The UK’s ‘unhappiest’ town abandoned by supermarkets and shops – ‘it’s gone down big time’ | UK | News

There is no shortage of charming corners of the UK – from leafy cobbled towns in Yorkshire to vibrant coastal villages in Cornwall – that residents are proud to call home. However, new research suggests that not every postcode inspires the same sense of joy. 

In fact, one London borough has been given the unenviable title of being the unhappiest place to live in the UK. Property website Rightmove published its annual Happy at Home Index, which surveys thousands of residents across over 200 locations to find the happiest places in the country. The survey asks residents what they love, or don’t love, about their local area, using 15 “happiness factors” such as community spirit, access to green spaces and friendly neighbours. The 2025 index reveals that Barking and Dagenham, a borough in East London, is the saddest place to live in the entire country.

Barking and Dagenham did not claim a good national ranking in last year’s survey either, when it was named the third unhappiest place in the country. However, things appear to have got even worse, with the borough now ranking last out of 220 areas included in the study.

Lily Freestone, who has lived in Barking since she was five, told the Express that the town has gone “downhill” significantly in that time and is now “rubbish”.

She said that businesses are leaving the area, with nothing being brought in to replace them: “We had an M&S, we had a Co-Op, a Sainsbury’s, but they’ve all gone out of the area,” she said. “The main issue is we’ve got no shops”.

Lily’s friend, Linda Bowtell, who has lived in Barking her whole life, agreed: “We used to have decent shops here, but now it’s full of rubbish. There’s nothing to bring people to Barking anymore.”

“My mum moved here when she was a year old and it was lovely. It’s gone down big time.”

Crime is also a major concern. Lily said: “There are a lot of people who get on the buses and don’t pay,” before pointing to the local Greggs and saying, “people go in and steal sandwiches, but the staff can’t do anything about it”.

“You’ve got to watch your bag every second,” Linda added. “There are thieves about, they come here specifically. I’m old, but I worry about all the older people up here. It’s a dangerous place to want to come to”.

When asked what she thought could be done to improve Barking, Linda’s response was clear: “Start again.”

The sense of community and friendliness that once existed in Barking has also been lost, she added. “I try to smile at people, but they don’t want to know.”

The Express also spoke to university student Megan Peach, who has lived in Barking for four years. “I decided to move here because the rent was £1,200 for a one-bedroom apartment,” she said, though the prices have gone up a lot since then.

In fact, Barking and Dagenham is London’s most affordable location, with an average house price of £335,500, compared to Richmond upon Thames, the borough with the highest average house price in London, according to Rightmove, which stands at an eye-watering £760,700. 

“I like the multiculturalism,” Megan said. “I like that I can come and get literally any variation of food, and it’s authentic – you’ve got auntie cooking it.”

However, Barking is not without its faults, she added: “The council neglects the area a lot. We pay £250 in council tax, but the streets aren’t clean and antisocial behaviour is crazy. People steal from the shops all the time, but no one does anything, no one bats an eyelid. People try to steal from others in the community – I’ve had my card stolen, and money has been taken out of my account.

“Considering how many people are here, you’re thinking, ‘they’re all paying £250, but where’s the money going?'”

Nevertheless, Megan said that the people in general are nice and there “is still a community vibe”: “I think some decent funding is needed, into the things the community wants rather than what the council wants”.

Not everyone had a negative view of Barking, however. Mazhar Manzoor, who has been living in Barking for 15 years, said the town’s problems are largely centred around the economy. 

“Barking has always had a background of not being very successful,” he agreed. “Generally, it has become a hub for criminality. You see people slamming through the gates to get onto the train without paying.

“I think there are a lot of people who are not doing so well economically, so they could be unhappy, but no, I think it’s doing extremely well. The transport links are second to none. We’ve got a gym here, a Starbucks, a Costa… it is coming up.”

Mazhar added that a lot of work has been put into regenerating the river area, which used to be an ugly and dangerous area, “it’s now quite an attractive place, it’s become more like other London spots along the river”.

“I think people are being unfair. The school near us has won some Ofsted awards and there’s a beautiful park with a lake.”

The Express contacted the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, and a council spokesperson said: “Barking and Dagenham is changing for the better. Surveys don’t always tell the full story, and we know this is a place full of ambition, resilience, and opportunity. Our ‘It Starts Here’ campaign is all about celebrating what makes this borough unique and what great things are happening here.

“We have challenges, but that’s not the whole story. We punch above our weight,” adding that they have attracted billions in investment and created thousands of affordable homes, boast award-winning parks and schools with GCSE and A-level results outperforming national trends, fantastic transport links and have secured £1.5 million from the Government’s ‘Pride in Place’ programme – one of only a few London boroughs to do so – to further invest in their neighbourhoods.

“We know many residents are proud to call this place home, and they want the positive story told. Barking and Dagenham has so many strengths and together with our partners, we’ll keep building the future we all want to see. It Starts Here.”