Kew Gardens in London, the New Forest in Hampshire, and Ullswater in the Lake District, have been named as the top hidden gems in the UK to see the best spring scenes.
The capital city proved a popular place to visit as the days get warmer – with Richmond Park, Greenwich Park, and St James' Park all ranking in the top 10 springtime spots.
And York also boasts plenty of must-see attractions during the coming season – including the North York Moors, York Minster, the medieval City Walls, and Castle Howard and Yorkshire Arboretum.
And these stunning photos show why these sites were chosen as spring favourites – with 56% saying they are peaceful, while 34% said the beauty spots made them feel at ease.
And 42% rated the places as providing a beautiful backdrop to help them clear their minds.
It comes as a poll of 2,000 adults found that 34% hope to get out into nature more this year after a long winter – as 32% love to discover and share such underrated areas of natural beauty with others as the warmer months begin.
And almost half (44%) say that their top reason for getting outdoors is to improve their mental wellbeing.
The research was commissioned by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), to launch the third instalment of its free downloadable tourist guide series – showcasing eco-friendly places to eat, drink, and stay in York, Dundee, and Durham.
David Horne, managing director at LNER, said: “Getting out into nature, whether near to home or further afield, makes us all feel better.
“Our research has shown that your physical and mental wellbeing can decline if you don’t venture outside on a daily basis.
“For those looking to explore the UK this spring, our guides feature distinctive natural hotspots, and historic and cultural attractions, that are working hard in their pursuits to become more environmentally friendly.”
Half of those polled (51%) notice an improvement in their mood when they are outside, taking the average person just 14 minutes to feel the positive benefits.
Feeling less stressed (43%) and anxious (31%), and having more time to process thoughts (27%), were among the perks of being in natural surroundings.
Top reasons why Brits love to immerse themselves in nature include breathing in fresh, cool air (67%), and taking a break from screens (45%).
Spending quality time with family and friends (45%), and spotting animals in their natural habitat (44%), were also highlights of being outdoors.
And 38% of those polled, via OnePoll, agree it’s important to preserve and protect natural hotspots – with 88% feeling concerned about the impact that climate change is having on such spaces.
David Horne added: “Trains are the most sustainable form of transport, so visitors to York, Dundee, and Durham can use these free, downloadable guides and be safe in the knowledge that they are also having a positive impact on the environment, as well as their own personal wellbeing, when out exploring.
“For those who really want to see the environmental impact of their travel through different modes of transport – LNER’s carbon footprint calculator calculates the CO2 emissions for each trip, showing the difference that a journey made by rail could have.
“Our Azuma trains, which run under electric power on most of our network, could see carbon emissions reduce by a staggering 331kgs if half of planned leisure car and plane journeys were completed by rail.”
TOP 10 SPRING SCENES IN THE UK ACCORDING TO BRITS:
- Kew Gardens, London
- New Forest, Hampshire
- Ullswater Lake, Lake District
- St James' Park, London
- Richmond Park, London
- The North York Moors, York
- Greenwich Park, London
- York City Walls, York
- York Minster, York
- Castle Howard and Yorkshire Arboretum, York
