New research reveals the West Midlands is the most connected county in the UK, closely followed by Essex and Hampshire.
The analysis ranked each county on a range of factors that contribute to a place’s connectivity, including public transport links, airports, population, broadband speeds, and public Wi-Fi availability.
The West Midlands takes the top spot thanks to its host of major train stations and international airports. With over 95% of homes in the area having access to gigabit broadband, and a local population of 2.9 million – second only to London – the West Midlands offers residents local, global, and digital connectivity.
[Interactive map illustrating the UK’s most connected counties available here for embedding or image download]
Essex came second due to its great public transport connectivity and convenient location, according to the research, which was conducted by ultrafast broadband provider, Trooli. Home to London Southend Airport and an impressive 74 train stations, it’s the perfect spot for commuters and travelers.
Hampshire is third. Situated 64 miles from London, it is accessible via a train in under two hours. The county also benefits from reliable internet, with 84% of homes enjoying access to gigabit broadband, – a perk for those looking to live and work outside of big cities, without compromising on connection.
Andy Conibere, CEO of Trooli, comments, “We’re on a mission to make the UK more digitally inclusive by connecting families and businesses with access to ultrafast internet. Of course, this is just part of the puzzle, and connectivity is more than just technology. It’s about making people’s lives easier – whether that’s hopping on a train to London, jetting off with friends to Spain, or catching up with relatives on the other side of the world via video call. It’s how we navigate community, and feel included and up-to-date in this fast-paced world.
“Seeing places like Hampshire and West Sussex securing their place in the top ten is great, and shows that it’s not just the counties with the UK’s biggest cities that have fantastic opportunities for businesses, individuals, and families alike.”
Top 10 Most Connected Counties in the UK:
- West Midlands
- Essex
- Hampshire
- Greater Manchester
- West Sussex
- Hertfordshire
- Merseyside
- West Yorkshire
- Bedfordshire
- Surrey
How does your county stack up? Check out the interactive map here.
Methodology:
Trooli analysed data on population size, public transport and Wi-Fi, number of gigabit capable premises, and distance to the nearest airports and to London. The data was taken from Every Last Station, Office of Rail and Road, Ofcom and ONS Explore Local Statistics. Each county was ranked for each of these factors and given a score. The highest scores determined the most connected counties. Data was gathered by ceremonial county where possible.
The analysis was conducted using data available on 16th September 2025.
