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Birmingham has been crowned the UK’s noisiest city, according to a recent survey. The Midlands metropolis narrowly beat Bradford and Liverpool to the top spot in a poll of more than 2,000 city dwellers. Other cities notorious for their noise pollution include Cardiff, Coventry, Leeds, and Newcastle. Derby claimed the eighth position, while Nottingham and London completed the top 10.
The study was commissioned by Specsavers as part of its temporary rebrand to ‘Specsandhearingsavers’, aiming to highlight its hearing services. It also involved a Freedom of Information (FOI) request into noise complaints lodged in UK cities since 2020. The FOI data unveiled that Manchester received an astonishing 31,000 noise complaints, while Hull and Portsmouth each recorded 14,000. Leicester wasn’t far behind with 13,900 complaints.
Bradford, Liverpool, and Newcastle all logged over 11,000 complaints, and Leeds registered 10,000. London, on the other hand, was the hub of noise complaints, with boroughs collectively amassing 440,000 complaints. Islington and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea each noted over 60,000 complaints.
The impact of excessive noise in urban areas extends beyond mere annoyance, with 61% of Brits surveyed stating that their hearing has worsened due to city noise. Nearly two-fifths (37%) admitted they struggle to follow conversations, while almost a quarter (24%) reported feeling unable to fully participate in social situations.
Further results from the OnePoll survey revealed that 41% of participants struggle with hearing difficulties, yet almost half (46%) confessed they’ve never thought about having their hearing assessed. This exposes a concerning gap in proactive hearing care.
The survey identified traffic, noisy neighbours, construction work, and emergency sirens as the primary sources of noise disturbance. Loud nightlife and aircraft noise were also common causes of frustration. Over half of respondents (53%) stated that urban noise affects their concentration, while 51% said it disrupts their sleep.
The study found that 54% of city-dwellers believe their environments have become louder in the last five years. Meanwhile, 45% reported that noise disrupts their lives at least once a week, further highlighting the scale of the issue.
Specsavers hearing expert Sonam Sehemby discussed the broader social impact of persistent noise: “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.”
“We are living in a world with more background noise than ever, which can make it a struggle to hear or follow conversation,” she added.
Sonam dispelled the misconception that hearing checks are only for those with severe hearing loss, urging anyone who frequently misses parts of conversations or relies on ‘catching the gist’ to consider a check-up, which can easily be done by visiting one of their branches on the high street.
To promote the temporary rebrand and raise awareness, Specsavers enlisted TV personality Paul Chuckle to oversee the fitting of an oversized ‘Specsandhearingsavers’ shopfront logo at its Windsor location. The entertainer quipped his famous “oh dear, oh dear” catchphrase as fitters struggled to install the comically large sign.
“I’ve never paid much attention to my hearing so was surprised to discover I have some hearing loss,” he shared, adding, “it does explain why I’ve been struggling to follow conversations and saying ‘what’ a lot more.”
Sonam reiterated the importance of addressing hearing concerns promptly: “Struggling with our hearing is far more common than many people realise. But, sadly, it’s something we put off, thinking we can get by.
“Part of the problem is that hearing loss can happen gradually, and we don’t notice the changes straight away. As with anything, it’s important that you act. So, whether it’s you or you notice the changes in your loved one, it’s important to seek help.”
