A new survey conducted by Blinds 2go, the UK’s leading online made-to-measure blinds and curtains retailer, reveals that 84% of the country’s population struggles to get to sleep every night.
While the main factor affecting sleep quality in the UK is stress – reportedly affecting 86% of young adults (16-34-year-olds) – a combination of other factors such as temperature, noise infiltration and using a phone before bed all reportedly contribute to the poor quality of sleep we’re getting as a nation.
Which cities get the worst night’s sleep?
The top ten most sleepless cities in the UK were revealed to be Liverpool, Cardiff, Southampton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Plymouth, Manchester, London and Birmingham.
| City | Stress | Temperature | Noise | Work Worries | Phone Usage | Relation-ship worries | Light pollution | Other | Sleep quality most affected |
| Liverpool | 49% | 33% | 27% | 25% | 22% | 13% | 9% | 13% | 190% |
| Cardiff | 48% | 32% | 30% | 18% | 14% | 18% | 11% | 10% | 182% |
| Southampton | 45% | 26% | 27% | 19% | 15% | 14% | 18% | 13% | 179% |
| Nottingham | 43% | 24% | 27% | 25% | 16% | 12% | 20% | 11% | 177% |
| Sheffield | 35% | 30% | 33% | 15% | 12% | 17% | 23% | 12% | 177% |
| Glasgow | 37% | 34% | 31% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 21% | 6% | 176% |
| Plymouth | 38% | 21% | 31% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 174% |
| Manchester | 37% | 30% | 33% | 19% | 20% | 14% | 14% | 4% | 171% |
| London | 39% | 28% | 30% | 19% | 18% | 18% | 14% | 5% | 171% |
| Birmingham | 40% | 35% | 26% | 16% | 17% | 16% | 12% | 8% | 168% |
The results paint an interesting picture of how geographic location influences sleep patterns. Liverpool emerges with the highest percentage of stress-related sleep disturbances at 49.37%. Research from the University of Liverpool indicates that over 70% of Liverpool workers experience stress and exhaustion – these work-related factors are significant contributors to stress levels in the city.
Other sleep deterrent factors for people living in Liverpool include temperature (32.91%), noise (26.58%), worries about work (25.32%) and phone usage before bed (21.52%).
The results challenge the commonly held perception that such issues are more concentrated in metropolitan areas like London, with only 37.22% of respondents admitting stress as a cause of a sleepless night.
Cardiff reported the second highest amount of sleep disturbances, with 47.89% of residents reporting stress as the primary factor.
Leah Aspinall, Head of Design at Blinds 2go and Curtains 2go, said:
“While our survey sheds light on the challenges many people across the UK face, it also underlines the power of creating a sleep-conducive environment.
“Simple measures like reducing light levels by choosing blackout blinds for your windows, minimising noise disturbances, and establishing a consistent sleep schedule can significantly improve sleep quality and overall well-being.”
What’s the science behind it?
Ana Brito, Certified Expert Somnologist by the European Sleep Research Society with 15+ years in sleep disorder treatment, at Somnissimo said:
“High levels of stress during daytime are known for affecting sleep quality, either by delaying sleep onset but also negatively affecting sleep consolidation due to higher levels of cortisol and frequent and more prolonged awakenings. During our REM sleep, our brain processes all the information we are exposed to throughout the day, our worries, tasks and concerns. Therefore, a higher stress level related to these can contribute to more fragmented sleep and less restoring REM sleep.
“Exposure to excessive or disruptive noise can interfere with the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Even low levels of noise during the night can disrupt the sleep cycle, leading to more frequent awakenings and lighter sleep.
“Sudden or loud noises can trigger brief awakenings and activate the brain’s arousal centres, potentially preventing the transition to deeper, more restorative sleep stages.”
You can read Blinds 2go’s full reporting revealing the UK’s ongoing battle with sleep here.
Feature Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
