The Isles of Scilly have been identified as the friendliest place in England, according to a new study on social division across Britain. The research ranked all 296 local authority areas using government data from the community life survey.
The index assessed factors such as how often residents chat to neighbours, feelings of loneliness and belonging, local pride, and participation in civic life. Following the Isles of Scilly in the top five were South Hams, West Devon, Derbyshire Dales, and Richmond upon Thames.
Conversely, Barking and Dagenham was named the least friendly area in England. Stoke-on-Trent, Ashfield, Mansfield, and Ipswich completed the bottom five.
This index is part of the National Conversation, an engagement project aiming to gather public views on social connection and division. The findings will contribute to a report later this year by the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion, which seeks to address social disconnection in the UK.