England’s Summertime Activity Hotspots

17 hours of sunlight on the longest day of the year. Average temperatures around 20ºC. Smiles on people’s faces. Spontaneous walks after work. Watching plants bloom. It’s fair to say that summer is one of the best times of the year.

Staying active in summer can feel a lot easier than doing so in winter, when it can be tempting to hibernate a bit! So, as the spring sunshine knocks on our doors and the first bulbs are sprouting, we thought it would be a good idea to crunch the numbers and reveal just how ‘summer ready’ each county in England is!

Taking into account access to green spaces, water sport facilities and swimming pools – plus the number of certified water sport professionals and overall physical activity rates – we have created this interactive tool so you can plan your summer activities and look at where to take a day, or weekend, trip!

In first place for an active summer this year is Cumbria. With its gorgeous hilly backdrop, the county ranks highest in the country for swimming and, of course, access to the great outdoors. Thanks to the lakes and its coastal western-most point, Cumbria is also a perfect place to try water sports this year, with the second most facilities per 100,000 people. Cumbria is the only northern English county to feature in the top 20.

Ranking in second place for summer time activity is Devon, with top-draw rankings for water sport activities, swimming pool access and the likelihood of social benefits with the 4th highest physical activity rates in the country.

Surrey ranks in third place, with the highest green space coverage in the country. Cornwall comes in fourth, with the most water sports facilities per 100,000 people in the country, along with some of the highest number of swimming pools and water sports professionals.

West Sussex and Oxfordshire make up the top six.

Interesting Snippets:

• Berkshire has the highest physical activity rates in the country with over 77% of adults taking part in regular physical activity – higher than the English average of 69%
• Shropshire has the highest number of certified sport and physical activity professionals in the industry. The Midlands county has 179 per 100,000 people - more than anywhere else
• Fancy getting your hair wet? Cornwall has the best access to water sports in the whole of England! The picturesque county has over 250 water sport facilities (or 44 per 100,000 people).