A recent study from Parkdean Resorts reveals that Belfast is one of the best UK cities to stargaze by analysing the light pollution levels in the city centre.
Belfast comes in at sixth in the top ten UK cities for stargazing – good news for the city’s budding astronomers. With it’s low light pollution levels, Belfast has less than half the light pollution levels than London (which, unsurprisingly, was the worst city in the UK to gaze upon the stars from).
This means that families in Belfast can enjoy gazing upon the stars at night in the city. It’s no wonder that Belfast is home to the Irish Astronomical Association, home to over 200 stargazing enthusiasts.
Best UK cities to stargaze
By studying the light pollution levels of each major UK city, Parkdean has identified the best and worst cities to see the night sky.
| Ranking | Cities | Light Pollution Level
(Radiance 109 W/cm² * sr) | Elevation
(Meters) | Population |
| 1 | Bristol | 58.20 | 12 | 463,377 |
| 2 | Sheffield | 59.74 | 88 | 584,853 |
| 3 | Glasgow | 69.89 | 32 | 629,920 |
| 4 | Cardiff | 73.86 | 17 | 366,903 |
| 5 | Bradford | 74.43 | 116 | 539,776 |
| 6 | Belfast | 75.28 | 8 | 343,542 |
| 7 | Leicester | 79.94 | 64 | 472,558 |
| 8 | Coventry | 84.55 | 94 | 382,073 |
| 9 | Edinburgh | 86.25 | 60 | 518,500 |
| 10 | Nottingham | 94.27 | 46 | 332,900 |
| 11 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 105.46 | 48 | 302,820 |
| 12 | Manchester | 108.05 | 60 | 552,858 |
| 13 | Liverpool | 109.40 | 30 | 498,042 |
| 14 | Birmingham | 113.90 | 151 | 1,141,816 |
| 15 | Leeds | 132.57 | 54 | 793,139 |
| 16 | London | 169.12 | 17 | 8,961,989 |