PexelsWhen I say thrill-seeker, what immediately springs to mind?
Is it spending all day riding the biggest rollercoasters with your mates, driving that bit faster when the roads are empty at night, or crossing the road without waiting for the green man to say you can?
Or is it more like scuba-diving into the depths of the unknown ocean, sky-diving 15,000ft from a plane, or zip-wiring over miles of unknown territory?
Well, whatever your definition may be, it’s probably fair to say many of us would like to class ourselves as a bit of a risk-taker, or a thrill-seeker.
But now, a study has found the biggest thrill-seekers of us all (in the UK at least) live in Cardiff.
A poll of 2,000 adults found 73 per cent of those in the Welsh capital describe themselves as being adventurous and happy to live life ‘on the edge’.
Newcastle came second on the list, followed by Edinburgh, with Belfast ranked fourth and Glasgow in fifth place.
John Annoh, from hotel chain Premier Inn, who commissioned the research said:
Adventurousness means many things to many different people.
Which brings me back to my initial point.
Things like riding a rollercoaster, which to some is the scariest thing they could ever do and therefore adventurous, could be regarded to others as a minor activity.
PexelsThe study also found half of those polled admit they ‘wish they had the guts’ to be more adventurous from time to time, with 66 per cent of respondents believing getting out of their comfort zone is vital and has tangible benefits.
These include potentially meeting new friends, visiting places they may never otherwise have seen, and changing the way we see the world.
So which activities do us Brits wish we could try out?
Well, according to the survey, the most exciting activity would be to go on a safari, closely followed by a flight in a hot air balloon.
GettyAround 14 per cent would love to take on an adrenaline-fuelled skydive – with just one in 20 Brits having already ticked it off their list of things to do.
To me, these things sound like the type of activity more likely to be done on holiday – what are the chances of us hopping in a hot air balloon in the middle of Manchester?
And it’s true – 35 per cent of Brits say they’re more adventurous when they go on holiday, with 16 per cent booking holidays purely to try out new activities.
PexelsHowever, nearly three quarters of responders think there’s plenty to do at home in the UK, so maybe the idea adventure can only be found abroad is a myth?
Mr Annoh added:
From cliff walking to skydiving, Premier Inn’s 750 locations across the UK and Ireland allow people to explore any activity across the country.
Getting out of your comfort zone or starting a new hobby has never been easier and Premier Inn is a great place to start your next adventure.
And it seems things are looking up, as twice as many Brits believe their generation is more adventurous than the one before.
So whether you sign up for a charity sky-dive (not for me thanks) or simply start a new hobby, it doesn’t matter!
As long as you do what’s right for you, who’s to judge?
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).