UK's calmest and most stressed out places ranked – check full list for your area

14 January 2024 , 10:40

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Brighton's lively, welcoming atmosphere combined with its access to beautiful nature saw it top the list of most chilled cities (Image: Getty Images)

The UK’s calmest and most stressed cities have been named, with Brighton coming in as Britain’s most chilled out city - while people in Belfast were the “most stressed”.

Brighton, the seaside town known for its easy going vibe and fun-loving residents, came top of the list, with Manchester in at number two and Edinburgh coming third.

Thousands of Brits answered a survey on health, wellbeing and quality of life as well as a range of factors such as daily commute, financial worries, hours of sleep and amount of time spent with loved ones.

The responses showed that in Brighton people are more likely to get out into nature (55%), engage in self-care (66%) and get help with their mental health when needed (61%). However in Belfast nearly two thirds of the residents surveyed said they felt unable to cope or stressed out.

Brighton’s seaside location and access to the natural beauty of the Sussex Downs might be part of the reason so many residents felt happy and relaxed, as well as its friendly and welcoming atmosphere and laid-back approach to life.

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Whereas in Belfast the cost-of-living crisis (64%) and work (4%) caused residents concern and stopped them from relaxing. Nearly half (49%) of respondents in Cardiff admitted they function off less than six hours per night - not surprisingly 51% of them said they often felt tired and irritable during the day.

Edinburgh, famous for its beautiful archetecture, came in at number two on the list of 17 (Getty Images)

Psychotherapist Dr Charlotte Armitage said that while place had a big impact on people’s wellbeing, the effects were subjective to each person. “One of the fundamental concepts that plays into the idea of location affecting mental state is the fact that everyone is different,” she told the Mail. “For example, some of us may prefer the quiet solitude of the countryside, while others may seek the hustle and bustle of the city.

“For this reason, there is no hard-and-fast bottom line to this argument. However, there are several factors which can and do affect all of us in similar ways – many of which are tied directly to where we live.

“For instance, the cost-of-living in our area, our commute to work, access to green spaces or mental health support, as well as how close we live to our family and friends.”

The study, conducted by Kalms Herbal Remedies spoke to 3,726 participants, here is the full list from least stressed to most stressed.

1. Brighton

2. Manchester

3. Edinburgh

4. Bristol

5. Leeds

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6. London

7. Norwich

8. Southampton

8. Sheffield

10. Glasgow

11. Nottingham

12. Birmingham

13. Liverpool

14. Newcastle

15. Plymouth

16. Cardiff

17. Belfast

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