Hillingdon, a borough in West London, has been labelled as the UK’s unhappiest place to live, according to a recent survey.
The Rightmove Happy at Home index placed Hillingdon at the bottom of its list, despite its convenient commute into central London.
This is in stark contrast to its neighbouring borough, Richmond-upon-Thames, which holds the title of the happiest place to live in the UK.
Intrigued by these findings, Mirror Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding visited Uxbridge, the administrative centre of Hillingdon Borough and former constituency of Boris Johnson, in mid-July. She wanted to see if the area was indeed as gloomy as the survey suggested.
Uxbridge, located at the end of both the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Tube lines, offers some residents a respite from the hustle and bustle of central London. As Cyann stepped off the train at the picturesque station, she found the atmosphere surprisingly lively.
It was a sunny day, and Cyann found herself amidst crowds of people shopping and exploring. However, her first inkling of why the town might have been rated as miserable came when she entered the Pavilions Shopping Centre.
In stark contrast to the bustling high street, the shopping centre was filled with closing down sales and shuttered stores, giving it an eerie, desolate feel.
A local resident, Stacey, revealed insights into the perceived cheerlessness of Uxbridge in comparison with the affable Richmond.
“They are different places. People in Uxbridge do tend to come here to get what they need to get done and then go. They are not very sociable. Whereas I feel like in Richmond, people will say hello and ask how you are when walking down the street,” she explained.
Stacey’s mother, Jackie, contradicted the idea that Uxbridge is joyless, however, she did concede that the economy might be shaping the town’s spirit: “I don’t think it is anything to do with the shopping, but people’s attitudes have changed because of economic crisis. People are now questioning how far are their wages actually going.”
Challenging the notion of a downcast town, another longtime resident stated: “I don’t think it is unhappy… From what I can see compared to other places, I get my bins collected every week and I have green open spaces that I like.”
Regarding the empty storefronts, the same resident was dismissive of any lasting impact on the community: “Places come and go, but they do everywhere.”
These observations resonated with Cyann’s own take on the town.
Cyann pointed out: “Despite some areas featuring boarded-up premises, locations like the bustling Chimes Shopping Centre were thriving, with no empty units in sight.
“It boasted all the major brands one would expect on a prosperous high street, illustrating that Uxbridge remains vibrant and well-maintained.
“A quaint cobbled lane leading out from The Chimes Shopping Centre, home to a Harris + Hoole cafe and culminating at a scenic church, further demonstrated that the town is faring quite well.”