Yorkshire Residents: The UK's Most Serious Smilers, According to New Study

Manchester is officially the smiliest city in the UK – unlike grim-faced Londoners, who ranked rock bottom on the smile index. A poll of 2,000 adults found the Northwest, in general, cracks X grins on average per day, compared to the Southeast, where folks only flash their pearly whites X times. Overall, Brits claim to let out a smile X times a day, with Newcastle coming in second and Liverpool third among the cities which beam the most.

YORKSHIRE folk really are the most dour in Britain – smiling less than any other part of the nation, according to a study.

In contrast, West Midlanders crack the most smiles each day – flashing their pearly whites 17 times on average, compared to those in Yorkshire and the Humber, who only smile 11 times.

A poll of 2,000 adults found people in the smile 14 times each day, while Londoners grin 16 times.

Overall, Brits claim to smile 14 times a day, with those in the most likely to report no smiles at all.

Getting good news (65 per cent), hearing a joke (63 per cent) and reading something funny (61 per cent) were among the most common ways to get people beaming.

While grinning at someone (64 per cent) and giving a compliment (62 per cent) were the top ways Brits try and get someone else to show off their smile.

Monique Kemperman, a spokesperson for Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland, which commissioned the research in conjunction with World Smile Day on the 3rd October, said: “It’s interesting to see how smiling differs across the UK.

“Our figures show that, far from the ‘dour northerners’ of cliché, people in the north of the country are more than happy to grin when needed.

“While some regions may smile less often, it’s clear that people everywhere are ready to share a grin when something brightens their day.

“But it’s fair to say across the entirety of the UK, more could be done to get people grinning – and that starts with every one of us.”

While an emergency chocolate delivery (21 per cent) was deemed a gift guaranteed to raise a smile, the top candidate was a bunch of someone’s favourite blooms (24 per cent).

And when people are trying to make themselves smile, 45 per cent will play their most-loved songs, and the same number will tune into a comforting TV show or film.

Going for a walk or spending time outdoors does the trick for 41 per cent, while a quarter (24 per cent) turn to a cuddle from a pet.

But only 58 per cent of respondents think of themselves as a ‘smiley’ person, with Londoners most likely to feel this way.

And only 49 per cent of those from the wider South East believe they are someone people would consider a regular smiler.

The poll also asked what gives the people of the UK a reason to beam, with the top grin-inducer being a friendly local community (54 per cent).

While half (50 per cent) selected the nation’s beautiful green spaces, and 38 per cent opted for the great local food and drink on offer, according to the OnePoll.com figures.

And 76 per cent agree that flowers are a great gift to cheer someone up or make them smile.

Kemperman added: “When you look out of the window and see the rainclouds, it can be hard to remember a reason to smile.

“But even on the darkest days, there are always things that can bring us a little bit of light.

“It might be a funny message from a friend, a fond memory, or a beautiful bunch of your favourite flowers – but staying positive is always key.”