Getting enough sleep can sometimes be easier said than done – and it is important to focus on positive mental wellbeing in order to achieve it.
Studies have shown that factors such as exercise¹, healthy eating², and time spent in green spaces can increase your likelihood of getting a good night’s rest – and depending on the city you live in, this can be made much easier. So, which destinations make it easier to maintain positive well-being?
The sleep experts at MattressNextDay have identified best cities for well-being in the UK by analysing factors known to have a positive effect on sleep, including healthy eating options, fitness clubs, and environmental factors such as green space, air quality, and pollution.
For those looking to adopt positive well-being habits for a getting enough sleep, Martin Seeley, CEO and Senior Sleep Expert at MattressNextDay, has shared his top wellness tips for improving sleep.
Here are the top 10 destinations in further detail:
| Rank | City | Healthy Restaurants | Green Space (%) | Fitness Club Membership Price (£) | Fitness Clubs per 100,000 | Spas per 100,000 | Light & Noise Pollution | Air Quality | Total Score (Max 100) |
| 1 | Leeds | 60 | 41.9 | 27.85 | 10.8 | 10.6 | 53.12 | 6.4 | 60.44 |
| 2 | Brighton & Hove | 53 | 27.27 | 38.55 | 13.4 | 20.2 | 43.48 | 8.9 | 55.48 |
| 3 | Newcastle Upon Tyne | 32 | 32.12 | 32.22 | 7.0 | 14.7 | 50 | 6.5 | 53.66 |
| 4 | Edinburgh | 105 | 31.79 | 42.50 | 6.9 | 23.2 | 35.82 | 4.9 | 52.55 |
| 5 | Glasgow | 53 | 33.56 | 38.40 | 9.0 | 12.0 | 41.51 | 5.4 | 52.19 |
| 6 | Belfast | 28 | 44.52 | 33.40 | 7.8 | 10.9 | 35.53 | 7 | 50.03 |
| 7 | Sheffield | 40 | 33.98 | 28.89 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 36.9 | 7.6 | 49.88 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 61 | 32.19 | 27.00 | 5.1 | 10.1 | 42.5 | – | 45.00 |
| 9 | Leicester | 23 | 31.42 | 29.83 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 46.67 | 7 | 43.87 |
| 10 | London | 733 | 22.29 | 47.91 | 6.8 | 9.8 | 55.27 | 8.4 | 41.72 |
Leeds, the Yorkshire urban playground is home to a thriving wellness community, with plenty of country beauty spots just a short ride away the city centre. For relaxation and well-being, the city boasts several tranquil retreats, such as Thorpe Park Spa and Rudding Park Spa.
Nature enthusiasts can find peace at Roundhay Park, one of the largest urban parks in Europe, featuring beautiful lakes, gardens, and walking trails perfect for stroll or outdoor yoga session. The Meanwood Valley Trail provides an escape for those who love nature walks and bird-watching. Fitness lovers will appreciate the variety of gyms, yoga studios, and wellness hubs around the city, including popular spaces like Yoga Kula and Tribe Leeds, with the average fitness club membership in Leeds coming in at just £27.85.
Brighton and Hove, is known for its eclectic charm, beautiful seafront, and bohemian lifestyle. With its laid-back vibe, it’s the perfect place for those seeking a relaxing getaway, or to find their permanent home. The city’s famous pebble beach, with the iconic Brighton Pier, provides a calming backdrop for a seaside stroll or simply sitting by the waves to enjoy mindful relaxation.
Wellness seekers will love the variety of spas and holistic therapy centres in Brighton, such as the luxurious HarSPA at Brighton Harbour Hotel, offering rejuvenating treatments and hydrotherapy, and Unika Wellbeing, known for its bespoke therapies. Nature lovers can explore the beauty of the South Downs National Park, just a short distance from the city, perfect for scenic walks. Brighton and Hove seamlessly blend relaxation, nature, and creativity, making it an ideal destination for anyone looking to nurture body, mind, and soul by the sea.
Newcastle upon Tyne is an emerging city for those looking to invest time to improving their wellbeing, ranking third overall. Nestled along the scenic River Tyne and surrounded countryside, the city offers serene escapes for visitors seeking solitude.
Nature lovers will find plenty of green spaces to unwind, including the beautiful Jesmond Dene, a picturesque woodland valley with tranquil streams and scenic walking paths. Leazes Park and Exhibition Park offer a peaceful oasis right in the heart of the city, perfect for mindful walks or open-air yoga. A short drive brings you to the stunning Northumberland coastline, with its wide sandy beaches and fresh sea air, ideal for long, refreshing strolls.
With house prices falling below the UK national average, Newcastle Upon Tyne is also an ideal place for people wanting to make the move to somewhere more calming and escape the hustle and bustle of life
With Edinburgh ranking fourth and Glasgow coming in at number five, its easy to see why Scotland is attractive to both Brits and foreign tourists. Both cities are popular destinations, and its easy to see why, both offer a range of green spaces, attractions and a variety of restaurants. Those looking to extend their trip also have the option to travel North and explore the sights of the breath – taking Scottish Highlands.
Top wellness habits to adopt for getting enough sleep
Even the quietest cities are still somewhat noisy, and with city life being best described as hectic, it can often be hard to relax and unwind in the evening or when getting ready for bed.
However, as MattressNextDay’s Senior Sleep Expert, Martin Seeley, points out, there are plenty of tips for how to sleep better in a busy city if you’re finding yourself regularly lying awake at night
- Spend more time in nature
“While not always possible on a daily basis, getting out into green spaces, particularly outside of the city, for a few hours a week can have a notable impact on improving your sleep. This is because exposure to natural light in green spaces can help reset your circadian rhythm, promoting the release of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and signalling your body to get tired in the evening.”
- Try more LISS sports
“LISS (low-intensity steady-state) sports are a fantastic exercise option for anyone who doesn’t have the opportunity to work out regularly on a workday. Running, cycling, swimming, all of these activities will get your blood pumping, tiring your body out so that you feel ready to sleep when night falls. · Practice mindful activities – whether this is yoga for sleep, meditation, or Pilates classes, mindfulness activities such as these have been shown to clear the mind of racing thoughts and destress the body, ensuring you’re as relaxed as possible before going to bed.”
- Turn off the phone earlier
“You’ve no doubt heard this tip plenty of times, but we keep reiterating it for a reason. Simply put, using your phone before bed overstimulates your brain, preventing the effective release of melatonin and leaving you wide-eyed even hours after switching it off. So, to prevent this, try not to use your phone in the hour leading up to bed in order to give your mind time to wind down.”
- Establish good sleep hygiene
“Good sleep starts with good sleep hygiene, which means turning your bedroom into a sleep-friendly space. Whether this is investing in blackout blinds to keep light out, buying earplugs to mute noise, or buying a whole new bed setup for added comfort, there’s plenty you can be doing to make getting to sleep quickly that much easier.”
For more information, please visit: https://www.mattressnextday.co.uk/snooze-news/post/which-are-the-best-uk-and-eu-cities-for-healthy-living
