Edinburgh and Glasgow top London as UK nightlife hotspots, Uber finds

Data from the global ride-hailing app sheds light on travel, socialising and takeaway trends from across the UK by analysing millions of trips and deliveries.

Edinburgh took the top spot with the highest proportion of journeys made between 10pm and 4am, cementing the Scottish capital’s position as a cultural hub with a thriving pub, bar and club scene.

Glasgow came a close second, with Scots out and about in the early hours, while London was third, with people across the city taking trips to popular venues such as Fabric nightclub.

Separate data from rival taxi app Bolt late last year had shown a 15 per cent increase in night-time activity over 2025, compared to 2024, with the peak time to go out shifting from 11pm on Saturdays to midnight.

On the other hand, Uber analysis showed Birmingham to be the city of early risers, with more trips booked between 6am and 8am than anywhere else in the UK, pointing to it being a hotspot for commuters.

While eight in ten of the country’s top requested destinations were train stations, tourist spots were also in high demand, with the likes of London’s Hyde Park, Edinburgh Castle and The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool the most sought after in their respective cities.

Meanwhile, data from Uber Eats, the food delivery arm of the transport giant, said major cities and university hubs like Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds were a hive for late-night deliveries, and the areas among those most likely to place orders between 10pm and 4am.

Chinese food remained the most searched for on the app in 2025, but searches for sushi, pizza and Thai food more than doubled during the year.

A trend which dominated the year was the matcha craze, reflected in the app’s data with searches for the Japanese green tea powder drink soaring by 700 per cent year on year.

Andrew Brem, regional general manager for Uber UK, said: ” Whether it’s scouting shops on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, indulging in a treat at Cadbury World or learning about the Fab Four at the Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool, people are embracing their passions and the country’s iconic destinations.”