Best cities for fitness enthusiasts revealed

DURHAM and Salford have been named the best cities in the UK for fitness enthusiasts, according to new research.

Sports nutrition experts at Bulk. com analysed eight factors they felt contribute to a city being attractive to fitness fanatics and scored the 62 most populated UK cities out of 100 to create their Fitness Index.

The factors analysed within the index included the number of gyms, healthy restaurants according to TripAdvisor, pools, CrossFit facilities, as well as hiking, jogging, road cycling and mountain bike routes relative to the population size of each city.

Durham and Salford tied as the best cities for fitness enthusiasts, with a Fitness Index Score of 89.68 out of 100 across the eight examined factors. Durham was found to offer the highest number of gyms at 69 per 100,000 residents, as well as the highest number of road cycling routes (897), jogging routes (635) and hiking routes (684) per capita.

It also has the second-highest number of CrossFit facilities relative to its population, with four per 100,000 residents and the thirdhighest number of healthy restaurants per capita, with 35 per 100,000 residents.

Salford on the other hand boasts

137 healthy restaurants and five CrossFit facilities per 100,000 residents, the highest proportion relative to its population, out of any major UK city. Salford also has the second-highest number of gyms per capita, with 56 per 100,000 residents.

A spokesperson for Bulk.com said: “This data offers a fascinating insight into the UK cities that boast the highest number of amenities suited to a healthy lifestyle.

“It may come as a surprise that Durham and Salford are tied for first place, especially due to both cities’ relatively small size. However, closer examination reveals that these cities offer a wealth of options for fitness enthusiasts when compared to their population size.

“Durham, for instance, is a city that encourages movement, with a significant number of road cycling routes, jogging and hiking trails, and gyms. Meanwhile, Salford stands out for its abundance of healthy food options and abundance of gyms.

“It is important to note that many factors contribute to overall fitness, but having access to a variety of fitness facilities is undoubtedly a great starting point for anyone looking to embark on a fitness journey.

“Taking advantage of the resources available in your city, will enable you to take meaningful steps towards achieving your health and wellness goals.”

Scoring 81.49 out of 100, Bath ranked as the second best UK city for fitness enthusiasts. It was found to offer 582 hiking routes and 46 healthy restaurants per 100,000 residents, the second-highest figure of all UK cities for both of these factors.

Bath also offers 584 road cycling routes, 98 mountain biking routes, and 476 jogging routes per 100,000 residents, the third-highest city for all three aforementioned factors.

The 10 best UK cities for fitness enthusiasts:

1.= Durham 89.68

1.= Salford 89.68

2. Bath 81.49

3. Cambridge 76.99

4. Bristol 71.56

5. Lincoln 69.91

6. Manchester 68.99

7. Nottingham 68.13

8. Hereford 68.05

9. Preston 67.92

10. Exeter 67.86