The UK's Top Cities for Health and Wellness Revealed

Chesterfield and Bournemouth have been named the healthiest cities in the UK in a new study, with Kidderminster, York, and Cambridge rounding out the top 5. London missed out on a top spot, ranking near the bottom at 82nd place.

Where you live can greatly impact your health, well-being, and access to nutritious food options. Our wellness index investigated which UK cities offer the best access to healthy food resources.

Our research considered several factors, like healthy restaurants, farmers' markets, farm shops, greengrocers, and health food stores, as key contributors to a healthy lifestyle. Our national ranking reveals a surprising picture of health and wellness across the UK, with some unexpected cities claiming top spots.

Whether you're looking to move to a healthier city or simply curious about your own, read on to discover which UK cities are best for accessing healthy food options.

Methodology

To find the UK cities with the best access to healthy food options, we devised a comprehensive ranking system based on the following:

• Healthy Restaurants per 100k residents: The number of restaurants offering healthy menu options per 100,000 people

• Average Rating of Healthy Restaurants: The average customer rating of these establishments

• Farmers Markets per 100k residents: The density of farmers markets offering fresh, local produce

• Farm Shops per 100k residents: The availability of farm shops selling direct-from-producer goods

• Greengrocers per 100k residents: The number of specialist fruit and vegetable retailers

• Health Food Stores per 100k residents: The availability of dedicated health food shops

Each city received a score out of 60 based on these six metrics, with each category worth up to 10 points. Higher scores indicate better access to healthy food options.

Research Highlights

Our healthy cities study has revealed some noteworthy differences between wellness opportunities available across the UK:

• Chesterfield in the East Midlands tops the overall health and wellness index with an impressive 44.9 out of 60

• Brighton & Hove offers the best access to healthy restaurants in the country

• Bury has the highest concentration of health food stores of any UK city

• Worcester boasts the most farm shops per capita, making fresh produce readily accessible

• Bournemouth has the highest concentration of greengrocers per 100,000 residents

• Many smaller cities outperformed larger metropolitan areas in providing healthy food options

The Top 5 Healthiest Cities in the UK

Chesterfield: The UK's Healthiest Food City

Chesterfield in the East Midlands has claimed the top spot as the UK's healthiest city for food access with an impressive total score of 44.9 out of 60. While not topping any individual category, the city achieved consistently high scores across all metrics, demonstrating an exceptional balance of healthy food options.

With 4.8 healthy restaurants per 100,000 residents rated at an impressive average of 10/10, Chesterfield offers quality dining options for health-conscious residents. The city also excels in farmers markets (9.1 per 100k), providing fresh, seasonal produce directly from local farmers.

Chesterfield's strength lies in its well-rounded approach to healthy food access, with substantial numbers of farm shops (3.9 per 100k), greengrocers (4.3 per 100k), and health food stores (2.8 per 100k) ensuring residents have multiple avenues to access nutritious ingredients.

Bournemouth: Coastal Healthy Living Champion

Bournemouth ranks as the UK's second healthiest city with a score of 41.7. The South West coastal city particularly excels in its concentration of healthy restaurants, boasting 8.9 per 100,000 residents with an excellent average rating of 9/10.

What truly sets Bournemouth apart is its remarkable concentration of greengrocers, with 10 per 100,000 residents—the highest in the country. This gives residents unparalleled access to fresh fruits and vegetables essential for a balanced diet.

While Bournemouth's farmers market and farm shop scores are lower than some other top cities, its strength in restaurant options and specialist produce retailers secures its position as a leading healthy food destination.

Kidderminster: West Midlands Wellness Surprise

Kidderminster in the West Midlands secured third place with a score of 39.9, surprising many who might not have expected this smaller city to rank so highly. The city's strong performance is driven by excellent access to farmers markets (9.1 per 100k) and farm shops (5.6 per 100k)—the second-highest in the top 10.

While Kidderminster has fewer healthy restaurants than some competitors (1.4 per 100k), it does maintain a solid average rating of 8/10. The city also offers good access to greengrocers (2.9 per 100k) and health food stores (2.9 per 100k), providing residents with diverse options for sourcing healthy ingredients.

