Manchester has been named the fittest city in the UK, with residents apparently exercising around four or five times per week on average.
Now this is a crown us Mancs will be willing to wear.
After recently having been voted as the city with the country’s sexiest accent, Manchester just keeps on going from strength to strength when it comes to titles, and in this case, quite literally, as according to new research from Vitality American Express, the city has been revealed, alongside the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, as one of the UK’s ‘fittest’.
More than a quarter (26%) of respondents to the recent survey who live in Manchester say they exercise at least four or five times per week.
This compares with Edinburgh coming close behind at 23%, and then when you take a look and these stats in comparison to the rest of the UK, the nationwide average is 17% of people who exercise four or five times per week.
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The most common response, however, was exercising two or three times per week nationally (25%).
Manchester has been named the ‘fittest’ city in the UK / Credit: Pxhere
As well as finding out the cities where residents like to keep their bodies moving the most, the survey also revealed the forms of exercise that proved to be the most popular in each location – and perhaps understandable to some, but surprising to most, Manchester has shown itself to be a city of pilates lovers.
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Overall, the UK appears to be a nation of walkers, as 34% named hiking as one of their favourite ways to exercise – with respondents saying they took an average of 7,550 steps a day, and a third (33%) saying they choose to exercise in rural areas.
Gym workouts take the silver medal for most popular exercise activities, with one in five (20%) of UK adults listing gym sessions as one of their top ways to work-out.
Residents apparently exercise around four or five times per week on average / Credit: Manchester City Council
Speaking on the findings of the new research, Nick Read – Managing Director of the Vitality Programme – explained: “The new year is a great time to reset and think about your health and wellbeing goals and it’s really refreshing to see such a variety in the types of exercise people are doing – from hiking, to football, to heading to the gym.
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“It’s particularly interesting to see the amount of Brits choosing to exercise together, which we know can strengthen relationships and community ties.
“Whichever activity you choose, getting more active does so much for both your mental and physical health.”
The Vitality American Express Credit Card is currently giving its Cardmembers the chance to earn cashback on their spending, while being rewarded for staying active at the same time, and you can find out more here.
Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates
Emily Sergeant
Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.
Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.
But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.
After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)
And lo and behold, it appears that they have.
The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester.
The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.
The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).
“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.
“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights.
“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.
“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.
“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”
Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)
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Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
17th January 2023 
