Portsmouth among the best UK cities for singles looking to date
Portsmouth has been named as among the best UK cities for singles who are looking to date.
Love might be just around the corner… or nowhere in sight. Trying to meet someone new can be tough, and where you live can make a big difference. Some cities make dating easy with lots of places to go and things to do, while others not so much. A new study looked at cities across the UK to see which are the best and worst spots for singles.
The study, conducted by Trusted Psychics, ranked 99 UK cities to find the best and worst places for singles. Cities were scored across three main areas: dating cost, dating opportunities, and dating activities. Dating cost refers to the typical price of a night out for two people, including a meal and drinks, theater tickets, and a taxi ride.
Portsmouth ranks 16th in the study, standing out for its vibrant dating interest, balanced gender ratio, and active social scene. A typical night out costs around £103.85, reflecting the city’s mix of restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment options. The city has a single population of 59.59%, a male-to-female ratio of 1.05, and 573 dating-related searches per 100,000 residents, so there is strong engagement among singles.
Singles in Portsmouth can enjoy a variety of restaurants, nightlife, attractions, and social clubs. Events and music festivals provide further opportunities to socialize, ensuring a lively dating scene.
At the top of the ranking, Blackpool, Gloucester, and Blackburn take the first three spots, followed by Hastings in fourth and Cheltenham in fifth. The rest of the top 10 are Burnley (6th), Southend-on-Sea (7th), Lincoln (8th), Newcastle upon Tyne (9th), and Oxford (10th).
“Dating is about more than just going out for a meal or finding the right nightlife spot,” says Joanne Jones, spokesperson for Trusted Psychics. “It’s about feeling comfortable in your environment, meeting people who share your interests, and having opportunities to connect naturally. Every city has its own energy, and that can make a big difference for singles looking to meet someone new.”
She adds, “Some people thrive in bustling cities with lots of events and nightlife, while others prefer smaller towns where social circles are tighter and connections can feel more personal. The key is finding a place that matches your lifestyle and personality, because dating is about how supported and confident you feel when putting yourself out there.”
The bottom five cities in the ranking are Edinburgh, Belfast, Glasgow City, London, and Dartford. Despite being some of the UK’s larger and more prominent cities, they rank at the bottom, suggesting that dating in bigger cities can sometimes be tougher than expected.
List of the best UK cities for singles:
| Rank | City | Dating Cost | Share of Single Population | Male-to-Female Ratio (age 18 - 44) | Dating Interest per 100,000 residents | Median age | Number of Attractions per 10,000 residents | Restaurants per 10,000 residents | Nightlife Options per 10,000 residents | Social Clubs per 10,000 residents | Number of entertaining events per 10,000 residents | Music Festivals per 10,000 residents | Total Score |
| 1 | Blackpool | 101.20£ | 64.69 | 1.00 | 501 | 43.4 | 26.63 | 24.53 | 21.02 | 3.15 | 35.74 | 0.28 | 66.82 |
| 2 | Gloucester | 79.00£ | 55.23 | 1.00 | 881 | 39.2 | 9.63 | 17.78 | 5.93 | 2.22 | 15.56 | 0.15 | 59.60 |
| 3 | Blackburn | 72.50£ | 52.94 | 1.01 | 780 | 36.5 | 3.17 | 11.43 | 2.86 | 1.90 | 10.16 | 0.13 | 56.80 |
| 4 | Hastings | 101.50£ | 62.47 | 0.95 | 1,189 | 43.4 | 17.62 | 25.33 | 6.61 | 3.08 | 16.52 | 0.22 | 56.77 |
| 5 | Cheltenham | 106.00£ | 55.73 | 1.02 | 1,018 | 40.7 | 12.47 | 23.28 | 9.98 | 3.66 | 21.62 | 0.25 | 56.40 |
| 6 | Burnley | 92.50£ | 57.57 | 1.00 | 1,743 | 40 | 4.15 | 16.59 | 3.63 | 2.07 | 10.89 | 0.21 | 56.20 |
| 7 | Southend-on-Sea | 91.76£ | 58.62 | 0.96 | 652 | 41.8 | 13.17 | 23.04 | 10.97 | 2.52 | 18.10 | 0.11 | 55.89 |
| 8 | Lincoln | 106.00£ | 60.91 | 0.97 | 3,022 | 33.4 | 25.17 | 27.10 | 8.23 | 3.48 | 22.26 | 0.10 | 55.71 |
| 9 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 105.20£ | 58.31 | 0.98 | 959 | 32.3 | 15.39 | 32.05 | 22.44 | 6.41 | 23.08 | 0.16 | 54.82 |
| 10 | Oxford | 114.20£ | 57.27 | 0.96 | 698 | 28.9 | 30.27 | 41.17 | 25.43 | 9.08 | 27.85 | 0.18 | 54.30 |
| 11 | Chesterfield | 103.00£ | 57.78 | 1.00 | 1,313 | 44.6 | 7.63 | 19.07 | 5.24 | 2.57 | 12.87 | 0.19 | 54.04 |
| 12 | Darlington | 90.00£ | 56.60 | 0.99 | 1,315 | 43.2 | 4.97 | 14.47 | 3.62 | 1.81 | 10.40 | 0.09 | 53.89 |
| 13 | Ipswich | 98.00£ | 57.43 | 0.99 | 974 | 38.2 | 10.76 | 21.52 | 9.33 | 3.44 | 15.78 | 0.14 | 53.52 |
| 14 | Nottingham | 95.76£ | 61.46 | 0.92 | 911 | 29.7 | 12.15 | 28.85 | 19.74 | 6.99 | 20.35 | 0.12 | 53.00 |
| 15 | Cambridge | 125.96£ | 57.19 | 1.02 | 753 | 30.3 | 23.34 | 46.68 | 28.01 | 7.34 | 26.67 | 0.20 | 52.86 |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 103.85£ | 59.59 | 1.05 | 573 | 34.1 | 12.36 | 26.15 | 11.41 | 3.42 | 19.02 | 0.10 | 52.86 |
| 17 | Lancaster | 97.70£ | 55.97 | 1.02 | 804 | 39.5 | 10.99 | 17.18 | 5.15 | 2.06 | 13.05 | 0.14 | 52.66 |
| 18 | Manchester | 120.00£ | 62.97 | 0.99 | 1,242 | 30.1 | 12.07 | 37.94 | 27.59 | 8.97 | 16.38 | 0.16 | 51.88 |
| 19 | Cardiff | 100.00£ | 57.57 | 0.97 | 688 | 35.5 | 10.43 | 24.77 | 15.64 | 4.43 | 17.99 | 0.13 | 51.72 |
| 20 | Preston | 93.80£ | 55.44 | 1.02 | 831 | 35.3 | 7.67 | 16.62 | 4.48 | 1.85 | 13.43 | 0.13 | 51.28 |