From London’s legendary fashion scene to Zurich’s booming wellness culture, Europe is home to countless cities that radiate glamour.
London takes the crown as the most glamorous city.
To find out which cities top the list, Catrice Cosmetics dove into the data, analysing the number of shopping spots, spas, beauty salons and wellness businesses.
Which city reigns as Europe’s beauty capital?
The data reflects the actual number of establishments in each city and the total average annual search volume, the ranking is based on the number of establishments and search volume per 100,000 people to ensure a fair comparison across cities with different population sizes.
| Rank | City | Country | No. of beauty salons | No. of spa's | Yoga & pilates annual search volume* | No. of shopping locations | No. of fashion & beauty events | No. of Instagram hashtags |
| 1. | London | United Kingdom | 4.559 | 857 | 484.000 | 2.088 | 4.200 | 5.014.000 |
| 2. | Zurich | Switzerland | 549 | 160 | 13.200 | 158 | 280 | 45.834 |
| 3. | Paris | France | 1.863 | 985 | 42.480 | 2.022 | 1.124 | 2.565.500 |
| 4. | Venice | Italy | 33 | 18 | 1.560 | 536 | 46 | 26.946 |
| 5. | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 763 | 177 | 39.480 | 866 | 1.336 | 95.092 |
| 6. | Barelona | Spain | 677 | 608 | 45.360 | 775 | 1.157 | 183.959 |
| 7. | Lisbon | Portugal | 106 | 191 | 24.240 | 556 | 264 | 16.706 |
| 8. | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 222 | 117 | 16.320 | 328 | 186 | 33.432 |
| 9. | Dublin | Ireland | 262 | 95 | 61.800 | 246 | 228 | 95.793 |
| 10. | Milan | Italy | 1.044 | 211 | 17.400 | 839 | 260 | 321.701 |
London takes the lead
London leads as Europe’s most glamorous city, boasting 857 spas, 4,559 beauty salons, over 480,000 annual searches for yoga and Pilates studios, highlighting its deep-rooted wellness culture.
As a global fashion hub, it offers 2,000+ shopping destinations and hosts 4,200+ beauty and fashion events yearly, including the iconic London Fashion Week.
With over five million Instagram posts showcasing its style, London’s beauty and fashion influence is undeniable.
Following London, Zurich and Paris stand out as Europe’s top cities for beauty, with Zurich offering 549 salons, 160 spas and a strong wellness focus, while Paris impresses with 985 spas, 1,800 salons and over 1,100 annual beauty events that reinforce its global beauty leadership.
At the other end of the beauty index, cities like Istanbul and Stockholm rank lower due to fewer beauty destinations per capita.
Which UK cities set the standard for beauty?
Catrice also analysed UK cities to see how they stacked up against one another. The data reflects the actual number of establishments in each city and the total average annual search volume, the ranking is based on the number of establishments and search volume per 100,000 people to ensure a fair comparison across cities with different population sizes.
| Rank | City | No. of active beauty companies | No. of spa's | Yoga & Pilates annual search volume | No. of shopping locations | No. of beauty & fashion events | No. of Instagram hashtags |
| 1. | London | 14,433 | 857 | 484,800 | 2,088 | 4,200 | 5,014,000 |
| 2. | Manchester | 1,816 | 1,816 | 17,040 | 179 | 364 | 153,934 |
| 3. | Edinburgh | 538 | 538 | 16,320 | 328 | 186 | 33,423 |
| 4. | Glasgow | 1,435 | 1,435 | 16,080 | 205 | 237 | 88,033 |
| 5. | Leeds | 789 | 752 | 11,280 | 134 | 167 | 38,918 |
| 6. | Bristol | 752 | 40 | 23,280 | 122 | 86 | 51,495 |
| 7. | Birmingham | 1,478 | 1,478 | 25,920 | 151 | 466 | 78,000 |
| 8. | Cardiff | 650 | 650 | 4,080 | 85 | 53 | 10,982 |
| 9. | Liverpool | 1,083 | 1,083 | 11,640 | 137 | 129 | 128,929 |
| 10. | Reading | 273 | 273 | 4,560 | 30 | 10 | n/a* |
London, Manchester and Edinburgh best for beauty
With London leading the way as Europe’s most glamorous city, it’s no surprise that it also claims the top spot in the UK.
The capital boasts a thriving beauty industry, home to over 14,000 active beauty businesses a testament to the city’s deep-rooted culture of self-care, skincare and cosmetic expertise.
In London, access to beauty professionals is never out of reach, reinforcing its reputation as a dynamic centre for wellness, style and modern glamour.
Behind London, Manchester and Edinburgh rank as the UK's top cities for beauty, fashion and wellness.
Manchester boasts 459 beauty businesses per 100,000 people and 65 spas, while Edinburgh offers 538 beauty businesses and 328 shopping destinations, along with a vibrant fashion scene.
With its creative spark and unmatched expertise, London continues to lead the way as Europe's and the UK's beauty capital, setting trends that define the industry's future.