York: Historic City with Contemporary Health Credentials

York ranks fourth in our health and wellness index with a score of 38.8. This historic Yorkshire city particularly shines in its healthy restaurant offerings, with 9.1 per 100,000 residents—the third-highest in the country—rated at an impressive 9/10.

The city also performs strongly in farmers markets (6.8 per 100k), giving residents excellent access to fresh, local produce. While York's greengrocer and health food store numbers are lower than some other top cities, its exceptional restaurant scene and farmers markets ensure residents have ample healthy eating options.

Cambridge: University City with Healthy Foundations

Cambridge completes the top five with a score of 38.6. The famous university city offers excellent access to healthy restaurants, with 9 per 100,000 residents rated at 9/10, putting it just behind York in this category.

The city also boasts a strong farmers market scene (6.1 per 100k) and good farm shop access (3 per 100k). While Cambridge has fewer greengrocers and health food stores than some competitors, its overall balance of healthy food options secures its place among the UK's healthiest cities.

Regional Wellness Winners

Brighton & Hove: The South East's Healthy Restaurant Capital

Brighton & Hove ranks 7th overall but leads the nation in healthy restaurant density with an impressive 10 healthy restaurants per 100,000 residents. This coastal city has long been associated with alternative lifestyles and health-conscious living, reflected in its diverse and innovative healthy eating scene.

Bury: North West's Health Food Store Haven

Bury in the North West achieved 8th place overall but stands out with the highest concentration of health food stores in the country at 10 per 100,000 residents. The city also excels in greengrocer density (9.6 per 100k, second only to Bournemouth) and farmers markets (10 per 100k), making it a standout for speciality health food shopping.

Worcester: The Farm Shop Frontrunner

Worcester secured 10th place overall but takes first place for farm shop access with an exceptional 10 farm shops per 100,000 residents. This West Midlands city offers residents unparalleled access to fresh produce direct from local farmers, supporting both health and sustainability.

London Falls Short in Health Food Access

The capital city ranked near the bottom at 82nd place with a score of just 13.9. Despite its reputation for diverse dining options, London's massive population dilutes its per capita figures, with just 3.8 healthy restaurants per 100,000 residents. 

The city also scored poorly across farmers markets (1.3 per 100k), farm shops (0.4 per 100k), and greengrocers (0.4 per 100k), suggesting Londoners may need to work harder to find healthy food options.

Regional Patterns in Healthy Food Access

Our research revealed interesting regional patterns across the UK:

South West Strength: The South West region performed strongly overall, with Bournemouth (2nd) and Torquay (6th) both appearing in the top 10. The region's agricultural heritage and coastal location may contribute to better access to fresh produce.

East Midlands Leads The Way: Led by top-ranked Chesterfield, the East Midlands showed strong performance, though results varied significantly within the region.

North-South Divide: Several northern cities, including Bury and Stockport (both in the North West), featured in the top 10, challenging the stereotype that healthy living is primarily a southern phenomenon.

Midlands Mix: The West Midlands showed mixed results, with Kidderminster (3rd) and Worcester (10th) performing exceptionally well, while Birmingham (73rd) lagged behind.

Complete Rankings: The UK's Healthiest Cities

Table shows the top 10 cities only. Full rankings available upon request.

The Future of Healthy Eating in UK Cities

Our research highlights several cities that are leading the way in providing residents with access to healthy food options. As health consciousness continues to grow across the UK, we can expect to see:

• Increased investment in farmers' markets and local food initiatives

• Growth in the number and quality of healthy restaurants

• Greater focus on locally-sourced produce in urban planning

• Expansion of health food store chains into underserved areas

• Revival of traditional greengrocers in city centres

Location Matters for Healthy Eating

The significant variation in healthy food access across UK cities demonstrates that location plays a crucial role in how easy it is to maintain a nutritious diet. While some cities like Chesterfield and Bournemouth offer exceptional access to healthy options, others like London and Bradford lag behind.

For those prioritising health and wellness, considering these factors when choosing where to live could have meaningful impacts on long-term well-being. Even for those not planning to relocate, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your local food environment can help you make more informed choices about where and how to shop for healthy options.

Our research shows that size isn't everything when it comes to healthy cities—some of the best performers are smaller cities with strong local food cultures and traditions. This suggests that policy initiatives focused on supporting local food systems could significantly improve health outcomes in cities across the UK.