen – well, it does but, not as much. It’s a famous old Victorian wool town so there is nothing wrong with the architecture.’
Phoebe Wilkinson, 24, believed a lot of the issues could be prevented with ‘better social services and more support for families’
Discarded mattresses found on a residential street in Bradford
Scaffolder Luke Mitchell, 28, disagreed with the survey and said Bradford was ‘the best place to live’
Alamin Ali, 46, said: ‘There is always something going on. It is a good place to live and eat. It is no worse or better than other cities.
‘It has a lot of variety. You can travel five or ten minutes and find yourself somewhere completely different. I have lived here all my life.
‘It has probably got worse from an economic point of view but all cities are struggling with the same things with city centres dying out.’
Former teacher and artist Lee Mayfield, 58, who has been diagnosed with cancer, said: ‘I was born and bred here. I love it. But there are lots of villains and crackheads around.
‘There are haves and have nots and they are not looking after the Bradfordians. The police are very biased towards the homeless.
‘They moved them on or arrested them when we became City of Culture so they are living in tents. It was like when the Queen came here they painted the grass green.
‘If you listen to the stories of the homeless it makes you cry. People cannot feed themselves. I have found two of them dead in doorways.
‘There are people with serious mental health issues who should not be on the street and are not getting the support they need.’
Alamin Ali, 46, admitted the city had probably got worse ‘from an economic standpoint’ over time
Rubbish covers residential streets in Bradford
Former teacher and artist Lee Mayfield, 58, said there were ‘lots of villains and crackheads around’
Retired welfare rights officer David Hobson, 60, who worked with local homeless for 15 years, said: ‘Bradford is not what it was. I have here since 1986.
‘It used to be a really lovely place but it has changed. In some ways, it feels cleaner and better. So they have done a good job there.
‘But with Bradford Live, no one knows what is happening. And it is wrong about the homeless. But Bradford is a decent place – a real mixed community of all races.
‘There is good and bad everywhere. They have moved the homeless to tents in Lumb Lane in the Lumb park. Prostitutes are in there too and a lot of drug addicts.
‘But there are still in the evening a lot of people who don’t want to come into the centre because of the aggressive beggars who swear at you if you haven’t got any change.
‘I am well known to the homeless from my work with them. There are certain estates you would not go on. Buses will not go up there at night or taxi drivers.
‘The beggars out at night. The prostitutes are out at night. A lot of the beggars are on spice and don’t know what they are doing.
‘The city centre is still a no go area. I would not drink in the centre of Bradford. It is too dangerous.’
Retired welfare rights officer David Hobson, 60, said Bradford ‘is not what it was’
Hooded youths zip around on electric bikes in Bradford’s city centre
It has even been claimed that rather than rid the city of rough sleepers, police purges have only moved the problem to parks outside the centre where they are huddled under arches or sheltering in make-shift tents surrounded by filth and rubbish
Maurice Aklambs, 58, a street artist, has been living in a tent for three weeks in a park at the bottom of Lumb Lane
Bernard Hayes said he had asked the council for a skip for all the rubbish, but was told there ‘is no funding’
Homeless people forced out of the city centre – some say to make the city fit a City of Culture image – are now living in tents less than a mile away surrounded by filth and rubbish.
Maurice Aklambs, 58, a street artist, has been living in a tent for three weeks in a park at the bottom of Lumb Lane.
He said: ‘They come around at night sometimes and set the tents on fire.
‘Other people have been raped and robbed too. I have a proper family. God knows what my grandkids would think if they knew I was living here.’
Nodding in agreement, friend Bernard Hayes said: ‘Homeless charities help us with food. There are about eight people here in the tents are the moment.
‘We have asked the council for a skip for all the rubbish and some temporary toilets but they say there is no funding. Yet they can offer sex offenders temporary accommodation.’
