Spring is a beautiful time of year in the United Kingdom, and there are plenty of locations to visit that showcase the natural beauty of the season. Among the most stunning locations for spring scenes in the UK are London’s Kew Gardens, Hampshire’s New Forest, and York’s medieval City Walls.
According to a recent study of 2,000 adults, the UK has a number of underrated areas of natural beauty that are just waiting to be discovered. 32% of those surveyed stated that they love to find and share hidden gems with others as the warmer months begin. Other top locations for spring scenes in the UK include the second largest lake in the Lake District – Ullswater, and London’s St James’ and Richmond Park.
More than a third of respondents (34%) said they plan to get out into nature more this year after a long winter, with 44% claiming that a change in their mental wellbeing is the most important reason for getting outdoors. The research, commissioned by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), helped to launch the third installment of its free downloadable tourist guide series.
The study found that peaceful surroundings (56%), beautiful backdrops that help to clear the mind (42%), and the ability to make people feel at ease (34%) were the top reasons for the spring scenes ranking so highly. David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, noted that getting outside into nature, whether near to home or further afield, makes everyone feel better.
Horne added that LNER’s research shows that an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing can decline if they do not venture outside on a daily basis. LNER’s guides feature distinctive natural hotspots, as well as historic and cultural attractions that are working hard to become more environmentally friendly.
Half of those surveyed stated that they notice an improvement in their mood when they are outside, with the average person feeling the positive benefits after just 14 minutes. Feeling less stressed (43%), less anxious (31%), and having more time to process thoughts (27%) were among the perks of being in natural surroundings.
Top reasons why Britons love to immerse themselves in nature include breathing in fresh, cool air (67%), taking a break from screens (45%), spending quality time with family and friends (45%), and spotting animals in their natural habitats (44%). Of those polled via OnePoll, 38% agreed it’s important to preserve and protect natural hotspots, and 88% expressed concern about the impact of climate change on such spaces.
Horne concluded that trains are the most sustainable form of transport, and visitors to York, Dundee, and Durham can use LNER’s free downloadable guides and be safe in the knowledge that they are having a positive impact on the environment, as well as their own personal wellbeing, when exploring. LNER’s carbon footprint calculator allows users to see the environmental impact of their travel through different modes of transport, with Azuma trains running under electric power on most of our network potentially reducing carbon emissions by 331kgs if half of planned leisure car and plane journeys were completed by rail.
In summary, spring is a time of renewal in the UK, and exploring the beauty of nature is a great way to improve one’s mood and overall wellbeing. There are plenty of fantastic options to explore in the UK, and LNER’s downloadable guides make it easy to choose eco-friendly places to eat, drink, and stay while still exploring everything that the country has to offer in the springtime.
