The Most Popular Newspaper in the UK, Ranked

Choose the newspaper you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 1, 2024 06:45
In a bustling cafe corner, every table has a different newspaper spread out, each telling the day's stories in its unique voice. This variety is essential as it catoms to diverse reader preferences, shaping public opinion and cultural discourse. Having a clear understanding of which newspapers are favored can guide new readers toward a source that resonates with their interests and values. By participating in ranking the most popular newspapers, users contribute to a broader understanding of media influence and accessibility. This live ranking not only reflects real-time public opinion but also encourages active engagement from the community, ensuring that the most resonant voices are recognized and celebrated.

What Is the Most Popular Newspaper in the UK?

  1. 1
    55
    votes
    The Sun
    Matúš Motlo · CC BY-SA 4.0
    The Sun is the highest-circulating daily newspaper in the UK, with a daily circulation of over 1.2 million copies. It is known for its sensationalist headlines and coverage of celebrity news and gossip.
    The Sun is a star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, constantly undergoing nuclear fusion, primarily converting hydrogen into helium. The Sun's immense gravity and heat make it the most dominant celestial body in our solar system.
    • Size: Diameter of about 1.39 million kilometers
    • Mass: About 333,000 times the mass of Earth
    • Composition: Consists primarily of hydrogen and helium
    • Surface Temperature: Around 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,932 degrees Fahrenheit)
    • Core Temperature: Approximately 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit)
    The Sun in other rankings
  2. 2
    32
    votes
    The Daily Mail is the second-highest circulating daily newspaper in the UK, with a daily circulation of over 1.1 million copies. It is known for its conservative editorial stance and coverage of news, politics, and celebrity gossip.
    The Daily Mail is a popular daily tabloid newspaper in the United Kingdom. It is known for its mix of news, entertainment, and gossip, covering a wide range of topics including politics, celebrities, and sports. The newspaper has a conservative editorial stance and is often criticized for its sensationalist style of reporting.
    • Type: Newspaper
    • Format: Tabloid
    • Language: English
    • First published: 4 May 1896
    • Headquarters: London, England
  3. 3
    19
    votes
    The Daily Telegraph
    Daily Telegraph · Public domain

    The Daily Telegraph

    Arthur Edward Pearce
    The Daily Telegraph is a conservative-leaning daily newspaper with a daily circulation of over 300,000 copies. It is known for its coverage of news, politics, and business.
    The Daily Telegraph is a widely popular Australian newspaper known for its comprehensive coverage of news, current affairs, politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. It caters to a broad readership and has a strong online presence through its website and mobile applications.
    • Ownership: News Corp Australia
    • Format: Tabloid
    • Language: English
    • Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
    • Frequency: Daily
    The Daily Telegraph in other rankings
  4. 4
    24
    votes
    The Times
    London Times · Public domain

    The Times

    John Walter
    The Times is a daily newspaper with a daily circulation of over 400,000 copies. It is known for its coverage of news, politics, and culture, as well as its editorial independence and reputation for quality journalism.
    The Times is a highly popular daily newspaper in the United Kingdom, known for its comprehensive coverage of national and international news, politics, business, and culture. It offers in-depth reporting, analysis, and commentary, making it a trusted source of news for millions of readers.
    • Format: Broadsheet
    • Frequency: Daily
    • Language: English
    • First Published: 1 January 1785
    • Headquarters: London, England
    The Times in other rankings
  5. 5
    4
    votes
    The Daily Express is a conservative-leaning daily newspaper with a daily circulation of over 200,000 copies. It is known for its coverage of news, politics, and celebrity gossip.
  6. 6
    11
    votes
    The Guardian
    Bryantbob · CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Guardian

    C. P. Scott
    The Guardian is a left-leaning daily newspaper with a daily circulation of over 140,000 copies. It is known for its coverage of news, politics, and culture, as well as its progressive editorial stance.
    The Guardian is a popular daily newspaper in the UK known for its liberal and progressive stance on politics, social issues, and environmental concerns. It has a reputation for investigative journalism, in-depth analysis, and editorial independence.
    • Format: Broadsheet
    • Language: English
    • Headquarters: London, UK
    • First Published: 5. May 1821
    • Circulation: 150,000+ (print)
    The Guardian in other rankings
  7. 7
    10
    votes

