A new charity poll placed London second in the non-animal stakes

A bowl of appetising vegan food — Photo by Edgar Castrejon on Unsplash

London has been named as the second easiest place in Britain to be a vegan in a new poll, with 62% of adults polled stating that it’s easy to follow a plant-based diet in the city.

In the poll carried out by charity Viva! of 2,000 adults – half of which were vegan – around two thirds (63%) of Londoners abstain from eating meat at least one day per week. The capital is the most health-conscious city in the UK, with half of all London respondents having meat-free days for health reasons.

London came in joint second place with Manchester; with 62% of Londoners also stating that it’s easy to be vegan in their city. The cities were pipped to the post by just 1%, with Birmingham taking the crown as the easiest place to be vegan (63%).

Despite 52% of London adults being satisfied with the range of vegan options in restaurants and takeaways, 62% would like to see more plant-based options added to menus.

In order to promote healthier eating habits, 59% of Londoners want to see more vegan options at restaurants, while 57% want more options so they can be environmentally conscious.

The research was commissioned by the charity Viva! to launch its 50by25 campaign, encouraging restaurants to have half vegan options on their menu by the end of 2025.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “In the UK we’re lucky to have such a diverse range of eateries on our doorstep.

“It’s great to see some of the big cities in the UK leading the way when it comes to the number of plant-based options available as they are the most environmentally friendly option.

“For this reason, we want every restaurant across the UK from those in cities to smaller towns and villages to follow in these footsteps and make plant-based food options available to all.”

Nearly seven in 10 (69%) of all respondents believe it is important to have plenty of vegan food in a city – 52% of those cite it as being better for the environment.

The average omnivore has two meat-free days each week because of health benefits (36%), wanting a lower environmental impact (26%) and the fact it’s often cheaper (26%). Furthermore, 79% of the entire group polled feel it is important restaurants limit their impact on the world through the food they serve.

Even those who are non-vegans believe half of menus should be plant-based when eating out (22%).

And 52% of everyone polled via OnePoll said they take the carbon footprint of a dish into consideration when ordering their food.

Viva!’s spokesperson added: “Sticking to a vegan diet has many benefits, but it’s encouraging to see just how many people identify it as being the most environmentally friendly option.

“Even having just one meat-free day a week can substantially lower your carbon footprint, so it’s great that the results show people are having two or more a week.

“In fact, choosing the vegan option can cut a dish’s climate impact by half compared to the meat equivalent while also reducing the impact on wildlife by half.

“That’s why we have launched the 50by25 campaign, encouraging restaurants to do their part.”

Viva! Top 5 Best Places To Be Vegan

Birmingham (63%)

Manchester and London (62%)

Liverpool (60%)

Leicester (55%)

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