Sleep habits in the UK:

What keeps us up, what wakes us up, and why Oxford’s alarm clocks are working overtime

At PURE, we’ve always been a little obsessed with mornings. Not the groggy bit, but the gentle nudge of a well-designed alarm, the first sip of coffee, and your favourite radio station easing you into the day. So, when we came across the results of a recent sleep study conducted by WALR, we just had to dive in.

The study looked at sleep behaviour across the UK, Germany and Switzerland with 1,500 UK respondents, 1,000 in Germany, and 700 in Switzerland. Because let’s face it – if there’s one thing many of us have in common, we’re a bit tired.

“Do you get enough sleep?”

That was the first question. And only 42.8% of people in the UK said yes. More than half of us (51.1%) admit we don’t catch enough Zs – while a very honest 6% simply weren’t sure.

By contrast, in Germany, 61% of people reckon they get enough sleep. Sixty-one! We’re not saying we’re jealous, but… alright, we’re a bit jealous.

And in case you’re wondering – Londoners are the most sleep-deprived, with just 40% saying they get enough rest.

Poor sleep? A new national pastime?

More than half of UK respondents (around 55%) believe their sleep habits aren’t great. For younger people (aged 25-34), this number jumps even higher with nearly 3 out of 4 saying they struggle to sleep well.

Compare that to Germany again, where older folks (aged 55+) are the sleep champions – only 42% of them think their habits are poor.

Falling asleep vs. waking up – which is harder?

Whether it’s your brain buzzing at bedtime or hitting snooze seven times in the morning, we’re a nation in need of sleep TLC.

The humble sleep routine – rare, but magical

When asked if they had a proper sleep routine, just 45.5% of people in the UK said yes.

In Switzerland, it’s higher – nearly 50% say they stick to a bedtime ritual. Maybe it’s all the fresh air and mountains?

Interestingly, young Brits aged 18–24 were least likely to have a routine. Only 29% of them wind down the same way each night.

Wake-up devices: Old-school alarm clocks still holding on

In a world of sleep-tracking apps and smartwatches, you might expect traditional alarms to be out of fashion. But they’re not quite gone.

38.7% of UK respondents still use a wake-up device – be it an analogue clock, radio alarm, or wake-up light. The other 61.3%? Phones, pets, maybe just wishful thinking?

In Germany, however, 70% still use some form of classic wake-up device. We’re not saying they’re more punctual… but we are saying they’re more punctual.

One last funny stat: Oxford wakes up way earlier than the rest of us

Seriously. In Oxford, people are far more likely to wake up before 6am than in any other UK city. Why?

Whatever the reason, respect to the early risers of Oxford. You’re making the rest of us look like sloths.

So what can we take from all this?

We’re not sleeping enough. We’re not great at going to bed at the same time. And we’re still kind of clinging to our trusty alarm clocks – or at least some of us are.

At PURE, we believe waking up should be a little easier, and a little more enjoyable. Whether it’s a gentle radio voice in the morning or a light that simulates the sunrise, our products are here to help.

Sleep hygiene doesn’t have to mean boring. It just means creating habits that support better sleep – and better mornings.

What about you? Are you team “snooze button” or team “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed”?

We’d love to hear how you sleep – and wake.