Isles of Scilly Ranked England’s Friendliest Place in New Social Division Study

1-Minute Brief

The study highlights regional differences in social cohesion, offering insight into community engagement and local belonging across England.

Key Facts

• The Isles of Scilly were named the friendliest place in England in a major study on social division.
• All 296 local authority areas in England were ranked using government data from the community life survey.
• Two Devon districts were included in the top five friendliest areas.
• Barking and Dagenham was identified as the least friendly area in England.
• The index measured factors such as frequency of chatting with neighbours, loneliness, belonging, local pride, and civic participation.

What Happened

A new index based on government survey data ranked all 296 English local authority areas for friendliness, with the Isles of Scilly at the top and Barking and Dagenham at the bottom.

Why It Matters

The findings provide a snapshot of social connectedness and division in England, which may inform local and national efforts to strengthen community ties and address social isolation.

What's Next

Further analysis of the study’s data may guide policymakers and community organizations in targeting initiatives to improve social cohesion, particularly in lower-ranked areas.