A huge range of different factors can affect your overall health and wellbeing.
These can include illness, genetics, injuries, diet, how regularly you exercise and whether you smoke, among many others.
Where you live can also play a huge role. And according to a study carried out in 2023, certain areas of the UK are far healthier than others.
The Healthiest Areas of the UK Index, conducted by Blue Horizon, considered 12 health-related points to do so, ranking 307 places accordingly.
“Our study looks beyond appearances to find the 20 healthiest and least healthy cities in the UK,” Blue Horizon explains.
This “enchanting” town is steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful countryside.
“We analysed factors such as air quality, admissions to hospitals, the number of cancer patients in the country, and others to determine which locations had the healthiest individuals overall.
“By reviewing 12 key factors and completing a thorough analysis, we were able to determine the 20 healthiest areas for you to live and visit throughout the UK as well as areas with higher than average rates of illness and the potential for shortened life spans.”
Among the healthiest places in the UK named was Sevenoaks in Kent.
The “enchanting” town placed eighth with an overall score of 75.3.
For context, the lowest scoring place Peterborough was awarded 40, while the highest (South Hams) was given 80.
Sevenoaks scored low for the number of residents who smoke, hospital admissions caused by alcohol and drug misuse, making it among the healthiest places in the UK.
Blue Horizon said: “Sevenoaks is just outside Greater London in a scenic setting.
“It has gardens, local shops, fields, castles, and more. It is a charming area and ranks high on this list with 75.3 points out of 80.
“Taking eighth place, Sevenoaks has a physically active adult population (70.4 percent) and low smoking rates over 18 (4.8 percent).
“It also has a low percentage of reports of cancer (3.3 percent), liver and kidney diseases (1.9 percent), mental health conditions (8.1 percent), and BMIs classified as overweight or obese (55.3 percent).”
Sevenoaks has plenty to offer tourists as well as residents though.
Visit Sevenoaks says: “Sevenoaks and the surrounding countryside is one of England’s most enchanting places.
“It has more than its fair share of historic houses and gardens, extraordinary landscapes, bucolic towns and villages as old as time.
“There’s loads to see and do here, from wandering the same halls as Churchill and Anne Boleyn to taking a racing car for a spin around a legendary track.
“You can wander world-class hillside gardens, buy direct from the makers in thriving local shops, or dance the night away at festivals in fields and castles.
“And you’ll feast on the Garden of England’s finest food and drink while you’re here, too.”
You’d “never guess” it’s just outside Greater London, it adds.
The Times also named Sevenoaks the best place to live in the South East in 2022, saying it had “the combination of convenient commutability, top-class schools and an abundance of greenery”.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
