Data reveals UK’s tan-obsessed hotspot and it's not where you might think...

The UK’s biggest cities aren’t the nation’s tanning hubs, according to new data published by beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha. Instead, seaside town Blackpool is the top tanning hotspot, boasting well above the average number of tanning studios in UK towns.

The study counted the number of tanning salons across all UK areas with a population of at least 100,000. Then, the number of salons was scaled this against local populations to uncover the salon count per 100k residents.

Blackpool came in first place with an impressive 34.2 tanning salons per 100,000 residents - 249% above the national average (9.8 salons per 100k). The small seaside town boasts 51 tanning salons, giving it a higher concentration of tanning salons relative to the population than anywhere else in the UK.

Sunderland came in second with 28.5 tanning salons per 100k residents. This equals 48 tanning salons in the town alone, putting it 191% above the national average.

Wakefield came in third place with 22 tanning salons per 100k residents, putting it 124% above the national average. Preston and Warrington followed in fourth and fifth place.

Surprisingly, major cities like London, Birmingham and Leeds didn't make it into the top ten tanning hubs. This suggests a trend of smaller towns and coastal cities placing more importance on tanning and self-care.

The findings also highlight the UK cities with the fewest tanning salons per capita. Slough came in at the bottom of the list with only 1.2 tanning studios per 100k residents. This data suggests cities such as Slough are lowest-maintenance or are the least interested in paying for tanning services.

A spokesperson for Fresha said: "It's clear that Sunderland residents love to pamper themselves with a golden glow, with the second-highest number of tanning salons per 100k residents. It's also interesting that some areas known for their love of spray tan, such as Derry and Liverpool, didn't even make the top ten.

"Perhaps there's an opportunity for business owners in these areas to tap into this market and open more spray tanning studios for residents interested in the tanned look while avoiding UVA exposure.

"It's also useful to know which areas have the fewest tanning salons, as it may be a good indicator for beauty entrepreneurs looking to expand and reach new clientele in untapped markets."