London has been ranked the most relaxing region in the United Kingdom, according to new research analysing environmental quality and access to leisure amenities across every local authority in the country. The capital achieved an overall relaxation score of 8.05 out of 10 — the only region to average above eight — placing it ahead of the North West and North East in a nationwide index.

The findings come at a time of significant concern about public wellbeing. A 2026 report by Mental Health UK found that 91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme stress in the past year, underlining the growing importance of restorative environments in everyday life.

The study was commissioned by bathroom products retailer Showers to You, which constructed a points-based relaxation index drawing on data from ONS records on public green space, UK Government air quality figures, and OpenStreetMap data covering fitness venues, cafés, and waterways. Each local authority was assessed on five criteria: median distance to the nearest park, the density of fitness and yoga studios, café density, river and waterway coverage, and average PM2.5 particulate air pollution levels. Scores were then aggregated to produce regional averages out of ten.

How the Regions Ranked

London’s top position is underpinned by the volume and proximity of its green spaces. London boroughs average 2.82 parks within a 1,000-metre radius — more than any other region in the country. The capital also recorded by far the highest density of fitness and yoga studios at 1.00 per square kilometre, more than four times the figure for the second-placed North West. Air pollution remains a weakness, with London’s average PM2.5 reading of 10.86 micrograms per cubic metre the highest of any region, yet the breadth of its other advantages proved decisive.

The North West secured second place with a score of 7.72 out of 10. Unlike London, its strength lies not in parks but in blue space: the region recorded an average river and waterway density of 2.76 per square kilometre, the highest of the top three regions. The North East came third (7.32/10), with Newcastle upon Tyne emerging as that region’s standout local authority at 9.13 out of 10. The North East also edged ahead of the North West on café density, recording 0.62 establishments per square kilometre against 0.55.

Scotland finished fourth (7.09/10), benefiting from notably cleaner air — an average PM2.5 reading of just 6.03 µg/m³, the lowest of any region. The South East placed fifth overall (7.00/10), despite containing Hastings, which scored 9.52 out of 10 — the single highest-scoring local authority anywhere in the UK. The South East’s regional average was pulled down by the wide variation in scores across its many constituent authorities, a contrast to London’s more consistent performance across its boroughs.

Wales (6.37/10) and the East of England (6.34/10) occupied the lower-middle section of the table, while Yorkshire and Humber (6.31/10) and the East Midlands (6.09/10) rounded out the rankings. Northern Ireland was not included in the study, as the underlying ONS dataset does not cover Northern Irish local authorities.

What the Data Tells Us About Relaxation

Martin Smith, founder of Showers to You, said the research challenged the assumption that relaxation requires escaping to rural or remote locations.