A recent study has identified Camden as the premier London borough for single people in 2026. Commissioned by AdultWork, the research evaluated 346 local authorities across the UK based on five weighted criteria: dating pool size (30%), affordability of one-bedroom rentals relative to local wages (20%), dining and daytime venues per 10,000 adults (15%), nightlife venues per 10,000 adults (20%), and safety (15%). Each area received a freedom index score out of 100.
Camden's Top Performance
Camden achieved a score of 59.36, ranking first in London and seventh nationally. The borough boasts 116,215 single adults, representing 65.3% of its adult population. It also has 2,527 dining venues, second only to Westminster across the entire study. With 236 pubs and bars, Camden offers the best nightlife ratio in the capital. The average annual rent for a one-bedroom flat is £23,172, which is 50.6% of the local median wage, making it relatively affordable.
Islington and Other Top Boroughs
Islington ranked second in London and eighth nationally with a score of 58.90. Singles comprise 71.3% of its adult population, the second-highest proportion in the country. The borough's 1,243 cafes and restaurants provide the eighth-best dining ratio in the study. Southwark, Lambeth, and Hackney secured third, fourth, and fifth places in London, respectively.
London's Worst Areas for Singles
Despite these highs, London also features four of the ten worst rankings. Harrow sits at the bottom (346th), followed by Redbridge (345th), Hounslow (341st), and Barnet (338th). These boroughs suffer from higher rents, smaller dating pools, and fewer venues per capita.
National Rankings
Nationally, Norwich topped the list with a score of 63.78, ahead of Liverpool and Powys in mid Wales. An AdultWork spokesperson commented: "The capital still offers a huge dating pool, but the cost of living there means most single people end up paying half their wages in rent before they even think about going out. Smaller cities like Norwich, Liverpool, Lincoln and Dundee offer a much better balance of affordability, social infrastructure and a substantial single population."
London Rankings Summary
- 1. Camden – 59.36 (UK rank 7)
- 2. Islington – 58.90 (UK rank 8)
- 3. Southwark – 56.16 (UK rank 20)
- 4. Lambeth – 54.98 (UK rank 34)
- 5. Hackney – 52.70 (UK rank 65)
- 6. Hammersmith & Fulham – 51.65 (UK rank 80)
- 7. Wandsworth – 51.02 (UK rank 96)
- 8. Tower Hamlets – 50.42 (UK rank 114)
- 9. Lewisham – 48.93 (UK rank 147)
- 10. Haringey – 45.82 (UK rank 205)
