The Wellness Capitals of the UK: Which Cities Are Leading the Way?

When it comes to your wellness, the environment you live in can make a big difference. Some UK cities have truly embraced wellness, offering more green spaces, fitness options, and wellness products. Others still have some work to do, but they’re on the right track.

At W-Wellness, we’ve analysed how 12 major cities across the UK support healthy living, from their fitness offerings and wellness-related searches to their purchases of self-care products. Our goal? To help you discover which cities offer the best environment for your wellbeing.

Methodology

To find the UK’s wellness capital, we took a closer look at five key wellness indicators that truly matter. We wanted to explore not just the fitness facilities available, but also the active search for wellness information and products, as well as the overall quality of life in each city. Here’s how we broke it down and scored each city:

• Number of parks and gardens per 100,000 people taken from City Council websites
• Number of 24-hour gyms per 100,000 people taken from Google Maps data
• Number of monthly wellness-related Google searches specifically for terms "spas near me", "meditation classes" and "wellness retreats"
• Number of supplements bought per 100,000 people taken from W-Wellness' internal sales data from July 2024 - July 2025
• The UK cities that offer the best Quality of Life - taken from Numbeo

Each metric was sorted into scoring brackets, with higher scores reflecting greater access to wellness resources or higher demand for health-related products and services. We then averaged each city’s scores across all five categories to calculate an overall wellness score out of 5.

The final index reveals which UK cities are leading the way in health and wellbeing — and which ones are playing catch-up.

Key findings

• Edinburgh is crowned the UK’s biggest wellness city with a score of ⅘.
• Leeds comes out on top as the fitness location, scoring 4.5/5 for its fitness offerings.
• Manchester leads the way in wellness-related searches, with 500.61 searches per 100,000 people.
• Cardiff buys the most wellness products, with a staggering sales value of £2492.27 per 100,000 members of the population.
• Sheffield offers the best quality of life, with a score of 201.15.

The UK’s top 5 wellness capitals

It’s easy to see why these cities rank the highest.

Edinburgh - Wellness score 4/5

Edinburgh ranks first for a reason. With an impressive wellness score of 4/5, it combines the best of fitness, wellness, and quality of life. The city offers 8.9 parks per 100,000 people, perfect for outdoor activities that support both your physical and mental wellbeing. There’s also plenty of green spaces, too and with 2.3 24-hour gyms per 100,000 people, it’s easy to stay active no matter your schedule.

The city also excels in wellness-related searches, with 292.48 searches per 100,000 people, showing that its residents are actively seeking information that can improve their health. £2,472.47 is spent on wellness products, highlighting that Edinburgh is a city that values health and self care.

All of this, combined with a high quality of life score of 196.94, makes Edinburgh the perfect place for anyone looking to lead a balanced, healthy life.

Leeds - Wellness score 3.5/5

Leeds is the UK’s fitness capital, and it’s no surprise why. With a 4.5/5 fitness score, Leeds excels in both parks (12 per 100,000 people) and 24-hour gyms (4.1). This city makes it incredibly easy for its residents to stay fit and active, with plenty of parks like Roundhay Park and gyms for all schedules.

While Leeds isn’t at the forefront of wellness-related searches or product purchases, its commitment to fitness makes it the ultimate city for those who prioritise physical health.

Bristol - Wellness score 3

Bristol shines in wellness-related searches and product sales, making it a solid contender for joint 3rd place. While it doesn’t top the charts in parks or gyms, Bristol’s residents are incredibly engaged in wellness. With 275.4 wellness-related searches, it’s clear that people here are invested in learning about health and wellness, whether it’s supplements or wellness retreats.

The city also performs well in wellness product purchases, with £518.17 per 100,000 people spent on wellness products, showing that its residents actively incorporate wellness into their routine.

Joint 3rd - Liverpool wellness score 3 & Sheffield wellness score 3

Both Liverpool and Sheffield are strong contenders, each excelling in different wellness categories, coming in at joint third along with Bristol.

Liverpool leads the way in wellness products sales, spending an average of £263.76 per 100,000 people. Its fitness offerings also stand out with 4 gyms, but it falls behind in wellness-related searches and parks.

Sheffield, on the other hand, has earned its place due to its impressive quality of life score, coming in at a staggering 201.15. The city is known for its more affordable living compared to bigger cities, safety and access to healthcare. While it could use more parks and fitness facilities, Sheffield’s focus on quality living makes it a great option for people prioritising their long-term wellness.

London - Wellness score 2.83

London’s wellness ranking might be surprising considering its size, but the city’s large number of parks (30.5 per 100,000 people) and gyms keeps it at the top. With a wide range of green spaces and different fitness options, it’s easy for Londoners to stay active. However, London’s wellness product sales and related searches aren’t as strong as other cities, meaning it doesn’t quite hit the top spot overall.

