British seas often appear murky due to high levels of suspended sediment, silt, and sand stirred up by strong tidal movements, winds, and river runoff. The shallow nature of the North Sea, along with significant input from major rivers, causes widespread discolouration, while algal blooms in warmer weather and coastal erosion contribute to the lack of clarity.
The agricultural pollution billowing out from our rivers is now met, at sea, by clouds of sediment caused by coastal erosion, deep sea trawling, dredging and mining.
What is the problem with the water quality in the UK?
Serious water pollution incidents up 60% in England, Environment Agency says. Serious pollution incidents by water companies have risen 60% in a year, according to the Environment Agency. In total there were 2,801 pollution incidents in England in 2024, the highest on record, compared with 2,174 in 2023.
How Geography Creates Cloudy Skies in England. England's position on the northeastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean means it regularly experiences a clash of air masses. Warm, moist air from the Atlantic meets cooler air from the land, creating conditions necessary for clouds to form.
The UK is, after all, an island in the North Atlantic, so there is not much sunshine at times.” Global rankings for personal happiness are similarly unsatisfactory, with the UK coming in at 64th place out of 68 countries in this subcategory. Only 13% of expats report being very happy with their life (globally: 21%).
"Blocking" weather system caused UK weather to become "stuck", leading to one of the driest, warmest and brightest springs on record. March and April of 2025 have been the sunniest on record since 1910.
Even though there are no sewer overflows at Watcombe, a stream flowing across the beach and other discharges from the surrounding area lead to poor bathing water quality. St Mary's bay in Kent often tops the list of the most polluted beach in England.
No single stretch of river in England or Northern Ireland is in good overall health. Just 15% of English, 31% of Northern Irish and 50% of Irish river stretches reach good ecological health standards.
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.
Brits are leaving the UK due to a combination of factors, primarily driven by young professionals seeking better economic prospects, a higher quality of life, and lower living costs, with destinations like the UAE, Australia, and the US offering higher salaries (often tax-free), better work-life balance, and warmer climates, contrasting with the UK's rising cost of living, stagnant wages, housing crises, and tax burdens.
Where is the safest place to live during climate change?
The Northeast offers better prospects, particularly Vermont and New Hampshire, which rank as the two safest states from climate change. Vermont stands out as a haven – free from wildfires, extreme heat, and hurricanes.
While UK tap water is generally safe, areas in the South and East, like Norwich, Leicester, Southampton, London, and Birmingham, often rank as having the worst tasting water due to hardness from chalk/limestone, though some reports also flag Wessex Water and United Utilities (North West) for poor quality/taste, and pollution hotspots exist, notably PFAS near Duxford/Cambridge and past contamination issues in the North.
PATIENT INFORMATION SHEET ON WATER SAFETY What water is safe? Generally, British tap water is safe to drink. However, if your CD4 count is below 200, the safest option is to boil your drinking water (USPHS 1999). Boiling water is the most effective way of killing Cryptosporidium (www.epa.gov).
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.
Living in the UK can be expensive, with soaring rent, transportation, and daily expenses. International students and newcomers may find it challenging to manage their finances effectively.
