Based on the 2025 Rightmove Happy at Home Index, Barking and Dagenham in East London was named the least happy place to live in the UK, ranking 220th out of 220 areas surveyed. Other frequently cited low-ranking areas for resident happiness include Slough, which topped the list in 2024, as well as Newham, Havering, and Colchester.
It turns out that the nation's most miserable region is… a three way tie! The North East, North West and West Midlands all had an average happiness score of 7.3 out of 10. Considering that the region that tops the ranking, the South West, had a score of 7.6, that's not too bad at all.
While "gloomiest" is subjective, Bradford was frequently cited in 2023 studies by Betway as the UK's gloomiest city based on low sunshine, high wind, and rainfall, despite local defenses highlighting its cultural vitality. Other contenders often mentioned for dreary weather include Aberdeen, Blackpool, Glasgow, and Preston, though different metrics (sunshine vs. rain) yield varied results, with some recent surveys also pointing to places like Havering or Slough in terms of overall "miserable" living conditions.
At the other end of the spectrum, with just six visits throughout the entire year, the Radar Tower in Essex was found to be the least popular tourist destination. The British in India Museum (70) was the second least popular attraction, with North Ings Farm Museum (98) the third.
Protectivity also analysed results from people living in the UK based on their location. The findings suggest that people living in Cardiff are the most stressed, with 55% of residents claiming they are extremely stressed on a daily basis. Edinburgh follows in second place with 53% and Manchester with 52%.
There isn't one single "roughest" city, as rankings vary by data source and crime type, but Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Manchester, Bradford, and London boroughs like Westminster consistently appear high for overall crime or violent crime rates per capita in recent data (2024-2025), with issues like theft, assault, and antisocial behavior prevalent. Other cities frequently cited include Coventry, Liverpool, and Nottingham, often due to specific issues like knife crime or violent offenses.
Norwich has officially been named the UK's Kindest City, by Benefact Group, an organisation that gives all its available profits to good causes, after locals made more nominations for charities than anywhere else in the country*.
Wales has taken the crown for being home to the quietest place in the whole of the UK: Powys, which is its largest county. With only 26 people per square kilometre, you can be promised a quiet stay in this amazing place, and find a true escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
There isn't one single "coldest city," but Scottish Highlands locations like Dalwhinnie and Braemar are consistently the coldest parts of the UK, with Dalwhinnie holding records for mean temperatures and Braemar for extreme lows. While these are villages, some consider Aberdeen a contender for the coldest actual city due to its northerly position, though sea moderation keeps it milder than the Highlands.
Luton. Located in Bedfordshire with a population of around 215,000, Luton is often listed among the worst places in Britain to live. The town struggles with high crime rates, placing it in the top 20 most crime-affected areas nationwide.
There isn't one single "most run-down" town, as it depends on the metric, but recent reports frequently cite Walsall (West Midlands) as Britain's most deprived for overall quality of life (Good Growth for Cities Index 2025), while Jaywick (Essex) is repeatedly named England's most deprived neighbourhood by government data. Other towns often mentioned for significant decline due to economic hardship, unemployment, and urban decay include areas in Blackpool, Hastings, and Middlesbrough, alongside places like Portsmouth and Aldershot facing specific challenges.
There's no single "most beautiful" city, but Bath, Edinburgh, York, and Chester consistently rank high, known for Georgian architecture, historic charm, Roman ruins, medieval walls, and stunning natural settings, respectively. Other contenders include Oxford, Cambridge, and Durham, praised for their universities, canals, and grand cathedrals.
The city with the lowest percentage of white residents in the UK is Leicester, where white people are no longer the majority, with about 41% identifying as white according to 2021 census data, making it one of the most ethnically diverse cities alongside places like Birmingham, Luton, and London boroughs such as Newham and Brent.
Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Hartlepool, Kingston upon Hull and Manchester are the Local Authority Districts with the highest proportions of neighbourhoods among the most deprived in England. Two London boroughs (Tower Hamlets and Hackney) rank as the most deprived regarding income deprivation among children.
It's Jaywick again. For the fourth time in a row the tiny, apparently unprepossessing seaside village overlooking the north sea just down the coast from Clacton in Essex has reluctantly claimed the unenviable title of England's most deprived neighbourhood.
Depression prevalence decreased with increasing age. Overall, prevalence was highest in adolescents ages 12–19 (19.2%) and lowest in adults age 60 and older (8.7%). A similar trend was observed in females, where depression decreased from 26.5% among those ages 12–19 to 10.6% among those age 60 and older.
Regular exercise may improve depression or anxiety symptoms enough to make a big difference. That big difference can help kick-start further improvements. The mental health benefits of exercise and physical activity may last only if you stick with them over the long term.
