Understanding how London measures up on living well 

Our new interactive wellbeing map, drawn from our Life in the UK Index, offers a richer understanding of what matters to people across England’s regions. Based on the experiences of more than 4,000 people in England, the Index moves beyond traditional indicators to show how collective wellbeing is experienced across social, economic, environmental, and democratic dimensions.  

London may frequently top global “best places to live” rankings, but our data provides a counterpoint to that. Across the three years of our Index, the capital has consistently ranked near the bottom on the factors we track that contribute to a good life. London’s collective wellbeing score sits at 59 out of 100 – six points lower than the highest scoring regions in England, the South East and South West. This prompts the question: is the capital fully delivering for those who live there?  

When it comes to environmental wellbeing, the capital scores just 55 out of 100 – the lowest in England and four points behind the next-lowest region, the West Midlands and six points lower than the England average. And the data is clear: living in the capital itself is a significant factor linked to lower environmental wellbeing. More than three quarters of residents report problems with pollution, from noise to air quality to littered streets, far more frequently than people in other regions. Together, these patterns raise an important question: if one of the world’s most celebrated cities lacks being a healthy environment, what does that mean for how well its residents can truly live? 

Scoring 71 out of 100, it lags behind neighbouring regions such as the East of England, South East and South West. Londoners are less likely to be able to afford essentials like food and heating, and report lower satisfaction with education, skills, and local job opportunities. This disconnect between economic output and residents’ everyday security highlights a persistent challenge: why does a city as economically powerful as London still leave so many residents without a sense of economic security? 

Life in London is shaped by the type of housing people live in. A quarter of Londoners live in social housing, compared with 17% across the rest of England, and only 61% own their home, compared with 74% elsewhere¹. Housing tenure negatively impacts almost every aspect of wellbeing in England (apart from democratic wellbeing). Social housing tenants face poorer general and mental health, greater economic instability and weaker community connection – feeling less safe, having fewer people to rely on, and experiencing higher levels of discrimination. In short, housing in London plays a role in impacting everyday life and adds to the wider wellbeing challenges facing the people who live there.  

Social wellbeing paints a similarly concerning picture. Londoners record the lowest social wellbeing in England, at 69 out of 100.

Community connection is weaker with only half, 52%, of Londoners saying they have someone they can rely on in their neighbourhood. Discrimination is also more common, affecting 55% of residents, compared with 38% in neighbouring southern regions. Together, these findings point to social pressures shaping daily life in the capital. 

Overall, our regional wellbeing insights reveal a consistent pattern: despite its global prestige, London offers a notably lower quality of life than nearby regions.  These results underscore the need to look beyond traditional measures and use wellbeing evidence to understand where people are being supported to live well – and where they are not. Taking this broader view helps us to rethink how to support good lives not only in the capital, but across the whole of the UK.  

Explore the interactive maps and discover further insights in our Life in the UK England report. 

1. MHCLG English Housing Survey Headline Report 2024-25 ↩︎