Joint 4th - Birmingham wellness score 2.83 & Cardiff wellness score 2.83

Both Birmingham and Cardiff are high performers in specific areas. Cardiff excels in wellness product sales, with a staggering £2,492.27 per 100,000 people spent on wellness products, showing the city's commitment to self-care.

Birmingham, on the other hand, leads in wellness-related searches, with 310.87 searches, indicating that people are keen to improve their health with the help of expert advice and resources.

Glasgow - Wellness score 2.67

Glasgow ranks fifth overall, excelling in wellness product sales (£355.13) and quality of life, but falls behind in fitness offerings and wellness-related searches. Glasgow’s strong product sales show that its residents are committed to wellness, but it could improve in other areas like green spaces and fitness facilities to truly compete with the front-runners.

The UK cities that have the most fitness offerings

When it comes to fitness, Leeds takes the lead, offering the perfect balance of gyms and parks. With 12 parks and 4.1 gyms per 100,00 people, the city makes it easy for its residents to stay active, whether they’re enjoying the lush outdoor space or hitting the gym.

London and Edinburgh follow closely behind, with London standing out for its vast number of 30.5 parks (per 100,000), providing abundant opportunities for outdoor exercise. However, it does fall short in the number of gyms available compared to Leeds.

Edinburgh, with its 8.9 parks and 2.3 gyms (per 100,000), also offers a strong wellness environment, making it ideal for those who enjoy heading outdoors whilst having easy access to gyms.

The UK cities buying the most wellness products

Manchester leads the UK in wellness-related searches, with 500.61 (per 100,00). This high volume reflects the accumulation of searches for terms like ‘spas near me’, ‘meditation classes’ and ‘wellness retreats’, showing that residents are actively seeking more ways to improve their wellbeing. The city’s residents are clearly engaged in their health journey, whether it’s for relaxation, mindfulness, or overall wellness.

Birmingham and London follow closely with 310,87 and 309.78 searches respectively. Both cities also see significant searches around wellness topics, highlighting their interest in taking better care of their physical and mental health.

The UK cities that are buying the most wellness products 

Cardiff leads the UK in wellness product purchases, averaging £2,492.27 spent per 100,000 people. This impressive spending reflects a city where residents are deeply invested in their health and self-care routines, sorting the best products for them. The demand for wellness products, from daily vitamins to sleep support, menopause to men’s health, indicates a strong cultural shift of prioritising wellness.  Cardiff’s residents are clearly making health-conscious choices by investing in products that make them feel good.

Following closely is Edinburgh with an average of £2,472.47 spent on wellness products, showing that the Scottish capital is equally committed to self-care. London, at £2,124.57, also shows significant spending on wellness products, with residents of the capital willing to invest in their health and lifestyle at any cost.

(This data was sourced from W-Wellness’s sales figures for the year July 2024 - July 2025.)

The UK cities that offer the best quality of life

A high quality of life score takes into account a variety of important factors that contribute to how people experience daily life. These metrics reflect how well a city supports its residents in terms of affordability, safety, healthcare, and overall livability.

• Purchasing power index: Measures the affordability of goods and services compared to the average income.
• Safety index: Indicates the safety of a city, factoring in crime rates and general public safety.
• Healthcare index: Evaluates the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in a city.
• Climate index: Reflects the overall environmental quality, including factors like air quality and climate conditions, which impact residents’ health and comfort.
• Cost of living index: Measures the general cost of living, including housing, utilities, and food.
• Property price to income ratio: Looks at the affordability of housing, comparing property prices to the average income.
  
• Traffic commute time index: Assess the average commute time for residents.
• Pollution index: Tracks levels of air and water pollution by city.

With these factors in mind, Sheffield offers its residents an affordable, safe, and comfortable lifestyle, making it the top city for quality of life. The city’s low cost of living, coupled with excellent healthcare and safety, means that residents can enjoy a well-rounded life.

Following closely behind are Edinburgh and Liverpool, both of which excel in different aspects. Edinburgh, with its beautiful scenery, excellent healthcare, and strong safety rating, offers a high standard of living, making it an attractive place to live. Liverpool, on the other hand, has a lower cost of living compared to other major cities, making it an appealing option for those looking for a good quality of life on a tighter budget.

Discover the best cities for your wellness journey

The wellness capitals of the UK reveal which cities are leading the way in supporting health and wellbeing. From the fitness-focused Leeds to the wellness product-driven Cardiff, these cities show a strong commitment to improving residents’ health.

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