- Camden has been named the nation’s top party destination, based on factors like availability of bars, local happiness, and more.
- London boroughs dominate, with four among the top five destinations.
- Cheltenham boasts the highest happiness score of the top party locations.
A new study has revealed Camden as the UK’s ultimate party destination, according to research conducted by iGaming marketplace Gamblorium.
The research analysed 375 local authorities’ performance across 14 key factors, including the density of bars, the crime rate, and the number of taxis per 100,000 residents, as well as each area’s ONS happiness score out of 10. Each destination was then awarded an overall score out of 100 to create the ranking.
Camden was the top performer, with a score of 75.70 out of 100. The borough reports the highest density of bars in the UK at 183.47 per 100,000 residents, and also offers great public transport options with 285 taxi and private hire vehicles per 100,000.
However, Camden also recorded the highest crime rate among the top 10 areas at 19,487 incidents per 100,000 residents, so partygoers should be vigilant while out.
Islington ranked second, scoring 70.68 out of 100. The area offers 119.48 bars per 100,000 residents, along with 132.86 pubs and 6.92 beer gardens. However, crime is moderately high in the borough, with 13,233 crimes reported per 100,000 residents.
Third is Hackney, scoring 70.07 out of 100. Hackney has a high density of wine bars at 30 per 100,000 residents and 78.09 cocktail bars per 100,000.
London boroughs held four of the top five positions, with Kensington and Chelsea in fourth with a score of 68.69 out of 100. Brighton and Hove rounded out the top five party destinations with a score of 65.28 out of 100.
Kensington and Chelsea stood out for having the highest density of nightclubs, with 56.97 venues per 100,000 residents, and a casino density of 24.32 per 100,000.
Outside London, Edinburgh was the highest-ranking non-English location, in ninth with a score of 62.33 out of 100. The Scottish capital makes it easy for people to get home safe after a night out, with 1,034 taxis per 100,000 residents – the highest in the top 10.
The top 10 party destinations in the UK, ranked
| Location | Total Score (Out of 100) | Bars per 100,000 Residents | |
| 1 | Camden | 75.70 | 183.47 |
| 2 | Islington | 70.68 | 119.48 |
| 3 | Hackney | 70.07 | 133.48 |
| 4 | Kensington and Chelsea | 68.69 | 131.30 |
| 5 | Brighton and Hove | 65.28 | 107.12 |
| 6 | Hammersmith and Fulham | 64.84 | 111.84 |
| 7 | Mendip | 62.53 | 142.75 |
| 8 | South Lakeland | 62.37 | 113.68 |
| 9 | City of Edinburgh | 62.33 | 95.54 |
| 10 | Cheltenham | 61.92 | 75.72 |
South Lakeland, located in Cumbria, in eighth, recorded the highest pub density among the top 10 locations with 152.85 pubs per 100,000 residents.
Cheltenham, which ranked 10th with a score of 61.92 out of 100, recorded the highest ONS happiness score (7.73 out of 10) among the top party destinations.
Speaking on the findings, Nodar Giorgadze, CEO of Gamblorium, said:
“With the weather starting to brighten up in the UK, it’s understandable that many want to get more nights out in the calendar, but some areas are going to offer a much better experience than others, especially if you’re concerned about queuing for drinks or clubs.
“London is clearly the place to be if you’re looking for an action-packed night out, but it’s important to be mindful of the high crime rate. Common crimes that can affect partygoers include pickpocketing, drink spiking, or dealing with harassment. Ensure that you raise any concerns with pub or bar staff, and make use of local taxi ranks to ensure you get home safely – especially if you’ve been drinking.”