New research has revealed that Kingston upon Hull is the UK’s best area for gaming.

Gaming experts I’m-a-puzzle analysed UK areas based on key factors for avid gamers and streamers in and out of their own homes, including download speeds, 4G services – the number of local gaming stores.

Kingston upon Hull takes the top spot in the rankings as the best area in the UK for gaming; it has overall the best combination of factors that would allow anyone in this area to download, stream or buy games the easiest in the UK. With a population of 314,018, the city has the fastest average download speed in the UK of 171.4 Mbit/s, its coverage of 4G mobile services sits at 98.335% across its area and it has nine gaming stores, meaning there are 2.87 stores per 100k people.

With an average download speed of 159.3 Mbit/s, the second-fastest in the UK, and 92.4175% 4G mobile coverage, York takes the second spot in the rankings. York’s population of 153,717 people and ten gaming stores in the city means there are 6.51 gaming stores per 100k people.

Gaming experts at I’m-a-puzzle commented: “Having access to fast internet speeds is a crucial part of gaming; being able to download a game or piece of software within minutes of purchasing, and being able to stream at high resolution without interruption or delay is what every gamer wants for the optimum playing experience”.

The London borough of Kensington & Chelsea takes the third spot by having the second fastest 4G mobile service score in the UK at 99.9825%. The borough’s population of 156,864 means with 15 gaming stores in the area, it has 9.56 stores per 100k people. Kensington & Chelsea also has an average download speed of 109.2 Mbit/s.

In fourth place is Richmond upon Thames, which has a population of 198,141 and 15 gaming stores in total; there are 7.75 stores per 100k people. It has an average download speed of 116.8 Mbit/s, and its 4G mobile services are at 96.8975%.

Kingston upon Thames takes fifth place in the rankings by having strong internet speeds at 113 Mbit/s and a population of 179,142 people; its 16 gaming stores mean this London borough has 8.93 stores per 100k people.

Sutton takes sixth place with an average download speed of 109.9 Mbit/s and a 4G mobile service score of 99.0025%. Sutton’s population sits at 207,707 people and has 16 gaming stores, meaning there are 7.7 stores per 100k people in that outer borough of London.

Seventh and eighth place go to the London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham and Merton; these boroughs have secured their spots in the rankings by having fast average download speeds; Barking and Dagenham with 109.1 Mbit/s and Merton with 112.4 Mbit/s. The 4G mobile service score in Barking & Dagenham sits at 99.1357%, and Merton’s sits at 96.3875%. Similarly, both boroughs have 15 gaming stores in their areas, meaning Barking and Dagenham have 7.01 stores per 100k people in a population of 214,107, and Merton has 7.27 stores per 100k people in a population of 216,453.

Tower Hamlets, with a population of 331,969 and 15 gaming stores, has 4.52 stores per 100k people. An average download speed of 117.1 Mbit/s and a 4G mobile service score of 99.6075%, put the London borough in ninth place.

The final place in the rankings goes to the city of Lancaster, with the smallest population in the rankings at 47,162 and only four gaming stores in total means Lancaster has 8.48 stores per 100k people. Its average download speed is the third fastest in the UK at 123.1 Mbit/s, securing its place in the rankings.