Manchester has emerged as the UK city where residents take the greatest care of their health, according to new research.
The city received the highest Wellbeing Environment Score (WES) of 100, in a ranking of 30 UK cities by online service Drug Testing Kits UK. The scale is based on factors such as smoking prevalence, physical activity, air quality, green spaces and availability of wellness facilities like gyms and healthy restaurants.
Around 72% of adults in Manchester regularly engage in physical activity, significantly higher than in many other UK cities, the research found. The smoking rate is relatively low at 17%, although about 32% of Manchester’s population is considered obese. The city’s strength lies in excellent access to gyms, parks and health-conscious restaurants and cafes, which help residents maintain healthier lifestyles overall.
Belfast and Plymouth Close Behind
Belfast ranks second in the list of Britain’s healthiest cities, just behind Manchester, scoring 98 points. The Northern Ireland capital boasts the best air quality among the top-ranking cities, with an exceptional air quality score of 33. Additionally, three-quarters of Belfast’s adults remain physically active, contributing to a relatively low obesity rate of 27%.
Plymouth follows closely in third place with a WES of 95, supported by solid physical activity levels (60%) and a moderate smoking rate (16%). Around 29% of Plymouth’s residents are considered obese, indicating room for public health improvements.
Oxford comes fourth overall (WES 94) and notably has the lowest smoking rate of any city assessed, with just 7% of adults smoking. Oxford’s physical activity rate matches Manchester’s at 72%, but nearly half (49%) of the city’s population is classified as obese.
Bristol Most Active City Despite Challenges
Bristol is fifth on the list with a WES of 87. The city boasts the highest physical activity rate (76%) of any in the study. But it faces significant challenges with obesity, affecting 55% of the population, alongside a moderate smoking rate of 15%.
Southampton ranks sixth with a score of 81, thanks to a low smoking rate (14%) and strong physical activity levels (67%). Ipswich is seventh with good air quality and high activity levels despite a smoking rate of 21%.
Leicester (75 points) and Northampton (73 points) occupy the eighth and ninth positions, respectively. Both cities have notably low smoking rates (13%), although Northampton faces significant obesity challenges, with 68% of adults classified as obese.
Glasgow completes the top 10 with a score of 72. It features good physical activity rates (68%) and favourable air quality but faces ongoing challenges due to a high smoking rate of 25%.
Cities Can Shape Healthier Choices
James Gunter, Sales Director at Drug Testing Kits UK, pointed to the significance of city design and wellness infrastructure in promoting public health.
“With UK heart disease deaths rising for the first time in decades, it’s clear that cities play a bigger role in public health than ever before. This data shows that access to gyms, green spaces, and clean air can help offset poor lifestyle habits,” he said.
“When healthy choices are easier to make, people are more likely to stick with them, and that’s where city design makes a measurable difference.”