It’s the happiest place to live in Kent, according to the new study
The happiest place to live in Kent has been revealed in a study which has gathered the views of people from up and down the country. Residents who love where they live have been more than happy to share the great things about their town.
Rightmove has published the results of its survey to find the Happiest Areas to Live in Great Britain, and just one Kent town made it into the Top 20. It is the 14th year the property company has compiled its Happy at Home Index.
It said its findings showed that, yet again, what helps create happiness at home were simple things which made “daily life easier, safer and more enjoyable”. These were feeling part of a community, having nice neighbours, and being close to friends and family.
Also the environment, so green spaces where people can relax, exercise and connect with nature were important, it said. Rightmove also said people living in rural places were more likely to report feeling happy, and that also went for those living by rivers, the coast or woodland.
However, being able to walk to places, such as shops or bustling town centres, were also good scorers for happy lives. The survey also showed happiness “grows with age”, with those 65 and over being more likely to feel happy where they lived.
The North Yorkshire market town of Skipton topped the list, with its bustling cobbled high street, ancient castle and canal side pubs. Tonbridge was the only Kent town in the Top 20, coming in at number 17.
It was streaks ahead of Tunbridge Wells, just a few miles away, with the spa town ranking a dismal 89th. The fact Tonbridge has a Waitrose, a thorn in the side of the residents of Tunbridge Wells, along with an open air swimming pool and a river running merrily through the town centre, might be huge point winners for Tonbridge.
Tonbridge also beat Winchester in Hampshire, which came 18th and, at this time of year, has a bustling winter market near the cathedral, and gorgeous olde worlde streets to explore. The average price of houses sold during the past year in Tonbridge was £459,006, according to Rightmove.
Most of those were semi-detached, selling for an average of £490,660. Flats fetched an average £247,782.
For context, the average house price in Kent sold during the past year was £427,686. According to CrimeRate, Tonbridge is the second safest medium-sized town in Kent for the year up to September 2025, with crime rate in Tonbridge 4.3 per cent higher than the south east and 9 per cent lower than England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s overall figure.
Tonbridge, like most towns, is a mix of the old and the new, the scruffy and the stunning, and is surrounded by spectacular countryside and villages, including Penshurst and Chiddingstone. The town is also seeing plenty of growth, with work underway on a £20 million expansion of its Sainsbury’s into a flagship store.
And there’s a masterplan for this side of the town, which will see new homes, a riverside park area, a replacement leisure centre and much more. If you arrive via Tonbridge Railway Station, you might not have the best impression.
There are acres of railway tracks and associated equipment and infrastructure directly ahead of you. Of course, these tracks help get you to London in a nifty average time of 43 minutes, and Tonbridge’s transport links make it a practical place to live.
The main drag through the town has the usual brands and charity shops, but it’s a busy high street, with lots of people and a sense of community. The bridge over the River Medway under which pass all sorts of boats and canoeists, along with swans and ducks, is an impressive focal point.
This area also looks wonderful this time of year, with Christmas lights reflecting in the water. Here, there is the magnificent Tonbridge Castle, a nearly 1,000-year-old Scheduled Ancient Monument which has breathtaking 360-panoramic views, as you would expect from a castle whose inhabitants want to see invaders.
It is Kent’s best example of a motte-and-bailey castle and the gatehouse is among the finest in England. And from today (December 12) until December 23, Tonbridge Christmas Fest will see the castle transformed into a “magical winter wonderland”.
There is a Christmas market, a food village, bars, rides and an entertainment lounge. It is free entry, and open between 10am and 8pm daily.
Don’t forget to visit the superb cafe, the Tonbridge Old Fire Station in Castle Street, which is full of character and yummy food and drink, and is also available for private hire. It’s open daily from 9am to 4pm.
As you walk further up Tonbridge High Street, and along adjoining roads, the buildings become older and more architecturally interesting, from the red brick to the white weather-board and Tudor, with some stunning private homes. There are more independent shops and places to eat, and then the stunning Tonbridge School, founded in 1553, and set in 150 acres where you will find seven boarding houses and five day houses.
Unlike its closest town Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge has an outdoor pool as part of Tonbridge Swimming Pool centre, which is popular with people of all ages, some who relish the early swims in the fresh morning air. It is packed in the summer, as there is a paddling part too, and there’s a gym and indoor pool inside.
If you like boat trips, then Tonbridge River Trips is for you. Based at the Big Bridge in the High Street, over the River Medway, you can go on wonderful adventures, from sedate river cruises, wildlife experiences, dawn chorus and early evening down river trips.
It is seasonal though, so check what’s happening and when. Tonbridge also has two huge parks to let off steam in: Racecourse Park, where you will also find tennis courts, a great coffee kiosk, an outdoor gym and lots more; and Haysden Country Park, a 64-hectare country park and Local Nature Reserve.
It is owned by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and adored by locals and visitors. It has a river, grassland, freshwater lakes, marshland and woodland.
Pop into the The George and Dragon in Tonbridge which, as KentLive reported in September, is featured in CAMRA’s (Campaign for Real Ale) latest Good Beer Guide, now in its 53rd edition. This high-quality pub is a must-visit for beer and real ale enthusiasts.
It’s also rich in history, dating from the 15th century. It has a secure beer garden which is popular in the summer, a cosy log fire which is perfect for a visit now.
The George and Dragon has attracted a great deal of praise online, with one TripAdvisor reviewer saying: “Great atmosphere, very friendly. Lovely pub food at great value. Efficient staff. Clean pub, clean toilets. Great pub overall.”
Where to park in Tonbridge
If you want to have a nose around the High Street (the B226) – there are great cafes, charity shops and well-known national chains, plus a covered walkway off the High Street – then park in the council-owned Angel West Car Park. The postcode for your sat nav is TN9 1SF.
You can see the Rightmove Happy at Home Index for 2025 here.
Top Happiest Places to Live in Great Britain
1. Skipton
2. Richmond upon Thames
3. Camden
4. Harrogate
5. Woodbridge
6. Altrincham
7. Macclesfield
8. Stirling
9. Cirencester
10. Hexham
11. Falmouth
12. Leamington Spa
13. Lichfield
14. Maidenhead
15. Horsham
16. Leigh on Sea
17. Tonbridge
18. Winchester
19. Anglesey
20. Monmouth
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