The best startup cities in the UK
What are the hottest cities in the UK for startup entrepreneurs? We don’t mean temperature-wise. In this ranking, we present the best hubs for startups in the UK, based on the popularity among founders and investors.
With our research and data services, we help startups, ecosystem builders and investors to navigate European startup hubs. Our Startup Heatmap platform tells you which places are the most trustworthy and where startup founders find the best conditions: reliable networks, support infrastructure, dedicated startup events, and a business-friendly environment.
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Find the best startup hubs and build new connections
Below you find the best startup cities in the UK, sorted by popularity among startup founders. We also invite you to explore our complete dataset and find the best cities, startup accelerators and opportunities for startups according to your own criteria. If you don´t find what you´re looking for or want to collaborate to explore a trending topic, please don´t hesitate to contact us.
Put yourself on the map: We help you identify the data points that make founders and investors look your way.
London
London is the clear winner in terms of founder popularity among the 200 analyzed startup hubs, securing the top spot. With 35% of founders expressing their willingness to start their companies in the city, London proves to be an attractive destination for startup ventures. It not only excels in popularity but also tops the rankings in terms of accelerating startups and scaling unicorns. The city’s environment fosters the growth of new founders, as shown by its top ranking in the ‘Growing Entrepreneurs’ sub-category. Moreover, London’s ability to help startups enter the market is evidenced by its first-place ranking in the ‘Accelerating Startups’ sub-category. Additionally, the city stands out in activating large-scale investments for growth, securing the top spot in the ‘Scaling Unicorns’ sub-category. Overall, London emerges as the leading city for startup companies in Europe, offering a highly favorable ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ranks 25th in growing founders among the 200 analyzed startup hubs. With a popularity rank of 37 and a popularity percentage of 1%, it indicates that while not highly popular, there is still a considerable number of founders who can imagine starting their company in the city. Additionally, Edinburgh performs well in the sub-category of Scaling Unicorns, ranking 30th, suggesting its ability to attract large scale investments for growth. However, it lags behind in the sub-categories of Accelerating Startups with a rank of 48. Overall, Edinburgh is a promising city for startups, particularly for those aiming to scale and receive substantial investments.
Manchester
Manchester is ranked 17th in scaling unicorns among the 200 analyzed startup hubs. This indicates that the city has a strong ability to attract large-scale investments for growth. Additionally, with a ranking of 28th in growing entrepreneurs and 47th in accelerating startups, Manchester shows promising signs of producing more new founders and providing support for startups to enter the market. While the city’s popularity among founders may be relatively low, at 83rd place, it’s important to note that this can change over time as the startup ecosystem continues to evolve.
Glasgow
Glasgow, a city with immense potential for startup companies, performed exceptionally well in the ‘Growing Entrepreneurs’ category of the ‘Startup Heatmap Europe 2023’ study. With a remarkable rank of 26 out of 200 analyzed startup hubs, Glasgow proves to be conducive for nurturing new founders. Alongside this achievement, Glasgow also secured a noteworthy rank of 77 in the ‘Accelerating Startups’ category, further indicating the city’s commitment to supporting startups in their market entry. Moreover, Glasgow stands at a respectable rank of 35 in the ‘Scaling Unicorns’ category, showcasing the city’s ability to attract substantial investments for growth. Although not very popular among founders currently, with only 0% considering Glasgow as their go-to city for starting a company, the city’s performance in the aforementioned sub-categories is a testament to its potential as a thriving startup hub.
Bristol
Bristol, a vibrant city in the United Kingdom, has emerged as a strong contender in the startup landscape. With a remarkable position at rank 28 in the ‘Scaling Unicorns’ category among 200 analyzed startup hubs, Bristol offers an environment conducive to attracting large-scale investments for growth. This achievement is a testament to the city’s efforts in creating a conducive ecosystem for startups. Although rank 60 in Popularity might suggest less initial interest, it is noteworthy that a remarkable 1% of founders can envision starting their company in Bristol. Additionally, Bristol performs well in the sub-category of ‘Growing Entrepreneurs’, securing a position at rank 36. This implies that the city is producing a substantial number of new founders, contributing to its reputation as a thriving startup hub. However, Bristol lags behind in the ‘Accelerating Startups’ category, with a rank of 64. This suggests that there is room for improvement in terms of helping startups enter the market. Overall, Bristol’s exceptional rank in scaling unicorns, coupled with its growing community of entrepreneurs, showcases its potential as a promising city for startups in Europe.
Our research and methodology
We’ve been taking our Startup Heatmap Europe survey since 2015 to find out which are the preferred startup hubs by people in the industry. We ask them a simple question: “If you were going to start a company in Europe tomorrow, where would you like to do it?”
Respondents can choose up to three places, depending on their preference. Based on the survey, we calculate a trust score for each city. As a central element in our methodology, the trust score indicates the positive attitudes startup founders associate with a city. It’s our benchmark index for startup hubs, based on perception and trust. You can find out more about our data and methodology here.