Doncaster named as one of UK's unfittest places in new survey
A new study has named Doncaster as one of the unfittest places in the UK.
The UK’s fittest and unfittest areas - based on the number of gyms, sports clubs, and healthy restaurants – have been revealed, with Doncaster languishing near the bottom of the list.
Staying fit in the UK isn’t just about willpower anymore – it’s increasingly shaped by where you live.
From access to gyms and sports clubs to the availability of healthier places to eat, some areas are far better equipped than others to support active lifestyles.
And while you might expect major cities to dominate, new data suggests the opposite is true.
A new study by Betmaster has ranked 60 UK cities based on how easy it is for residents to stay active and healthy. The research analysed the number of gyms, athletics clubs, swimming pools, tennis clubs, cycling groups, and healthy restaurants per capita, ensuring a fair comparison across both large and small populations.
Each factor was weighted by importance, with gyms and athletics clubs given the highest influence, to produce an overall fitness score.
Leading the rankings is Armagh, which takes the crown as the UK’s fittest city by a significant margin.
What sets it apart is its exceptional access to fitness infrastructure, boasting the highest number of gyms and athletics clubs per capita in the entire study. With 18 gyms per 10,000 residents and an impressive 29.33 athletics clubs, it offers unmatched opportunities to stay active, even if its number of healthy restaurants is relatively modest.
Winchester ranks second. It stands out particularly for tennis, ranking first for tennis clubs per capita, while also performing strongly in healthy dining options and cycling clubs. This balance of facilities makes it one of the most well-rounded cities for maintaining an active lifestyle.
Chichester follows in third and reinforces the trend of smaller cities punching above their weight. It ranks second for both gyms and swimming pools and comes top for cycling clubs, suggesting strong community engagement in fitness. Its consistently high rankings across nearly all categories highlight why it performs so well overall.
At the other end of the rankings, larger cities tell a very different story. Bradford ranks as the least fit city in the UK, placing last across multiple key metrics. It has the lowest number of gyms and healthy restaurants per capita, alongside very limited access to cycling clubs and tennis facilities, making it far more difficult for residents to maintain an active lifestyle.
London, despite its global reputation and vast number of facilities overall, ranks second from bottom when adjusted for population size. With one of the lowest scores for swimming pools, athletics clubs, and cycling groups per capita, the data suggests that overcrowding and accessibility challenges may be limiting opportunities for everyday fitness.
Other cities in the bottom five, including Wakefield, Doncaster, and Sunderland, show a similar pattern of limited access across nearly all categories. These areas consistently rank low for gyms, sports clubs, and healthy food options, creating fewer opportunities for residents to engage in regular physical activity.