Three Sussex towns named best South East destinations for a quietcation
Three towns in Sussex have been named the top destinations in the South East for a quietcation in a new study.
The study, undertaken by LNER, ranked destinations across each UK region based on factors including population density, air quality, dark-sky conditions, access to blue and green spaces, nearby nature designations, and the availability of quiet activities such as visiting tea rooms, bookshops and walking trails.
It also considered how easy each destination is to reach. Each factor was weighted and combined to produce a final score out of 100.
Arundel ranked highest in the region with a score of 62.8/100, boosted by 216 nearby walking trails, the second highest number of all the South East destinations studied. It also has three bookshops, two nearby nature designations, 2.93 hectares of blue space and 5.88 hectares of green space.
Rye took second place (61.6/100) and has the lowest population density and darkest skies among the top destinations. It also offers 4.74 hectares of blue space, 6.8 hectares of green space, two bookshops and 57 nearby walking trails.
Petworth placed third (61.2/100) and records the cleanest air of all the South East destinations studied. It also has four bookshops, equivalent to 15.4 per 10,000 people, alongside three nearby nature designations, 5.97 hectares of green space and 195 walking trails.
David Flesher, Commercial Director at LNER, said: "We all need a break every now and then, whether that's a weekend away from the emails, the traffic and the everyday noise, or just a change of scenery for a few days."
"That's really what this research is about: a guide to some of the UK's most peaceful towns and cities, plenty of which are easily reached by train."
"It shows that real peace and quiet isn't hard to find. Dark skies above the Yorkshire Dales, ancient pine forests in the Cairngorms, sleepy coastal towns and market squares, the UK has some wonderful landscapes waiting to be discovered."