Londoners among the most 'screen obsessed' in the UK - here's how long you're spending online
These days, it feels like almost everyone is online all the time. From scrolling social media over breakfast to checking emails during the commute, streaming shows in the evening, or using apps to keep in touch with friends, the internet touches almost every part of our day. But in some places, people spend even more of their daily life online than in others.
A new study by Optisearch has revealed the UK cities that cannot seem to take their eyes off their phones. The study analysed recent internet usage percentage data across the country and found that while everyone is online these days, some cities really stand out for just how much time residents spend connected.
London ranks seventh, with 95.2% of residents online. Its large and diverse population means residents use the internet for work, study, commuting, shopping, socialising, and entertainment, creating a broad mix of digital activity across the city.
In the wider top 10, Brighton and Hove leads with 97.7%, Coventry is second at 96.8%, Portsmouth third at 96.5%, Newport fourth at 95.8%, Peterborough fifth at 95.5%, Plymouth sixth at 95.4%, then London, Bath, and Bournemouth share seventh at 95.2%, Edinburgh is eighth at 94.8%, Bristol and Swansea ninth at 94.7%, and Cardiff rounds out the top 10 at 94.6%.
Experts suggest that while everyone uses the internet, the way it is used and the intensity of online activity can differ based on the local mix of people and opportunities. “Cities with large student populations, tech industries, or remote workers often see more intensive use of the internet,” says Louis Riat-Bonello, spokesperson at Optisearch. “That doesn’t mean people elsewhere aren’t online, but in these cities, the internet is often the main way people get work done, learn new skills, or even socialise.”
He adds, “It’s also about the kinds of tasks people spend time on. For example, a city with a strong tech sector might see more people using cloud-based tools and online platforms for work, while a city with lots of students might have higher social media and streaming activity. Looking at internet use in this way can give a glimpse into what life is like in different places, beyond just the number of people who are online.”
The study ranked UK cities based on internet usage percentage using the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS). Only UK cities were included in the analysis, with each city ranked according to the share of residents using the internet. Higher percentages indicate greater levels of internet use and digital engagement among residents.
Full list of the UK cities with the highest percentage of internet usage:
| Rank | City | Internet usage (%) |
| 1 | Brighton and Hove | 97.7 |
| 2 | Coventry | 96.8 |
| 3 | Portsmouth | 96.5 |
| 4 | Newport | 95.8 |
| 5 | Peterborough | 95.5 |
| 6 | Plymouth | 95.4 |
| 7 | London | 95.2 |
| 7 | Bath | 95.2 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 95.2 |
| 8 | Edinburgh | 94.8 |
| 9 | Bristol | 94.7 |
| 9 | Swansea | 94.7 |
| 10 | Cardiff | 94.6 |
| 11 | Milton Keynes | 94.1 |
| 12 | Manchester | 94 |
| 13 | Norwich | 93.6 |
| 14 | Cambridge | 93.6 |
| 15 | Stirling | 93.5 |
| 16 | Nottingham | 93.4 |
| 17 | Inverness | 92.9 |
| 18 | Reading | 92.8 |
| 19 | Glasgow | 92.3 |
| 20 | Oxford | 92.1 |
| 21 | Wrexham | 92 |
| 22 | Bradford | 91.8 |
| 22 | York | 91.8 |
| 23 | Sheffield | 91.7 |
| 24 | Birmingham | 91.3 |
| 24 | Aberdeen | 91.3 |
| 25 | Liverpool | 91 |
| 26 | Leeds | 90.6 |
| 27 | Derby | 90.4 |
| 28 | Belfast | 90.2 |
| 28 | Lisburn | 90.2 |
| 28 | Newry | 90.2 |
| 29 | Dundee | 89.7 |
| 30 | Leicester | 89.6 |
| 31 | Southampton | 88.9 |
| 31 | Derry / Londonderry | 88.9 |
| 32 | Stoke-on-Trent | 87.3 |
| 33 | Hull | 85.2 |
| 34 | Wolverhampton | 84.3 |
| 35 | Luton | 77.8 |