Weymouth has been named among the top 10 most relaxing seaside towns in England.

Following the cost-of-living crisis, staycations have been on the up and a study, conducted by UK Saunas, has ranked Weymouth the fifth most relaxing getaway destination in the UK.

The study was based on a number of factors, utilised by the UK Health Index to find the score of each town and village in relation to peace and relaxation including “Access to Green Spaces”, “Crime Rate”, “Mental Health Rate”, “Physiological Risk Factors” and “Access to Services.” TripAdvisor and Google Reviews were also considered to find the number of hotels and bars in the areas.

A wellness expert from UK Saunas explained the mental health benefits of taking a seaside visit: “Mental health has become a vital issue for the public following years of pandemic-induced stress and now the cost-of-living crisis. 45.8 million adults in the UK experience anxiety and depression on any given week, but holiday goers have reported a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone, after a trip abroad from their day-to-day lives.

“With 56% of UK adults feeling deprived of a holiday due to the cost of living, a trip to the seaside is an affordable opportunity for much-needed rest and relaxation, with a staycation costing an average of £142.73 per night.” They added.

Blackpool was ranked number one in the study, with Bournemouth, Scarborough and Newquay second, third and fourth respectively.