London is among the luckiest areas of the UK, according to VSO News research. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Whether it’s the thrill of a lottery win or the joy of finding a forgotten ten-pound note in an old coat pocket, luck plays a fascinating role in our lives. But what if luck isn’t just a fleeting moment, but something tied to where you live?

analyzing how often each location has had a Premium Bond winner

To reveal the luckiest locations in the UK, we delved into historic data, analyzing how often each location has had a Premium Bond winner. We also took a look at the average winnings per location to see where has won the biggest jackpot, as well as which locations held onto bonds the shortest before yielding a win. 

The top 20 luckiest areas of the UK

1. Essex 

Essex reigns supreme as the luckiest area in the UK. Over the last 12 months, the county has seen a whopping 10,144 Premium Bond wins. 

Premium Bonds are a prize-linked savings account where your money is invested in bonds, each with a chance of winning a tax-free prize every month. Scoring a win means your bond number gets drawn, awarding you a cash prize ranging from a few pounds to £1m ($1.3m). 

Essex residents have a knack for picking the right bonds

With such a high number of wins, it seems Essex residents have a knack for picking the right bonds, or maybe a touch of good fortune follows them wherever they go.

2. London

London may be known for its bustling streets and iconic landmarks, but it seems luck also thrives in the UK’s capital city, with a close second of 9,400 Premium Bond wins in the past year. 

Perhaps the city’s vibrant energy translates into a bit of extra luck, or maybe the sheer number of residents simply increases the odds of winning. Whatever the reason, Londoners seem to be consistently drawing lucky numbers.

3. Kent 

Kent secures the third spot with a remarkable 9,240 Premium Bond wins over the past year. Whether it’s the proximity to the coast and the calming sea breeze, or simply a community that believes in its own luck, luck definitely seems to flourish in Kent.

The UK locations earning the most from Premium Bonds 

While the number of wins is certainly impressive, the size of the prize is what the majority of us care about the most. When it comes to average winnings, some areas in the UK are scoring a lot more than others.

Durham takes the crown for the highest average win at a staggering £4,263 ($5,432). Premium Bond holders in this region seem to be consistently striking gold – perhaps there’s a secret strategy being passed down through generations, or maybe Durham just has a natural talent for picking lucky bonds.

this historic city isn’t just rich in culture, but also in lucky Premium Bond holders

Following closely behind is the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where the average win sits at a very respectable £3,858 ($4,915). That’s followed by York, which rounds out the top three with an average win of £3,666 ($4,671). It seems this historic city isn’t just rich in culture, but also in lucky Premium Bond holders.

How long have UK areas had an account before winning a premium bond?

Not all wins are created equal, especially when it comes to waiting. Some winners wait longer than others to reap the rewards of their investment. To understand how long residents in different areas typically wait, we analysed the average time between purchasing a Premium Bond and winning a prize.

Residents of Swansea take the crown for the fastest win, holding their bonds for an average of only 55 months before cashing in. That’s just under five years of waiting, which may seem like a lot but is a breeze compared to some of the longer waits on the list.

Cornwall and Preston come in a tied third position at 74 months (six years and two months)

Following close behind are Lothian and Brighton and Hove, where residents wait an average of 72 months (six years) before their investment pays off. Cornwall and Preston come in a tied third position at 74 months (six years and two months) on average, so residents in these areas might require a bit more perseverance for a Premium Bond win.

Methodology

To find out the luckiest areas in the UK, we counted the number of Premium Bond wins in each location over the last year using a prize checker. To reveal the average price value of winnings, we took an average of all wins in each area. 

The number of months a bond is held was calculated by counting the number of months a winning location has had the bond, and then taking an average of months per location.