A RURAL city in Denbighshire is the best place in the UK for quiet types and silence seekers according to a new survey by a popular price comparison website.
St Asaph, the second smallest city in the UK, has been awarded 'the most introvert-friendly location in the UK' by Compare the Market for being a place where introverts "can expect a fantastic quality of life”.
The money saver’s survey, which used data such as the number of people per square kilometre and total coffee shops per 1,000 people, said St Asaph, with 3,555 people, is a city where often misunderstood introverts can find "peaceful and serene surroundings".
Wales was also named the most introvert-friendly country in the UK.
Colin Hardie, mayor of St Asaph said there are "lovely environment" inside and surrounding the city. Picture: Geoff Abbott
The survey said: "There are often so many misconceptions about introverts - whether they’re deemed too shy, scared to socialise or even unhappy. Many introverts just enjoy their personal space and like to keep their thoughts private."
It added St Asaph, with 520 people per square kilometre, is a place where introverts "can enjoy peaceful and serene surroundings without worrying about the hustle and bustle of larger towns".
Colin Hardie, mayor of St Asaph was surprised to hear about the award but could not disagree with the verdict. "I love St Asaph, but I'm quite biased," he said. "I've lived in numerous places in the UK but there is nowhere like here.
"There is lovely environment surrounding the city and inside the city itself, with the river which people travel to from all over to walk their dogs. There is also the people themselves; and the city is just small enough to be able to speak to everyone."
The survey also mentioned St Asaph Cathedral, the smallest cathedral in the UK, and its “compelling past”, such as being attacked by Henry III and Edward I.
The survey noted the Cathedral in "serene" St Asaph.
The dean of St Asaph Cathedral, the Very Reverend Nigel Williams, said: “The Cathedral is the perfect place for peace, reflection, contemplation and space. It has space for all sorts of people and personality types with a tearoom and interactive heritage displays.
"It’s walls have absorbed the quiet utterings of thousands of people throughout the centuries and there’s something about the sacredness of the space that makes even the most extrovert of us fall silent in awe."
Meanwhile, London came as no shock for topping the survey's list of worst places for introverts to live, with crowded streets, rush hour tubes and lots of traffic - a stroll along the River Elwy sounds much needed!
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here