Looking after mental and physical well-being is crucial to leading a healthy life. But what are the best European cities to live in for mental and physical wellbeing? 

To find out, Betway Sport researched 30 cities in Europe to find the best places for boosting mental and physical wellbeing looking at factors such as air and green space quality and the number of walks and average sunshine hours.

The table below shows the best cities in Europe for boosting mental and physical well-being:

The key findings: 

• Lisbon is the best European city for those who like to stay active and get outdoors, with 2,799 sunshine hours per year and 27 walks per 100,000 people.
• Stockholm ranks as the second-best city in Europe for walking lovers,with 51 walks per 100,000 people – the highest number in all of the European cities analysed.
• Brussels is the cheapest European city for gym lovers, the average cost of a monthly gym membership here is €28.94.

New study reveals which UK and European cities are the best for fitness fanatics

• Manchester is crowned the best city for fitness fanatics, with 1,112 monthly Google searches for ‘gyms near me’ per every 100,000 residents
• Leeds is the top city for home workouts, with 20 monthly searches per 100,000 people for ‘home workouts’
• Lisbon, Portugal is the best city in Europe for those who like to stay active and get outdoors, with 2,799 sunshine hours per year

With over half a million monthly Google searches for gym-related queries in the UK, there’s no doubt that we are a nation of fitness lovers. And as we head into the new year, many Brits will be looking to revitalise or kick-start their exercise regimes. But, which are the best cities for fitness fanatics?

To find out, Betway has conducted new research, analysing 30 of the most populated cities in the UK, to determine which is the best place for those who like to stay active. The research looked at several factors, including the number of gyms, the number of walks, the quality of air and green space, the number of people searching for gyms or home workouts, as well as how many adults are physically active in each location.

The study has also looked at which cities in Europe are best for those who might like to exercise a little further afield.

Manchester is crowned the best city for fitness fanatics, with 1,112 monthly Google searches for ‘gyms near me’ per every 100,000 residents 

Taking the crown as the best city for fitness fanatics is Manchester. Two-thirds (64%) of adults in the city are considered physically active, and lots of residents are interested in gyms in the area, with 1,112 monthly Google searches per 100,000 people for ‘gyms near me’ — the most of any city analysed. Plus, there are also 144 walks per 100,000 people in the area.

In second place is Leeds. Even more adults in Leeds are considered physically active (69%) than in Manchester, and the quality of its green space is rated relatively high, with a score of 70 out of 100.

Milton Keynes has come in third place. Great for those who like to get out in nature, the quality of its green spaces is rated 93 out of 100 — the highest of all cities in the study. It also has the second-best air quality score of all cities analysed (87 out of 100).

Leeds is the top city for home workouts, with 20 monthly searches per 100,000 people for ‘home workouts’

With winter well underway, some Brits might not be sold on the idea of heading out in the cold for a run or hike. With this in mind, the study has also taken a look at which cities in the UK are the best for home workouts.

Taking the top spot for the best city for home workouts is Leeds. There are around 20 monthly Google searches per every 100,000 people for home workout inspiration in the city. Closely following behind is Manchester with 18 searches per every 100,000 people and Edinburgh with 15 searches per 100,000 people.

Lisbon is the best city in Europe for those who like to stay active and get outdoors, with 2,799 sunshine hours per year 

The study also looked at where in Europe is the best for fitness fanatics, taking into account the price of gym memberships, the air and green space quality, the cost of bottled water, the number of walks, and the number of sunshine hours in each city.

Lisbon has ranked as the number one city in Europe for those who like to stay active, particularly those who like to exercise in nature. The Portuguese city sees around 2,799 hours of sunshine each year — the most of any European city analysed. The air quality (79) and green spaces (70) in Lisbon are also rated relatively high.

In second place is Stockholm in Sweden. The city also boasts a huge 51 walks per 100,000 people, which is the highest amount of any European city analysed. Rounding off the top three best cities in Europe for staying active is Vienna, Austria.