45% of Londoners prefer to keep their birthday low-key
On average, there are over 187,000 birthdays every single day in the UK1, but how are birthday celebrations changing and what do Brits expect on their big day?
New research2 from greetings card marketplace, thortful, has lifted the lid on birthday bashes for Brits, pinpointing new trends such as solo celebrating, as well as a mixed bag of feelings towards turning a year older and why surprise parties are the bottom of the list compared to a birthday card being a sufficient present.
The city, age and gender split also reveals the preferences from different demographics across the UK, and the results are surprising!
Most Londoners (45%) prefer to celebrate low-key with family, as well as casual activities such as an evening meal (29%) or having lunch (15%). 6% of Brits push the boat out and have week-long celebrations.
Interestingly, 10% now prefer a solo celebration, and 6% are even trying the new half birthday trend of celebrating six months before the actual date. Just 5% want to have a party and 5% don’t enjoy celebrating a birthday at all.
See the full list below:
How people the Welsh like to celebrate their birthdays
Percentage
I celebrate low-key with family 45%
Evening meal out 29%
Lunch out 15%
Shopping day 15%
Day trip 13%
Pub night out 12%
I’ve started celebrating birthdays on my own 10%
I make my birthday celebrations last up to a week 9%
Cinema/theatre 8%
Museum/art gallery 7%
I went away/will go away – either a staycation in the UK, or abroad 6%
I celebrate a half birthday (6 months before my birthday) 6%
I don’t celebrate my birthday 5%
A dedicated birthday event/party 5%
Other (please specify) 2%
What people now expect for their birthdays?
In terms of a male and female split, a third of women (33%) expect family to buy them a gift each year, compared to 29% men.
87% of women expect cards from family and friends each year, compared to 60% of men, whilst 31% of men don’t expect anything for their birthdays, compared to 23% of women.
59% of 25-34 year-olds expect gifts on their birthday, more than any other age range, whereas only 29% of 65+ expect a gift. 12% of 35-44 year-olds expect at least £10 spent on them and 40% of 55-64 year-olds don’t expect anything at all on their birthday.
Londoners are still big on the traditional card scene with 44% of people still expecting a card from family and 34% of people expecting a card from friends. 8% of respondents expect family and friends to celebrate, with at least £10 on presents, whereas 8% of people are happy to keep gifting to key milestones, such as 18th, 21st, 40th and 50th.
