Wokingham in Berkshire has been named the UK's healthiest town, with residents enjoying the longest average life expectancy in the country at 84 years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The findings come from the Sunday Times Growing Old Index, published by Health Connect Global, which identified the 10 healthiest towns and cities in the UK. The study revealed that the areas with the highest life expectancy are concentrated in the south of England.
Life expectancy figures by gender
Women in Wokingham have an average life expectancy of 85.5 years, while men in the market town can expect to live to 82.8 years. However, ONS figures show that the town of Hart in Hampshire has the longest male life expectancy in the UK at 83.7 years.
The London neighbourhoods of Kensington and Chelsea also rank among the highest in the country, with an average female life expectancy of 87.1 years and an average male life expectancy of 83.9 years.
Call for other towns to learn from Wokingham
Dr Devan Moodley, CEO of Health Connect Global, said: "Across the country, people are growing older and older, and depending more on the health and social care system as they develop more complex health conditions."
He added: "Wokingham has the highest life expectancy in England, and other towns and cities need to look at what is causing this, and look at what they can learn from Wokingham."
The 10 UK areas where people live longest
- Wokingham, Berkshire
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Windsor, Berkshire
- Richmond, London
- Totnes, Devon
- Bearsden, Glasgow
- Monmouth, Wales
- Fleet, Hampshire
- Lewes, East Sussex
- Stroud, Gloucestershire