    The Independent

    Andreas Whittam Smith
    The Independent is a liberal-leaning daily newspaper with a daily circulation of over 40,000 copies. It is known for its coverage of news, politics, and culture, as well as its editorial independence and reputation for quality journalism.
    The Independent is a daily newspaper in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1986 and is known for its independent and progressive editorial stance. Initially published as a broadsheet, it switched to a compact format in 2003 and became an online-only publication in 2016. Despite ceasing print operations, it continues to be one of the leading news sources in the UK.
    • Format: Broadsheet (1986-2003), Compact (2003-2016), Online (2016-present)
    • Frequency: Daily
    • Political Stance: Independent, progressive
    • Established: 1986
    • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
    The Independent in other rankings
  8. 8
    9
    votes
    Financial Times
    Financial Times · Public domain
    The Financial Times is a daily newspaper focused on business and finance, with a daily circulation of over 100,000 copies. It is known for its coverage of global business news and analysis, as well as its reputation for quality journalism.
    The Financial Times (FT) is a leading daily newspaper in the United Kingdom. It is known for its in-depth coverage of financial news, business, and economic topics. The newspaper focuses on providing authoritative analysis, market insights, and commentary on global finance and commerce.
    • Type: Daily newspaper
    • Publisher: Nikkei Inc.
    • Founded: 1888
    • Language: English
    • Circulation: Over 700,000 copies per day
    Financial Times in other rankings
  9. 9
    9
    votes

    The i

    ESI Media
    The i is a daily newspaper with a daily circulation of over 180,000 copies. It is known for its concise, accessible format and coverage of news, politics, and culture.
    The i is a popular daily newspaper in the UK. It was first published in 2010 and is known for its concise and accessible format. The newspaper covers a wide range of news topics, including politics, current affairs, business, sports, and entertainment. It is recognized for its concise writing style and user-friendly design, making it a popular choice for readers seeking a quick and easily digestible news source.
    • Publication frequency: Daily
    • Format: Print and online
    • Language: English
    • Headquarters: London, UK
    • Circulation: Approximately 170,000 (2019)
  10. 10
    6
    votes
    Metro is a free daily newspaper distributed in major cities across the UK, with a daily circulation of over 1 million copies. It is known for its concise format and coverage of news, entertainment, and lifestyle.
    Metro is a well-known supermarket chain in Canada, offering a wide range of groceries and household products. It provides a convenient and reliable shopping experience to millions of customers across the country.
    • Founded: 1947
    • Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • Number of Stores: Over 365
    • Store Formats: Metro, Super C, Food Basics
    • Product Range: Groceries, fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery items, deli products, dairy, frozen foods, household goods, and more

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Discussion

Ranking factors for popular newspaper

  1. Circulation
    The total number of copies of the newspaper distributed daily or weekly is essential in determining its popularity. Higher circulation means that the newspaper reaches more readers, making it more popular.
  2. Readership
    This refers to the number of people who read the newspaper or access its digital content. A higher readership demonstrates a higher level of attraction to the content and wider reach, contributing to its popularity.
  3. Reputation and Trust
    A newspaper's reputation for quality journalism, accuracy, and impartiality plays a significant role in its popularity. The more trusted a publication is, the more likely readers are to choose it over its competitors.
  4. Online presence
    In today's digital age, a newspaper's online presence plays a significant role in determining its popularity. The number of website visitors, social media followers, and engagement levels are important indicators of a newspaper's online popularity.
  5. Advertising revenue
    The amount of advertising revenue a newspaper can generate is an indirect indication of its popularity. The more popular a newspaper, the more advertisers are willing to spend on placing ads within its pages or on its website.
  6. Awards and recognition
    The number of industry awards a newspaper has received can serve as a measure of its popularity and the perceived quality of its content.
  7. Content variety and depth
    A newspaper's ability to offer a wide range of content across different topics not only attracts different reader segments but also indicates the depth of its journalism.
  8. Brand loyalty
    The level of loyalty readers have for a particular newspaper is a key factor in determining its popularity. Loyal readers are more likely to recommend the newspaper to others, increasing its reach and prominence.
  9. Geographic reach
    The area covered by a newspaper indicates its influence on a regional or national level, contributing to its popularity.
  10. Demographics
    A newspaper's popularity can also be influenced by its ability to target and attract certain demographic groups, such as age, gender, income, and occupation.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular newspaper in the UK. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or newspaper is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2175 views
  • 178 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each newspaper once every 24 hours. The rank of each newspaper is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular newspaper in the uk

The UK is home to a plethora of newspapers, each with its unique style and audience. From national daily newspapers to local publications, the UK newspaper industry is diverse and competitive. For many years, the battle for the most popular newspaper has been fought between The Sun and The Daily Mail. Both newspapers have a long history of providing news, opinions, and entertainment to their readers. However, in recent years, The Guardian has also gained popularity with its liberal leaning and investigative journalism. Other notable newspapers in the UK include The Times, The Telegraph, and The Independent. With so many options available, it's no wonder that the UK newspaper market is one of the most competitive in the world.

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