With the summer solstice right around the corner, Edinburgh favourites Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat have been hailed as two of the UK’s top sunset-watching spots.
Research has shown that watching the sunset can relieve stress and increase happiness levels, and two of the best places to go are right on our very doorstep.
The iconic city landmarks in Edinburgh came 4 th and 5 th on the list of the top 10 sunset locations in the UK, with the London Eye, The Shard and Sky Garden beating them only slightly.
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The list is based on mentions of the sunsets on TripAdvisor where the gorgeous sunset on Calton Hill has been mentioned 422 times and Arthur’s Seat 390 times.
Wellness brand Goodrays analysed 1,020 attractions listed on TripAdvisor as ‘things to do in the UK’. The researchers then looked at each of the top 10 attractions which featured the word ‘sunset’ most frequently in their reviews.
The UK’s top ten sunset-watching places are as follows:
1. The London Eye – 1,582 sunset mentions
2. The Shard, London – 1,085 sunset mentions
3. Sky Garden, London – 657 sunset mentions
4. Calton Hill, Edinburgh – 422 sunset mentions
5. Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh – 390 sunset mentions
6. The O2, London – 317 sunset mentions
7. Stonehenge – 256 sunset mentions
8. Brighton Palace Pier – 246 sunset mentions
9. Thermae Bath Spa, Bath – 233 sunset mentions
10. Tower Bridge, London – 214 sunset mentions
This new data, which was collected in May 2022, has been released just as the summer solstice falls on June 21. The summer solstice happens twice a year when the sun travels the longest path through the sky resulting in the longest day of the year and marks the beginning of the summer season.
Founder of Goodrays, Eoin Keenan stresses the importance of watching the sunset and how it can massively benefit your mental health. He says “The sun sets each evening, giving you an opportunity to take a step back from the stresses of everyday life and appreciate the world around you.
"Watching the sunset can inspire you to get outside into nature, to refresh your mind and recentre your thoughts. Not only that, research has shown the sunset may also have positive effects on your mood, being known for relieving stress, increasing happiness levels and satisfaction with life.”
Hilary Sims, Dip.Couns MBACP Registered, MNCS and founder of Life Balance Counselling adds “Getting fresh air is great for your mental health because it gets you away from tackling tasks at home and also using modern day technology. Watching the sunset is a great way to unwind and live in the moment.”
“While watching the sunset, you are able to reflect on the day you have. It gives you the ability to acknowledge the things that have gone well for you and all the achievements you have made in the day.
"Watching the sunset will give you closure on today and set you up to be able to manage the things that life throws at you tomorrow. The sunset is a great form of self-care because it allows you to live in the moment and not listen to all the things going on in our head.”
