The loneliest cities in the UK have been revealed and Leeds has landed a place in the top 10.
According to new research by co-living brand, Gravity Co Leeds is the 5th loneliest city in the UK, followed by Sheffield in 7th - despite both having cafes, bars and restaurants heaving with people most days.
However, it turns out that London, the country's capital city, is the loneliest of them all. Gravity Co claims that it's down to the high percentage of one-person households, specifically in the borough of Westminster, reports Mirror.
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While the hustle and bustle of living in the capital is an attractive prospect for many career-driven and sociable people, it's been proven to have an impact on mental health. Recent studies have found that loneliness can be worse for a person's health than smoking, and it has been described as a 'silent killer' by mental health professionals.
Liverpool has the second-highest proportion of one-person households, with a third living alone in the Riverside area. Birmingham has 31 percent of residents in Ladywood living alone and Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield city centre also made it into the top 10.
High levels of student accommodation in these areas may be partly behind the figures, but cities also more commonly have a large number of one-bedroom apartment blocks compared to towns.
The loneliest cities in the UK ranked:
- London and Westminster
- Liverpool, Riverside
- Birmingham, Ladywood
- Kensington
- Leeds Central
- Manchester Central
- Sheffield Central
- Bermondsey and Old Southwark
- Islington South and Finsbury
- Holborn and St Pancras
- Westminster North
- Hammersmith
- Poplar and Limehouse
- Chelsea and Fulham
- Vauxhall
- Nottingham East
- Islington North
- Hackney South and Shoreditch
- Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
- Hampstead and Kilburn
This month, US surgeon general Vivek Murthy released an advisory note outlining how loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. He described how "loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being".
He said "Our individual relationships are an untapped resource - a source of healing hiding in plain sight. They can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives."
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