Revealed: The UK’s Best Nature Staycation Spots

he Body Shop has uncovered the best places in Great Britain to escape the hustle and bustle of life and enjoy nature.

• Plymouth has been crowned the best city for escaping into nature
• Only 30% of residents in Kingston Upon Hull, Milton Keynes and Cardiff are impacted by noise pollution, the lowest levels in the country
• Scotland is home to the cities with the cleanest air: Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow

As of today, May 17th, the rest of the accommodation sector can now reopen (including hotels, airbnbs etc) and people from different households can share the same room.

With just over a month to go until the official start of Summer (21st June), The Body Shop have analysed UK Towns and Cities to find out the best nature spots for your next staycation.

To find out which cities are the best for those wanting to escape into nature, The Body Shop launched the study using five key factors: urban greenspace per person, air quality, noise pollution, and the number of forests and walking trails across Great Britain.

Great Britain’s top 20 towns and cities to escape into nature

Plymouth crowned the best city for escaping into nature

According to the index, Plymouth is the best city for escaping into nature, with 54 parks and forests, and 30 walking trails in the county. Plymouth is followed by the lustrous south-western towns of Torbay, Exeter and Bournemouth.

With a train ticket from London Paddington to Plymouth costing from only £22 and taking on average 3 hours and 30 minutes, Plymouth’s nature haven seems like an attractive choice for the nation’s next staycation.

People are finally able to book hotels and Airbnbs with friends from different households meaning Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter can be bumped to the top of the list for a visit.

Blackpool, Derby, Northampton and Leeds also place in the top 20 cities for providing their residents with nearby nature getaways, and Aberdeen and Swansea lead the way for Scotland and Wales.

Air quality

With its vast mountainous landscapes and famous lochs, it’s no surprise that Scotland is home to the cities with the cleanest air. Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow had the best air quality on average throughout 2020. On the other hand, the air quality in Milton Keynes, Hastings and Oxford was the poorest around Great Britain.

Poor air quality is not only harmful to our planet, but the effects of pollution can be seen on our skin too, leading to skin problems like blemishes, ageing and sensitivity.

Breathing in clean air is one important part of living in a healthy environment and something that should be included in self-care routines this summer. So, if you’re planning on traveling to a new place to explore nature, Scotland should be added to your bucket list for a breath of fresh air.

Since the 26^th of April, travel has been permitted throughout Wales, England and Scotland. Therefore a staycation in Aberdeen is permitted!

A trip by train could take over 7 hours, so dependent on how you feel about catching a flight (as quick as an hour and a half travel time), Aberdeen should be added to the list. From as little as £62 return in June the flyers amongst us could enjoy a cheap getaway a bit further from home.

Most greenspace to explore

Public parks and urban greenspace are very popular in cities and large towns since they offer a nature haven in highly populated areas. This means that they can get busy and feel less peaceful than desired, something we all experienced over lockdown.

Now that we can officially travel to more than just our local area there is so much greenspace to be explored. The cities that offer the largest amount of greenspace per person are Swansea, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, each offering over 100 square meters of greenspace for every city-goer.

Unsurprisingly, the super populated cities of London and Manchester have the lowest amount of greenspace per city resident, followed by Wolverhampton and Coventry.

Quietest city escapes

Loud urban noise pollution, such as road traffic, passing trains and industrial noise can stop us from feeling relaxed and being able to enjoy green spaces.

Just 30% of residents living in Kingston Upon Hull, Milton Keynes and Cardiff are impacted by such disturbances. These might be places for non-residents to add to their staycation lists if some peace and quiet sounds appealing.

At the other end of the scale, Glasgow, Slough, Edinburgh, London and Aberdeen are the noisiest cities, with over 100% of the city population being impacted by industrial noise pollution within the city perimeters.

Most nearby forests or parks

After an extensive analysis of over 2,500 forests and parks listed on Trip Advisor, The Body Shop’s research revealed that Medway and Thanet, both located in Kent, and Southampton and Portsmouth, in the county of Hampshire, have the highest number of forests and parks just a short journey away.

In the southeastern county of Kent, Sandwich Wildlife Park is the top 5* rated park to visit, followed by Orlestone Forest Nature Reserve. With tigers, cheetahs and turtles on the list it’s a perfect fit for the upcoming half term, followed by Orlestone Forest Nature Reserve, known for its large woodland and important moth and butterfly populations.

While further along the south coast, Southampton Common and Wildgrounds Nature Reserve are the top rated amongst Trip Advisor reviewers. Again, so easily accessed via London for a picnic or a stroll away from the crowds.

Top walking trails

Lastly, The Body Shop’s Trip Advisor analysis extended to review over 450 walking trail listings to find the cities in the UK with the highest number in their respective counties.

Exeter, Torbay, Bournemouth, Plymouth and York offer the most walking trails to enjoy as part of a self-love routine.

The South West Coast Path is among the top 5* rated walking trails to visit in the south west of England, as well as Durdle Door and the White Nothe Circular Walk.

With these spots only a short distance away, why not take a day trip and stop off in one of the beer gardens along the way for a refreshing drink in the sun (fingers crossed).

Expert Comments

The Body Shop spoke to Dr Audrey Tang, a psychologist and mental health and wellness expert, and she explains why getting outdoors is so important:

“Humans are biophilic – we have an innate affinity with imagery and sensations that remind us of what we see in nature – wood, slate, curves. Thus, when we immerse ourselves within it, our mental health gets a boost.

Not only does fresh air help clear our lungs, but also the sunlight naturally stimulates the production of vitamin D which also assists our immune system – and the sun as well as exercising in it can help produce endorphins (our body’s natural pain relievers) as well as serotonin (which helps regulates our sleep and appetite) and dopamine (the “feel good” neurotransmitter). 

“And, if you’re going out there with friends, you’re likely to also be producing oxytocin – the bonding hormone – bringing emotional warmth.  Nature also allows us to connect with all of our senses – try barefoot walking, or listening to the birds, smelling the flowers or even foraging (with professional guidance).

Professionally too, nature can boost our attention span, enable us to feel “grounded” when in nature – giving us the strength we need to face the day’s challenges; and because nature stimulates all five senses, we also benefit from the sensation of feeling more “alive.”

 The Body Shop also spoke to Dr Dimitrios Paschos a consultant psychiatrist, who said:

“Many studies have shown consistent benefits from spending time outdoors or exercising in nature, even a 20 minute walk in the outdoors in the afternoon was found to be enough to improve mood and sleep.

“Getting outside gives individuals a break from busy schedules, enabling time to relax, reflect and give the brain a rest.  Going for a walk in the fresh air (away from the air conditioning or central heating) is beneficial to the muscles as well as having restorative effects on the mind and concentration.

“Different parts of our brain are activated when we are in nature, calming the mind and reducing heart rate and blood pressure. Natural light can be particularly helpful to individuals affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD).”

To find out more about visit https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/tips-and-advice/great-british-nature-escapes