Birmingham has been named the noisiest city in the UK, according to a recent survey. The Midlands city narrowly beat Bradford and Liverpool in a poll of over 2,000 urban residents.
Other cities notorious for noise pollution include Cardiff, Coventry, Leeds, and Newcastle. Derby secured the eighth spot, with Nottingham and London rounding out the top 10.
The research, conducted by Specsavers as part of its temporary rebrand to 'Specsandhearingsavers', also analysed Freedom of Information data on noise complaints since 2020. Manchester had 31,000 complaints, while Hull and Portsmouth each logged 14,000. London boroughs collectively recorded 440,000 complaints, with Islington and Kensington and Chelsea each reporting over 60,000.
Two-thirds of Brits surveyed said their hearing has deteriorated due to city noise. Almost two-fifths struggle to follow conversations, and nearly a quarter feel unable to fully engage in social situations. Despite this, half have never considered a hearing check-up.
Specsavers audiology expert Sonam Sehemby said: 'Living in a noisy city can be exhausting. The constant noise makes it harder to focus and follow a conversation, often leaving people feeling socially withdrawn and disconnected.' She encouraged those struggling to seek a professional hearing evaluation.
