Most allergy-prone places in the UK, revealed by new study

New data has revealed the top ten U.K. cities most likely to suffer from allergies, with Bolton, Croydon and Lincoln making the top three.

The research, conducted by thermal imaging experts Tester.co.uk, examined average monthly search volumes for a list of allergy-related key terms – including, but not limited to, ‘asthma attack’, ‘allergy testing near me’ and ‘antihistamine tablets’ – to determine the U.K. cities most likely to suffer from various allergies. The cities with the highest average monthly search volume per 100,000 people are highlighted.

Bolton is the most allergy-prone city, with an average monthly search volume of 3,428 per 100,000 people. ‘Hives rash’ is the most popular term in the northwestern city, with 890 average monthly searches, followed by ‘antihistamine’ and ‘asthma’.

Lincoln ranks third; ‘pollen count’ is the third most searched-for term, with 153 average monthly searches, alongside ‘antihistamine’ and ‘hives rash’. The East Midlands city has an average monthly search volume of 2,837 per 100,000 people.

According to the study, Manchester is the fourth city most likely to suffer from allergies, with 2,709 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. The second most Googled term in the Northwestern city is ‘pollen’, with 1,103 average monthly searches, before ‘hives rash’ and after ‘antihistamine’.

Next, with 2,583 average monthly searches, is Bath. Located in the West of England, the third most searched term is the antihistamine ‘cetirizine’, with 127 average monthly searches, after ‘antihistamine’ and ‘hives rash’.

Table 1: The most allergy-prone U.K. cities

Rank	U.K. city	Average monthly searches (per 100,000 people)
1	Bolton	3,428
2	Croydon	3,249
3	Lincoln	2,837
4	Manchester	2,709
5	Bath	2,583
6	Bristol	2,515
7	Peterborough	2,493
8	Norwich	2,425
9	Leeds	2,389
10	Stockport	2,351

In sixth place, Bristol’s most searched-for term is ‘asthma’, with 534 average monthly searches, after ‘cetirizine’, ‘hayfever’, ‘antihistamine’ and ‘hives rash’. The city, located in the West of England, has an average monthly search volume of 2,515 times per 100,000.

Peterborough ranks as the seventh city most likely to suffer from allergies. According to the study, the Eastern city searches for allergy-related terms an average of 2,493 a month per 100,000 people. ‘Hayfever symptoms’ is the fifth most Googled term, with 188 average monthly searches, after ‘asthma’, ‘cetirizine’, ‘antihistamine’ and ‘hives rash’.

In eighth place is Norwich, with 2,425 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. Leeds follows in ninth, with 2,389 average monthly searches per 100,000 people, and Stockport in tenth, with 2,351 average monthly searches per 100,000 people, according to the study.

On the other hand, the least allergy-prone U.K. city is Oxford. The Southeastern city has an average monthly search volume of 402 per 100,000 people; ‘loratadine’ is the fifth most Googled term, with 26 average monthly searches, after ‘asthma’, ‘cetirizine’, ‘antihistamine’ and ‘hives rash’.

Derby ranks in second place; ‘lactose intolerance’ is the fifth most popular term, with 43 average monthly searches, after ‘asthma’, ‘cetirizine’, ‘antihistamine’ and ‘hives rash’. The city, located in the East Midlands, has an average monthly search volume of 412 per 100,000 people.

In joint third is Kingston upon Hull and Cardiff, with 527 average monthly searches per 100,000 people. Nottingham follows in fourth, with 586 average monthly searches per 100,000 people, and Birkenhead in fifth, with 627 average monthly searches per 100,000 people.

Table 2: The least allergy-prone U.K. cities

Rank	U.K. city	Average monthly search volume (per 100,000 people)
1	Oxford	402
2	Derby	412
=3	Kingston upon Hull	527
=3	Cardiff	527
4	Nottingham	586
5	Birkenhead	627
6	Southend-on-Sea	639
7	Woking	710
8	Stoke-on-Trent	716
9	Poole	739
10	Northampton	749

Barry Atkins, CEO of Tester.co.uk, commented on the study:

“Whether it’s pollen, pets or food, there are a whole host of allergies that plague people daily. This study has highlighted the U.K. cities most likely suffering from said allergies, with Bolton coming out on top. ‘Hives rash’ is the most common allergy symptom across the U.K. according to the study, while searches for treatment, including ‘Antihistamine’ and ‘Cetirizine’ closely follow.”