Top 20: Most popular cities in the UK for coffee lovers
Celebrate pumpkin spice latte season in these coffee hotspots
With the first day of autumn behind us, the crisp air has transported us into Pumpkin Spice Latte Season. What better way to celebrate than with a warm cup of coffee? Brits are usually associated with our tea-drinking habits, but we are increasingly showing our love for coffee too. According to the British Coffee Association, we now drink approximately 95 million cups of coffee per day in the UK. Cafe culture has also continued to boom, with 80% of people visiting coffee shops doing so at least once a week.
Coffee shops can be cultural hubs when exploring a new city to get a sense of the local community and meet new people. Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, decided to find out the most searched cities when it comes to coffee shops and cafes. So grab your Pumpkin Spice Latte or Americano and get ready to explore Holidu’s top 10 most popular cities for coffee in the UK. These trendy cities were selected using Google Search Volume, and the data highlighted that:
- Edinburgh was the most searched city in the UK for coffee shops and cafes
- London and York come in hot at 2nd and 3rd place respectively
- Scotland brews up a storm with 2 of the top 5 most searched for cities
Image: Coffee shop credit Lexie Barnhorn via Unsplash
1. Edinburgh – 103,430 searches
The king of coffee coming in at number one on the list is the Scottish capital with an average of 103,430 searches on Google in the past year. If you are a self-declared coffee lover, Edinburgh should be at the top of your list. With roasteries and cafés on every corner, Edinburgh is renowned for its abundance of cosy cafes and eateries. Make Edinburgh the next stop on your autumn adventure!
Cafes you can’t miss:
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Fortitude Coffee (550 / 4.8)*
- The Milkman (868 / 4.7)*
- Black Medicine Coffee Co (1,250 / 4.5)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average rating
2. London – 96,600 searches
Coming in at number two is London with over 96,000 searches. It’s no surprise that in Britain’s sprawling capital, cafe enthusiasts are spoilt for choice when deciding on the next spot to visit. Coffee lovers here can get the best of both worlds, having a lively city to explore without needing to sacrifice the quality of their coffee!
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Rosslyn Coffee (518 / 4.8)*
- Ozone Coffee Roasters (2086 / 4.5)*
- Monmouth Coffee Company (1502 / 4.5)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
3. York – 57,940 searches
The next city on our list if you need a jolt of caffeine is York with over 57,000 searches for coffee shops in the area. York is a much loved historical city in England, but what you may also not know is that it is also a haven for coffee lovers. Dubbed as one of the three cities to make up the “Yorkshire Coffee Triangle”, an area with a homegrown speciality coffee scene that has developed over the years.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Brew & Brownie (1035 / 4.8)*
- Partisan (631 / 4.7)*
- Spring Espresso (605 / 4.7)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
4. Glasgow – 56,470 searches
The second Scottish city securing a spot in the top 5 is the wonderful Glasgow. Glasgow is famed for being a national cultural hub for its thriving music scene, acclaimed museums and theatres. Its offering doesn’t end there! Coffee lovers will delight whilst in Glasgow, with a plethora of cafes to choose from. Ranging from sleek espresso bars to cosy local family-run spots, there is something for everyone in this city. Glasgow even boasts its own coffee festival, which will be taking place in May 2022.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Space Speciality Coffee House (123 / 4.9)*
- The Steamie Coffee Roasters (396 / 4.8)*
- Spitfire Espresso (677 / 4.6)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
5. Bath – 47,970 searches
In fifth place, we have Bath, the largest city in the county of Somerset, but the smallest city that made it into this top ten. Bath’s exceptional food and drink scene has gained the city a reputation as a delicious destination for a foodie break. With over 47,000 searches in the past year, it’s safe to say that Bath is a hot spot for cafe lovers.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Kekolo Coffee (108 / 4.8)*
- Colonna & Small’s (824 / 4.7)*
- The Colombian Company (354 / 4.7)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
6. Manchester – 47,960 searches
If you are looking for the pinnacle of coffee culture, grab your favourite mug and head to Manchester. This city scoring high in this ranking comes to us as no surprise, gaining over 47,000 searches in the past year, and it is easy to see why. Manchester is a coffee lover’s dream! It is even home to its own Coffee Festival which is taking place at Bowlers Exhibition Centre in November and features free coffee samples from 50+ exhibitors.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Mancoco Ltd (492 / 4.9)*
- Federal Cafe Bar (1618 / 4.7)*
- Takk (1097 / 4.6)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
7. Cambridge – 47,370 searches
With over 47,000 searches in the past year, Cambridge is a city with a great selection of coffee shops to satisfy your caffeine cravings. With a bunch of creative workspaces, cosy espresso bars and more, a freshly brewed cup of coffee won’t be hard to find here.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Caffiend of Cambridge (71 / 5)*
- Bould Brothers Coffee (714 / 4.7)*
- Hot Numbers Coffee (Dale’s Brewery) (999 / 4.6)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
8. Brighton – 46,510 searches
Britain’s beloved beachside city of Brighton comes in as being the eighth most searched city for coffee and cafe lovers this year. A coastal haven renowned for its quirkiness and vibrant culture, it’s unsurprising that its coffee scene is also buzzing. There’s no shortage of wonderful coffee shops in Brighton on every corner, from large chains to independent shops and cafés.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Coffee At 33 Brighton. (146 / 4.8)*
- Black Mocha (311 / 4.6)*
- TWIN PINES (298 / 4.8)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
9. Oxford – 45,560 searches
Oxford is known for its world-renowned university and for being a bustling student hub, but it is also a favourite for coffee lovers and cafe goers alike. The city offers a variety of perfect spots to grab a warm cup of coffee to take a break from studying with friends or to spend a few hours working.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- 101 Coffee (79 / 4.9)*
- The Handle Bar (788 / 4.5)*
- Art Cafe (763 / 4.4)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
10. Leeds – 41,210 searches
Clinching the last spot in the top 10 is the northern city of Leeds with over 41,000 searches in the past year. Leeds is home to Maude Coffee Roasters, who pride themselves on producing premium quality speciality coffee. There is a thriving food and drink scene in this city, and coffee is no exception. In fact, Leeds makes up one-third of the “Yorkshire Coffee Triangle”, along with York and Harrogate.
Coffee shops you can’t miss:
- Stage Espresso & Brewbar (194 / 4.8)*
- Laynes Espresso (1182 / 4.7)*
- La Bottega Milanese (734 / 4.7)*
*number of Google Maps reviews / average ratings
Methodology:
The ranking was created by Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, based on the sum of the last 12 months of Google Search Volume for “coffee shops in + city name” and “cafes in + city name” (as of October 1st 2021).