Brighton and Hove named UK's spa and wellness studio capital

A wellness destination like no other

Brighton and Hove has been crowned the UK's spa and wellness studio capital, according to new research that analysed wellness amenities across British cities. The study, conducted by spa pool manufacturers Hot Spring Spas Australasia, examined Tripadvisor data from UK cities with populations over 100,000 and revealed some impressive findings about our beloved seaside city.

Leading the way in spas and studios

The research shows that Brighton boasts an impressive 31.11 spas per 100,000 residents — the highest figure in the entire study. The city also recorded 5.02 yoga and Pilates studios per 100,000 people, again the most of any location surveyed. These figures underscore Brighton and Hove's reputation as a destination where wellness and self-care are woven into the fabric of community life.

A strong showing in the national rankings

While Brighton didn't top the overall wellness rankings, it secured an impressive third place with a score of 70.16 out of 100. The city finished behind York (78.01) and Oxford (75.12), both historic cities with particular strengths in other wellness categories. The composite index measured five key factors: the number of spas, parks, yoga and Pilates studios, libraries, and landmarks per 100,000 residents.

York's top ranking was largely driven by its landmarks and parks, while Oxford benefited from having the highest number of parks per capita among the top 10 cities, at 11.19 per 100,000 people.

What this means for wellbeing

The findings highlight the importance of accessible wellness amenities in supporting mental health and quality of life. Aaron Sampson, General Manager at Hot Spring Spas Australasia, commented on the research: "Access to amenities, such as outside space, positively impacts an individual's mental health, according to research by the National Institute for Health and Care Research."

He added: "From this research, it's clear that historic or university cities rank higher for wellbeing due to having more amenities per capita."

Brighton's dominance in spa and wellness studio categories, despite not topping the overall rankings, demonstrates the city's particular strength in the fitness and relaxation sector. Whether residents and visitors are looking for a rejuvenating spa day or a yoga class with a view, Brighton and Hove clearly offers more options per person than anywhere else in the UK.

At the other end of the national scale, Stoke-on-Trent received the lowest overall wellness score of 21.07 out of 100, with just 3.45 parks and 1.54 spas per 100,000 residents.

Source: Sussex seaside spot has more spas and yoga studios per person than anywhere in UK