Sutton Ranked Best South London Borough by Garrington 2026

Key Points

• Sutton has been ranked as the best place to live in south London by property consultancy Garrington’s latest Best Places to Live guide.​
• The borough achieved 79th position out of 1,447 locations across England and Wales, a significant improvement from 310th last year.​
• Garrington’s annual report evaluates towns and boroughs using 18 data-led indicators, including schools, jobs, green space, heritage, house prices, and public health.
• Sutton’s wellbeing score surged to 162nd nationally, up from one of the lowest rankings previously; this metric combines physical and mental health, life satisfaction, and access to support services.​
• The borough’s natural environment score strengthened to 44th place nationally, reflecting excellent access to parks and green spaces such as Manor Park, Nonsuch Park, and Oaks Park.​
• These parks offer landscaped gardens, woodland walks, and wide-open fields, contributing to Sutton’s high marks in outdoor amenities.​
• Garrington’s methodology analyses nearly 1,450 locations with populations over 5,000, focusing on five key criteria: natural environment, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, plus value for money.​
• The report highlights a narrowing north-south property divide, with northern prices rising while southern ones softened, making some areas better value.​

Sutton, South London (South London News) February 11, 2026 – Sutton has emerged as the top borough in south London for quality of life, according to the latest Best Places to Live guide by property consultancy Garrington. The borough climbed dramatically to 79th out of 1,447 locations in England and Wales, up from 310th the previous year, praised for improvements in wellbeing and natural environment scores. This data-led assessment underscores Sutton’s appeal amid a shifting property market where southern prices have stabilised or fallen slightly.

Why Has Sutton Surged in Rankings?

Sutton’s remarkable rise stems from standout performances across Garrington’s 18 indicators. As detailed in the report, the borough’s overall position reflects balanced strengths in essential living factors.

The wellbeing category saw the most dramatic improvement, with Sutton jumping to 162nd nationally from near the bottom.

This score aggregates physical and mental health data, life satisfaction surveys, and support service accessibility, signalling enhanced resident happiness and health outcomes.​

Garrington’s analysis, covering locations with over 5,000 residents, emphasises objective metrics from sources like the Office for National Statistics and Natural England. Sutton’s progress aligns with broader trends where commuter belts offer value as London prices dip 2.4% annually.​

What Makes Sutton’s Natural Environment Stand Out?

Sutton earned 44th place nationally for its natural environment, a key pillar of the Garrington ranking. This category measures proximity to parks, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and air quality.

Parks like Manor Park, Nonsuch Park, and Oaks Park are central to this score, providing landscaped gardens, woodland walks, and expansive fields for recreation.

These green spaces support active lifestyles and mental wellbeing, as noted in the report’s methodology.

As reported by journalists covering the Garrington findings, Sutton’s

“blend of landscaped gardens, woodland walks and wide-open fields”

in these parks continues to draw families and commuters seeking respite from urban hustle.​

How Does the Garrington Report Assess Quality of Life?

Garrington’s methodology is rigorous and impartial, analysing 18 categories without subjective opinions. It draws on public data from the Office for National Statistics, Welsh Government, Land Registry, Ordnance Survey, DEFRA, and Historic England.​

The five core criteria—natural environment, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, value for money—ensure comprehensive evaluation. Notably, the report is not a full league table of best and worst; inclusion at any rank, like Sutton’s 79th, is commendable.​

Property experts at Garrington highlight how 2025’s market shifts, with northern price surges and southern stabilisations, influenced 2026 rankings. Sutton benefits as a south London outlier with improving metrics.​

Which South London Boroughs Trail Sutton?

While Sutton leads south London boroughs in the Garrington guide, direct comparisons among peers like Croydon, Bromley, or Merton are not explicitly ranked in top lists dominated by northern spots like Marple (1st) and Rawdon (2nd). However, Sutton’s 79th overall eclipses its prior 310th, positioning it ahead locally.

The report’s interactive tool allows comparisons, revealing Sutton’s edge in wellbeing and greenspace over typical south London averages. Other south London areas score well in subsets but lack Sutton’s balanced leap.

As per Garrington’s data, no other south London borough matches Sutton’s year-on-year wellbeing surge to 162nd.​

What Role Do Schools and Jobs Play in Sutton’s Appeal?

Schools and jobs form a critical category, with metrics like Ofsted ratings and proximity to high-paying employment. Sutton boasts strong performances here, contributing to its overall rank.

Historically, Sutton topped England’s GCSE league tables in 2011 with 74.7% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs including English and Maths, far above the 58.2% national average. In 2013, 83.9% met similar benchmarks, second nationally.​

Recent data reinforces this, with 17% of schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted, including Avenue Primary Academy and St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School. Commuter links to central London in 30 minutes bolster job access.

How Affordable Is Living in Sutton?

Sutton offers value in south London, with average house prices around £439,000, more affordable than neighbours like Richmond. Garrington factors house prices against quality metrics for its value-for-money score.​

Amid 2025’s 1.4% national rise to £291,515 average, Sutton remains competitive for families. Typical family homes align with regional trends but benefit from softening southern prices.​

Residents praise low costs alongside amenities, as in HomeViews reviews: “Sutton is one of the best places to live in London” for transport, shopping, and safety.​

Is Sutton the Safest South London Option?

Safety bolsters Sutton’s profile, ranked second safest in London after Richmond, with low crime and no murders in recent years. Get Licensed named it safest in Great Britain in 2025.

Council surveys show 97% of residents feel safe daytime. This aligns with Garrington’s public health and wellbeing indicators.

As noted in local coverage, strong community events like Sutton Music Festival and Carshalton Frost Fair enhance “good vibes” scores.​

What Do Residents Say About Living in Sutton?

Verified residents on HomeViews laud Sutton’s balance: “Great place to live… many train options to central London in 30 mins, convenient grocery shopping, very low crime rate.” Developments like The Well House rank highly at 4.50 stars.​

Sutton Glass highlights suburban-city mix: tranquil Cheam Village near vibrant town centre. It’s “perfect for young families seeking space outside central London.”

Why Is Sutton Praised for Green Spaces and Culture?

Beyond rankings, Sutton’s parks and heritage shine. Nonsuch Park and Beddington Park attract walkers; museums like Whitehall and Honeywood showcase history.

High Street spots like The Sound Lounge and Trinco thrive, despite lower hospitality scores in some reports. Garrington notes heritage via listed buildings like Beddington’s Great Hall.

How Does Sutton Compare to National Top Spots?

Garrington’s top 20 features northern gems like Marple (1st, strong natural beauty) and St Albans (3rd, high prices at £895,411). Sutton at 79th excels relatively in south, with value from price stability.​

West Country leads wellbeing, like Budleigh Salterton (162nd overall). Sutton matches this in its category surge.

What’s Next for Sutton Residents?

The Garrington report positions Sutton as a rising star, ideal for families valuing health, nature, and affordability. With ongoing investments in transport and communities, its trajectory suggests sustained appeal.

Local leaders may leverage this for growth, as past rankings spurred positive coverage. For movers, Garrington offers tools to explore further.