With the latest season of Love Island just around the corner, we’re all looking forward to a summer of love triangles and on-screen flings, grafting, and situationships.
But which towns and cities are set to follow suit, and where can you find the UK’s situationship hotspots? We decided to find out, by ranking each location according to three key metrics: the number of singles, the rate of related social media posts, and the rate of related Google searches!
Reading on, discover more about what situationships really are, and which city tops the list as the situationship capital of the UK!
What is a situationship?
According to the dictionary definition, a situationship is a romantic relationship where the couple aren’t official partners – there’s no proper commitment, and it’s not especially serious! Notably, they’ve become increasingly popular in recent years, perhaps as a result of being so commonplace on shows like Love Island.
In fact, the term was even nominated for word of the year in 2023 – and it’s seen a staggering 230% increase in Google searches since May 2022. Situationships are the new norm, and they’re here to stay!
Where are situationships most common?
Now you know exactly how to identify what a situationship is and why they’ve grown in popularity, where in the UK are you most likely to enter one?
1. Manchester
Taking top spot as the UK’s situationship capital – by quite some way, in fact – we have the north-west city of Manchester, which scores a remarkable 9.07 out of 10 across our index. This comes as 55.8% of the city’s population is believed to be single,behind only London (57.4%) and Cambridge (56.5%) across the UK.
Of the 305,500+ Manchester-based singles, 1-in-13 have discussed their situationship on social media (23,070) and 7,680 have turned to Google for answers – the third-highest rate (2.51%) of any UK city’s single population, behind Bournemouth (4.78%) and Edinburgh (2.82%).
2. London
Next up, London records an overall situationship score of 6.95 out of 10, largely thanks to its enormous single population (57.4%). On top of this, London recorded over 156,500 situationship-centric social media posts over the last 12 months, which equates to around 1-in-every-30 singles. Meanwhile, there were 100,000+ situationship-type Google searches from Londoners last year, which makes up around 2.09% of the single population.
3. Reading
Ranking third, Reading is the UK’s third-most prominent situationship hotspot, scoring a not-insignificant 6.66 out of 10 on our index. Though the town is home to fewer than 75,000 singles, a whopping 1-in-12 of those have spoken about situationship experiences on social media, while 1,680 not-quite-in-a-relationship singles turned to Google for an answer to their love life. That’s a higher rate than in London!
4. Brighton
Brighton is fourth on our situationship index, with a score of 6.38 out of 10, helped along by a reported 52.2% of locals enjoying single life. Of those 1,680 used Google last year to learn more about their will-they-won’t-they relationship status – from asking ‘am I in a situationship?’ to wondering ‘how to end a situationship?’ and looking for a ‘situationship after breakup’. Meanwhile, a further 1-in-30 of singles living in Brighton and Hove have talked about their situationship on socials over the last 12 months.
5. Liverpool
Finally, rounding out our top five situationship hotspots, we have Liverpool, scoring 6.18. This largely comes from Liverpool ranking behind only a handful of UK locations when it comes to the rate of singles in the city (53.4%), while 7,180 single Merseysiders engaged in social media conversations about being in a situationship last year. Similarly, 6,240 situationship-related Google searches have been made in Liverpool since May 2023.
Advertiser Disclosure: When you use WhichBingo, there are never any hidden fees or costs. To help fund our work we may earn a referral commission if you create an account via our site. This commission never impacts the impartiality of our reviews and ratings.
*18+ New members only. Must sign up via this offer link. Min £10 cash deposit and wager on any Slot Game only within 7 days of sign-up. Must accept free spins within 7 days of pop-up notification, valid for 7 days from acceptance on Eye of Horus. 10p coin size per free spin, max lines. Click here for full Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org #AD
Required Significant Terms:* New members only, must opt in. Min £10 deposit & wager within 30 days from registration. Advertised ticket value based on £1 tickets. Game availability & restrictions apply. 18+ GambleAware.org #AD
New members only, must opt in. Not valid with other Welcome Offer(s). Min £10 deposit & £10 wager on slots game(s). 30-day expiry from deposit. Free Spins on Eye Of Horus: Legacy Of Gold. 1p coin size, 10 lines. Play Responsibly. 18+ #AD
New members only, must opt in. Not valid with other Welcome Offer(s). Min £10 deposit & £10 wager on slots game(s). 30 day expiry from deposit. Free Spins: on MONOPOLY Cash Is King. 1p coin size, 10 lines. Play Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+#AD
New members only, must opt in. Not valid with other Welcome Offer(s). Min £10 deposit & £10 wager on slots game(s). 30 day expiry from deposit. Free Spins: on Big Bass Splash. 1p coin size, 10 lines. Play Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+
Which towns and cities just miss out?
