Aberdeen named in top 15 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?
The research team at Men’s Flair set out to discover just that by analysing over 70 cities through 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.
Aberdeen may have narrowly missed a spot in the top 10, ranking 11th, but it’s certainly not short on style. The city boasts an impressive 4.37 charity shops per 10,000 people, putting it among the highest in the UK for thrift-friendly fashion. While its Google searches (4,091 per 10K) and Instagram hashtags (209 per 10K) are on the lower side compared to the top contenders, Aberdeen’s strong focus on second-hand fashion suggests a sustainability-first mindset.
Meanwhile, Glasgowis 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. Edinburgh and 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 | Best-Dressed 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 |
| 11 | Aberdeen | 4,091 | 209 | 4.37 | 29.74 |