The 10 unhealthiest London high streets (and the 10 best)

Which trendy Tower Hamlets street tops the list?

How much does the make-up of shops on a local high street affect the health of its community?

Quite a lot, according to a new report called ‘Health on the High Street’ from the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).

It’s ranked the relative health or unhealth of high streets in London and across the UK based on whether the businesses situated there boost customers’ health or damage it.

So pharmacies, libraries, pubs and bars, leisure centres and art galleries are all good and health-giving, but tanning salons, fast-food joint, bookies and payday lenders are seen as unhealthy.

“In providing destinations for people to visit, [high streets] can encourage walking or cycling, which in itself can support active lifestyles,” explains Shirley Cramer CBE, CEO of the RSPH. “But high streets can also be home to business activities which may undermine and potentially harm the public’s health.”

So which are the healthiest and unhealthiest high streets in London?

The research ranked almost 150 London high streets to find out (learn more about the methodology).

In essence: West London good, East London bad.