What is the sunniest city in the UK?

Brighton is frequently identified as the sunniest city in the UK, with data showing it enjoys an average of 5 hours of sunshine per day (roughly 1,800+ hours annually). Other top contenders based on recent data include Eastbourne, Chichester, and Bristol, with coastal southern England cities dominating the top spots due to their warmer, drier climates.

Where in the UK is it always sunny?

Shanklin, a town on the Isle of Wight, is the sunniest place in the UK (1,976 hours of sunshine a year) Even in the sunniest areas, you'll want solar panels to be south-facing to get the most out of them.

Where is the warmest and driest place in the UK?

The warmest and driest place in the UK is generally considered to be East Anglia, particularly areas in Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, with specific spots like Southend-on-Sea (Shoeburyness) often cited as the driest due to their location away from Atlantic moisture, while the overall warm, sunny conditions of the South East also make places like London, Cambridge, and coastal areas of Sussex/Kent strong contenders for the warmest spots.
 

Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live in the UK?

The nicest but cheapest places to live in the UK often combine affordability with access to nature or culture, with top contenders including Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hull, Burnley, and County Durham for low housing/rental costs, offering seaside access (Sunderland), rich history (Hull), or proximity to natural beauty like the North York Moors (Middlesbrough). Carlisle also stands out for its proximity to the Lake District and affordability.

What is the gloomiest city in the UK?

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.
 

Top 5 Sunniest Cities in the UK

What is the coldest city in the UK?

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.
 

Which city has the least rain in the UK?

10 Driest Places in the UK

• Cambridge: A University City with Little Rain.
• St Osyth: A Hidden Dry Gem.
• Clacton-on-Sea: Seaside with Sunshine.
• Southend-on-Sea: Popular Yet Dry.
• Bognor Regis: Sunniest Place in the UK.
• Leconfield, Yorkshire: Unexpectedly Dry.
• Faversham, Kent: Dry and Historic.
• Ashford: Where Dryness Meets Green.

What is the windiest place in the UK?

The windest places in the UK have been recorded at the top of mountains, usually in the west of the country. The strongest ever winds in the UK have been recorded on mountains, and the strongest ever gust was 150.3 knots (173 mph) recorded at Cairngorm Summit on 20 March 1986.

Which town in the UK gets the most sunshine?

The Isle of Wight

The Met Office has several climate stations on the Isle of Wight, but it's the one in the small town of Shanklin (population: 9,000) that tops the UK sunshine charts. With 1,976 hours of sunshine per year, the Isle of Wight is a whopping 573 hours up on the UK average (1,403).

Where is the closest to the UK for winter sun?

Winter sun destinations 5 hours from the UK

• SHARM EL SHEIKH? AN IDYLLIC WINTER SUN ESCAPE. ...
• LANZAROTE. WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE? ...
• GET AWAY TO THE GRAN CANARIA. ...
• FEEL YOUR BEST IN MARRAKESH. ...
• ALGARVE? ...
• A CRETE WINTER RETREAT. ...
• FEEL THE HEAT IN TENERIFE. ...
• PICTURE YOURSELF IN PAPHOS.

Which city has the best quality of life in the UK?

Top 10 UK Cities Overall Rankings 2025

1. Edinburgh - Scotland's Capital Excellence. ...
2. Manchester - Northern Powerhouse. ...
3. Bath - Georgian Elegance. ...
4. Cambridge - Innovation Hub. ...
5. Bristol - Creative Capital. ...
6. York - Historic Charm. ...
7. Leeds - Yorkshire Hub. ...
8. Glasgow - Scottish Cultural Heart.

Which city has the nicest weather?

San Diego is the U.S. city with the best year-round weather. Other top weather cities include Charleston, SC, Honolulu, HI, and Santa Barbara, CA.

What's the prettiest city in the UK?

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.
 

Which city in the UK has the worst weather?

Upholding Wales' bad weather reputation and taking the title of the rainiest UK city is Cardiff, with an average of 96mm of rainfall each month – the most out of all the cities. People living here can expect an average of 12.4 days of rain each month.

Where in the UK gets most snow?

Scotland sees the most snow on the ground, with 23.0 days on average a year. Most of the snow on the ground can be found in mountainous areas.

What is the hottest city in the UK?

Cardiff takes the top spot for the hottest city, with an average annual temperature of 14.92°C, followed closely by London and Bristol. Cardiff also ranks as the UK's rainiest city, with 100.27mm of precipitation on average each year.

What is the cleanest city in the UK?

The Top 10 Cleanest Cities in the UK

1. Dundee. Dundee takes the top spot, cementing its reputation as a leader in environmental health. ...
2. Exeter. Exeter is a consistent high-performer in cleanliness rankings. ...
3. Milton Keynes. ...
4. Chester. ...
5. Durham. ...
6. Oxford. ...
7. Belfast. ...
8. York.

What is the happiest town in the UK?

"It's no surprise Skipton has been named the happiest place to live; it's a town where people look out for each other, and that spirit creates a truly rewarding place to call home," he said.

What city has the most days of sunshine?

The sunniest city in the world is Yuma, Arizona, in the United States, which receives around 4,015 hours of sunshine per year, according to data gathered from the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation. On average, Yuma basks in 13 hours of daily sunlight during the summer and 11 hours in the winter.

Where is the kindest place to live in the UK?

Oxford, England

Oxford is a university city that's often celebrated for its friendliness. In 2021, the Friendship Index poll asked respondents questions about kindness, encouragement, and looking after others, and ranked Oxford as the number-one friendliest city in the UK.

What is the most unaffordable town in the UK?

Beaconsfield, in Buckinghamshire was identified as the least affordable town, with an average house price of more than £1 million – costing more than 15 times average household earnings. Postal towns with 5,000 homes or more were analysed.

Where is the cheapest place to buy a house in the UK 2025?

Sunderland is the cheapest city to buy a property in the UK in 2025. It sits along the coastline of the North East, with property in the SR1 postcode on the market for around £56,100.