• Sat. Aug 30th, 2025

Leeds named as one of the UK’s best cities to get outdoors

ByAlfie Davies

Feb 4, 2022 #nature, #Travel
Table - Outdoor  Activities-b2b2cce4

The UK’s best cities for outdoor activities have been revealed, proving there are plenty of opportunities to get together in the open air.

Using TripAdvisor data, the research from McCarthy Stone found that UK cities have an array of green spaces and activities, ranking Leeds in sixth place for its nature spots. Major cities, London and Birmingham, have taken the top spots, boasting an abundance of outdoor locations.

Residents in London proved to be the most fortunate in their location, with the city topping the study’s rankings. Whilst England’s busy capital city may not seem like the first choice to experience the great outdoors, London’s plentiful parks and outdoor spots helped it claim the top spot, with the city boasting 240 sites.

London’s wildlife activities, parks and gardens prove that a bustling capital city can still be bursting with nature, and green spaces like Regents Park, St James’ Park and Hyde Park, are perfect for wrapping up warm for a winter walk.

Second place, Birmingham, has 44 locations, offering sites such as Victorian Canon Hill Park, as well as Handsworth Park.  Liverpool residents, taking a close third for nature with 40 sites, will be pleased to see a number of attractive walking spots in the city, including Sefton Park and the picturesque Wavertree Botanic Gardens.

Table of top 10 UK cities for outdoor activities

Rank

City

Points

Sites

1

London

100

240

2

Birmingham

90

44

3

Liverpool

75

40

4

Glasgow

70

37

5

Norwich

65

35

6

Leeds

60

31

7

Plymouth

55

30

8

Aberdeen

50

27

9

Swansea

50

27

10

Cardiff

40

26

 

Miruna Constantinescu, National Marketing Director at McCarthy Stone, said:  “The lure of coastal and countryside developments may seem like the obvious choice for nature-lovers but, this study has shown that you can enjoy amazing nature sites on your doorstep across the UK.

“We understand the importance of getting outdoors, especially after living under restrictions over the past few years, and it’s great to be able to highlight some of the UK’s natural beauty.”

For more information on the UK’s best value cities for nature lovers and to view full rankings per area, visit: https://www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/content-and-resources/have-fun/best-nature-locations-uk/

Alfie Davies
Author: Alfie Davies