Enis Shala
Enis Shala
2 April, 2025
What's On

Edinburgh named in top 10 list of best-dressed cities in the UK, according to new study

The UK has long been a trendsetter in the fashion world, giving birth to iconic styles like Punk, Mod, and country chic. Some of the most influential designers and brands, such as Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, and Stella McCartney, to name a few, hail from Britain, solidifying its reputation as a global fashion powerhouse. But have you wondered which UK cities are the best-dressed?

Edinburgh named in top 10 list of best-dressed cities in the UK

The research team at  Men’s Flair set out to discover just that by analysing three key factors: fashion-related Google searches, Instagram hashtag engagement, and the availability of charity shops. 

These elements were combined into a total score, with each factor weighted accordingly. Google searches (40%) were examined for terms like “best clothing stores,” “vintage shops,” and “men’s fashion trends,” while Instagram engagement (40%) was based on city-specific fashion hashtags such as #LondonFashion and #StreetStyleManchester. Charity shop availability (20%) reflects a city's commitment to thrift shopping and sustainable fashion.

Edinburgh ranked ninth, balancing all three factors well, with solid Google searches (6,458 per 10K), Instagram hashtags (734 per 10K), and a fair number of charity shops (2.82 per 10K). The city isn’t an outright leader in any category but has a respectable, steady presence in the UK’s fashion scene.

Meanwhile, Glasgow is the ultimate fashion city in the UK, ranking in first place thanks to its strong online fashion presence.

Croydon ranked second, having the highest no. of Google searches for fashion-related terms (13,635 per 10K people), while Newcastle, Manchester, and Bournemouth completed the top five.

Oxford and Leeds ranked sixth and seventh, respectively, while London, despite being home to London Fashion Week, world-class designers, and an endless list of high-end boutiques, only ranked eighth. Walsall rounded the top 10. 

On the flip side, Bexley, Nottingham, Slough, Sutton, and Newport ranked at the bottom, as the least best-dressed cities in the UK. 

Top 10 list of the best-dressed cities in the UK:

Rank City Fashion-Related Google Searches per 10k people Fashion-related Instagram Hashtags per 10k people Charity Shops per 10k people Total Score
1 Glasgow 6,866 16,649.07 2.37 68.76
2 Croydon 13,635 82 2.94 52.20
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 10,412 131 4.11 47.70
4 Manchester 9,000 3,975 2.05 43.36
5 Bournemouth 5,383 91 4.58 34.36
6 Oxford 5,509 93 4.38 33.82
7 Leeds 7,039 840 2.64 32.46
8 London 5,692 6,829 0.26 32.07
9 Edinburgh 6,458 734 2.82 31.24
10 Walsall 4,046 40.55 4.71 30.69