Ranking sixth overall, and just missing out on a spot among Britain’s five-most situationship-inclined locations, we have the south west city of Bristol, which scores 5.74 on our index. Following, in seventh, Newcastle scores 5.75, while the UK’s second-most populated city Birmingham (5.44) places eighth – largely due to having the third-highest rate of social media posts by singles in situationships.
Meanwhile, Lincoln and Glasgow complete our list of the ten UK situationship hotspots, with respective index scores of 5.9 and 4.79, with Lincoln incidentally also just sneaking into the list of the top ten towns and cities by the percentage of singles.
So, there we have it; the UK’s top situationship hotspots, based on the number of local singles, social media data, and Google searches. Of course, as we enter situationship season, this could all change! In the meantime, explore more from our team of lifestyle experts over on the Which Bingo blog – or if you’re feeling luckier than your love life, why not check out our picks of the best new bingo sites.
Methodology
This ranking shows the UK’s situationship hotspots. To create this, WhichBingo.co.uk considered three equally weighted metrics.
These included:
Relationship Status of the City
The percentage of single people living in the city above the age of 18.
Situationship Based Social Media Posts
The number of social media posts discussing situationships over the last 12 months in that location (weighted based on population figures over 18 years old).
Data collected though Brandwatch.
Google Searches for Situationships
The number of Google searches for ‘situationship’ keywords in that location.
Searches for over 500 keywords were analysed over the last 12 months, such as: “how to end a situationship”, “how to get over a situationship”, “am I in a situationship”, “situationship advice” and many more (weighted based on population figures over 18 years old).
To create the index, the above metrics were considered, all of which were weighted equally and adjusted for populations. The final score was then given out of 10.
What do a TikTok star, Love Island winner, comedian, and a rapper who has performed at the Royal Albert Hall – all have in common? Well, in 2025/26 they all brought the public spotlight to our favourite pastime; bingo! So we are giving you the chance to recognise their efforts by voting for the UK’s Best Bingo Personality in the WhichBingo Awards Pre Show (voting opens on April 7). Here are…
Just like a long Bank Holiday weekend or a basket of Easter eggs, all good things must come to an end. Speaking of which, voting for the WhichBingo Awards 2026 (main categories) closes Friday 3rd April. If you haven’t had your say yet, now’s the time. Your vote matters. These awards only mean something because players like you cast them. And while the main awards voting ends soon, you will have…
Bingo callers are the voices, the energy, and the personalities that keep players coming back night after night. They are the ones who brings bingo to life and make it what it is. And from April 7 it’s your chance to vote for the UK’s Best Bingo Caller in the WhichBingo Awards Pre-Show. Here are the nominees for Best Bingo Caller: 2026 (in no particular order): The nominees for Best Bingo…
We’re excited to invite you all along to enjoy a free night of laughter and bingo. WhichBingo is the brand new sponsor of the Dabbers Bingo Comedy Caller Contest 2026 — the competition that’s been making bingo the most fun night out in London for the past six years. Come and Watch For Free You won’t want to miss these nights of laughs and dabs. And thanks to WhichBingo‘s sponsorship,…
You see it: Los Vegas? You read it again. Los? Not Las? Nope, it’s not a typo. Los Vegas is a new casino site in the UK and as they say on their website; ‘Wrong Spelling, Right Attitude’. And at WhichBingo we’re big fans of a site that can have a bit of fun. So Why “Los”? First, we need to give you a quick Spanish and history lesson. In…
If you’re going to do poker in London, you may as well do it properly. That’s exactly what father-and-son entrepreneurs Jimmy and Simon Thomas have done at the Hippodrome Casino, managing to transform one of the capital’s most iconic buildings into a poker destination that rivals anything in the UK. Right in the heart of Leicester Square, this isn’t a single table hidden behind rows of slot machines. It’s a beautifully restored,…
It’s time to decide the best slot games of 2026. The race for the WhichBingo Awards 2026 is officially on, and the Best Slot Game category is more competitive than ever. Now in its fourth year, this award is a true player favourite. The question is; will 2026’s best slot be a new release, a cult classic, or a franchise darling? Here are the nominees for Best Slot Game 2026…
Grab your dabbers bingo fans, the WhichBingo Awards 2026 are officially on the horizon. Now in our 13th year, the WhichBingo Awards are all about recognising the sites, games, venues, and people that players love. Winners are chosen through a mix of player votes, editorial insight, and expert opinion. From the bingo sites you keep coming back to, to the chat teams that make every session more fun, this is your chance to have your…
It’s time to decide the best slot games of 2026. The race for the WhichBingo Awards 2026 is officially on, and the Best Slot Game category is more competitive than ever. Now in its fourth year, this award is a true player favourite. The question is; will 2026’s best slot be a new release, a cult classic, or a franchise darling? Here are the nominees for Best Slot Game 2026…
Grab your dabbers bingo fans, the WhichBingo Awards 2026 are officially on the horizon. Now in our 13th year, the WhichBingo Awards are all about recognising the sites, games, venues, and people that players love. Winners are chosen through a mix of player votes, editorial insight, and expert opinion. From the bingo sites you keep coming back to, to the chat teams that make every session more fun, this is your chance to have your…
Your chances of walking away with real cash from a casino bonus are set to improve significantly. New UK regulations are putting an end to unfairly high wagering requirements. From 19th January all casino sites must adhere to a 10x maximum wagering cap on bonus offers, following a landmark ruling by the Gambling Commission. Editor’s Note: Though your ability to convert bonus into real cash is improving, gambling is still…
Every December, game studios unwrap their festive releases. Cue games with Santa and jingling soundtracks. We’ve tested the newest and most popular Christmas slot games, checked the small print, and brought together the ones that genuinely stand out. In true WhichBingo style, here’s your honest guide to the best Christmas slot games 2025. What they do well, who they suit, and where to play them safely. The 6 Best Christmas Slot…
Your chances of walking away with real cash from a casino bonus are set to improve significantly. New UK regulations are putting an end to unfairly high wagering requirements. From 19th January all casino sites must adhere to a 10x maximum wagering cap on bonus offers, following a landmark ruling by the Gambling Commission. Editor’s Note: Though your ability to convert bonus into real cash is improving, gambling is still…
Kenny Rogers was right. “If you’re gonna play the game, you gotta learn to play it right”. It’s Safer Gambling Week so we’re taking you back to school to teach you how your brain tricks you when you gamble – and what you can do to play smarter (and safer). 3. The Gambler’s fallacy Perhaps one of the best known terms in gambling. The gambler’s fallacy is the mistaken belief…
Anyone accessing gambling sites or visiting gambling venues this week will see traditional marketing taken down in favour of Safer Gambling posters, but does anyone actually notice – and more importantly does anyone actually care? conversations we are often reluctant to have From every angle I believe strongly that Safer Gambling Week is a vitally important campaign designed to raise awareness of safer gambling and to open up conversations that…
It may be Halloween but we’re officially saying goodbye to some financial frights in the world of gambling. A significant set of new measures are set to boost the clarity, and ease of use for gambling deposit limits. And there is proven evidence that changes like this will help. The core goal of these improvements is to increase consumer empowerment. Here is what these changes mean for your experience, starting…
What do a TikTok star, Love Island winner, comedian, and a rapper who has performed at the Royal Albert Hall – all have in common? Well, in 2025/26 they all brought the public spotlight to our favourite pastime; bingo! So we are giving you the chance to recognise their efforts by voting for the UK’s Best Bingo Personality in the WhichBingo Awards Pre Show (voting opens on April 7). Here are…
We sat down with Gaynor Faye — actress, producer and daughter of the legendary Kay Mellor — to talk about her new film Hot Flash, what the menopause really feels like from a woman living it, and why she is determined to put the ladder down for the next generation of women in TV. My Research Was Really the Lived Experience Preparing for her latest project was not exactly a…
We sat down with Ali Bastian — actress, performing arts school founder and Hollyoaks icon — to talk about beating cancer, building something new in West Cork, and why she thinks TV owes women so much more than a “Sexiest Female” trophy. “Your Body and Your Mind Have to Believe It” It has been a year since Ali Bastian finished radiotherapy, bringing to a close a long and gruelling breast…
Countdown To The Cringe Red carpets and awards ceremonies are supposed to be flawless, but real life tells a very different story. From trips and falls to unexpected underwear exposure, these are the most awkward awards show moments debated in WBHQ, ranked in full cringe style. With the WhichBingo Awards 2026 fast approaching, let’s down the unpredictability that makes live events unforgettable. #5: The One With “I’mma Let You Finish” What: Possibly…
by
Esther Rubin
3min
Updated October 15, 2024
Anita Heffernan
Author & Former Editor
The Bingo Queen is a fun name earned from colleagues through Anita Heffernan's exceptional knowledge and commitment to the online bingo world. With over 20 years of experience as both a player and an expert in the industry, Anita has built a reputation as a trusted authority on all things bingo.
3min 
Reader comments