Over three-quarters (82%) of UK couples have reported that they are happy in their relationships—with some regions leading the way in redefining modern romance.
To explore what makes relationships work in 2025, wedding planning experts at Bridebook, the world’s number one wedding app, launched the Relationship Happiness Index to survey 1,000 Brits. The index explores everything from intimacy and emotional connection to the issues that put our relationships under pressure.
To understand what makes a relationship work, we asked people to rate their happiness score out of 10. We converted the scores into percentages and averaged them across regions to spot what’s working—and where.
With 88% of couples in one city saying they’re happier than ever, what’s their secret?
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It turns out northerners really do live up to their warm and friendly reputation, with the happiest couples in the UK all found in northern cities.
Leeds tops the UK cities with an 88% happiness score. Over half of Leeds couples (65%) bond through physical affection and cuddles, while 36% swear by regular check-ins, and 38% spend quality time together without digital distractions. Interestingly, Leeds also has the highest rate of love letter exchanges (5%), showing that some couples are still keeping this longstanding tradition alive.
But it’s not all smooth sailing in this northern city. When it comes to arguments, bad habits (45%), housework (40%), and finances (28%) top the list.
Newcastle couples ranked second, scoring 85%, connecting through cuddles (61%), milestone celebrations (42%), and honest chats (38%). Couples in Newcastle are also swapping candlelit dinners for cardio, with one in 10 couples saying working out is their go-to way to connect – the highest in the UK. On the other hand, communication and money are the top sources of tension for couples in Newcastle, with nearly a third (30%) admitting these are regular issues. However, housework doesn’t appear to stir much drama – Newcastle has the lowest percentage of couples arguing over chores, at 18%.
Sheffield couples aren’t far behind at 84%. Their key bonding activities include physical affection (58%), regular check-ins (44%), and time without distractions (37%); however, happiness doesn’t always mean perfection. With Google Searches for ‘can a sexless relationship be a happy one’ increasing by 800% in the past 12 months, it’s clear that couples are questioning traditional definitions of intimacy. And in Sheffield, it seems the bedroom is still an issue — 21% of couples say their sex life is a major source of conflict, the second highest of all UK cities.
Out of all the cities in the UK, couples in Glasgow appear to face the most challenges that affect their happiness, scoring the lowest relationship happiness score, at 77%. Despite ranking the highest in the study for pillow talk (22%) and morning connection (5%) as bonding exercises, their most common arguments of bad habits (47%), housework (39%) and lack of communication (30%) are of a high percentage. Arguing about sex life is also the fourth highest in the study, at 19%. With fewer bonding habits being practised regularly in comparison to other cities, this is likely causing less relationship satisfaction in Glasgow.
Hamish Shephard, Founder of Bridebook, comments:
“Modern love is evolving, and with it, our understanding of what it means to be in a relationship. More and more, couples are questioning traditional definitions of intimacy – and even what it means to be a couple. Northern couples, in particular, are leading the way with a growing focus on physical affection and open communication – suggesting that these bonding habits are the key to a successful relationship.”
