UK’s saddest cities named – with the house of iconic TV character taking high spot
The British Gas study found nearly six in 10 people are craving sunlight and warmth, with four in 10 admitting they feel more depressed in January than any other month
The lack of sunlight is getting us down(Image: GETTY)
Britain’s saddest towns have been revealed with Norwich taking the top spot.
The home of Alan Partridge is the place where the mid-January blues are hitting hardest due to the overcast days and limited midwinter sunlight. Nearly six in 10 people throughout the country are now craving sunlight and warmth, the study found. Stoke, Swansea, Manchester and Edinburgh also appear in the top 10 saddest towns list.
Four in 10 Brits say they feel more depressed in January than any other month of the year. This is driven by the cold, endless hours of darkness and a lack of natural sunlight.
In response British Gas, which carried out the research, is installing giant SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamps in Norwich.
Psychologist Dr Becky Spelman said: “January is often one of the hardest months of the year for many people across the UK. The festive period is over, routines feel disrupted, and the days are cold, dark and short.
“After weeks of reduced daylight and increased pressure around the end of the year, it is very common for mood, energy and motivation to dip. For many people, this can show up as tiredness, low mood, irritability or a desire to withdraw socially.
“Seasonal Affective Disorder is linked to reduced exposure to natural light, which can affect the body’s internal clock and the hormones that regulate mood and sleep. Even people who do not meet the criteria for SAD, often experience a milder version of the winter blues.
“This is not a sign of weakness. It is a very human response to environmental changes that are largely outside our control.”
Top 10 saddest towns:
- Norwich – 25%
- Stoke – 24%
- Swansea – 24%
- Manchester – 21%
- Edinburgh – 16%
- Glasgow – 16%
- Oxford – 16%
- Bristol – 15%
- Plymouth – 15%
- Cambridge – 15%
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
