TripAdvisor reviews suggest calm is harder to find in Portsmouth

With spring finally on the horizon and brighter evenings returning, many Brits are eager to spend more time outdoors. After months of grey skies and chilly mornings, parks, riverside paths and leafy city trails begin to fill with walkers looking to stretch their legs and enjoy the first signs of warmer weather. For many people, a simple walk remains one of the easiest ways to unwind, with no equipment required, just fresh air and a good route.

While Britain’s cities are known for their lively high streets, historic landmarks and busy cultural scenes, many of them also offer surprisingly peaceful green spaces where visitors can escape the noise for a while. To find out which cities offer the most relaxing urban walks, Ireland Prestige Tours analysed more than 200,000 TripAdvisor reviews of parks and green spaces across 50 major UK cities. Reviews were examined for words linked to relaxation, including terms such as calm, peaceful, relaxing, and tranquil. The proportion of reviews mentioning these words was then used to create a Relaxing Walks Index, ranking cities where visitors most often describe their walks as restful and serene.

Portsmouth ranks 47th on the Relaxing Walks Index, near the bottom of the national ranking. While the city has some coastal and riverside paths, TripAdvisor reviews suggest that its urban parks and green spaces are less frequently described as calm or peaceful. Visitors note that busy streets, limited quiet areas, and smaller park spaces make it harder to find restorative walks within the city.

At the top of the ranking, Lincoln, Oxford, Nottingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Aberdeen, Cardiff, York, Leicester, Bath, and Stoke-on-Trent provide a wealth of scenic parks, riverside trails, and tran

At the other end of the spectrum, Stirling ranks last on the Relaxing Walks Index. Although the Scottish city is rich in historic landmarks and nearby natural beauty, TripAdvisor reviews suggest that its urban parks are less frequently described as calm or peaceful, making it harder for residents and visitors to find restorative walking spots.

Denise Bott, spokesperson for Ireland Prestige Tours, commented on the study:

“Spring always brings a noticeable change in how people use cities. As soon as the days get longer and the weather softens, people naturally want to spend more time outside. Walking becomes one of the easiest ways to enjoy that shift in season. A great walking city usually has a few things in common. You need green space that feels slightly removed from traffic, paths that are easy to follow, and somewhere that lets people slow down rather than rush through. Water, trees and open views tend to make a huge difference as well.”

“Some of the most enjoyable walks happen where nature and city life sit side by side. A path that runs along a river, through a park, or past historic buildings gives people something interesting to look at while still feeling calm and unhurried. After winter, people are often looking for simple ways to clear their head and recharge. A gentle walk through a park or along a quiet path can do exactly that. Cities that invest in accessible green spaces make it much easier for residents and visitors to enjoy those moments.”

List of the best UK cities for relaxing walks: