If you run a UK SME, you’ve probably heard that local business listings (aka “citations”) can help you show up in local search. That’s still true in 2025 — but only if you focus on reputable platforms and keep your details consistent.
This guide gives you 70 UK-relevant local business listings sites, plus a simple process to prioritise them, optimise them, and track what they actually deliver.
What are local business listings and why do UK businesses still need them in 2025?
Local business listings are online profiles that mention your business name, address, phone number (NAP) and often include your website, hours, categories, services, photos, and reviews.
How local citations support local SEO and trust
Search engines and customers both use consistent business information across the web as a trust signal. Done properly, local business listings help confirm your business is real, reachable, and relevant in a given area.
What “NAP consistency” means (and how inconsistent business information hurts visibility)
NAP consistency means your business name, address formatting (including postcode style), and phone number match everywhere.
Which businesses benefit most from directory listings in the UK?
Most UK businesses benefit, but priority varies:
Trades & home services: review/trade platforms can generate leads faster than generic directories.
Hospitality: discovery + booking platforms can outperform traditional directories.
Professional services: B2B and association directories often bring higher-intent enquiries.
Micro-CTA
Let’s explore the list — but first, use the tiering below so you don’t waste time on low-impact submissions.
How this UK list is organised
| Tier | What it means | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Core “must-have” listings & major discovery platforms | Do these first (Week 1–2) |
| Tier 2 | Strong UK staples that appear often in citation profiles | Add next (Week 2–3) |
| Tier 3 | Review-led & niche platforms | Choose based on your industry (Week 3–4) |
| Tier 4 | Nice-to-have directories | Add only if relevant / you have capacity |
The 70 best local business listings sites in the UK
Tier 1 and Tier 2: Core + UK staples (1–35)
| # | Site | Link | Typical value | Cost type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Business Profile | business.google.com | Local Pack visibility & Maps | Free |
| 2 | Bing Places | bingplaces.com | Bing/Windows/Edge discovery | Free |
| 3 | Apple Business Connect (Apple Maps) | businessconnect.apple.com | Apple Maps/iOS discovery | Free |
| 4 | Facebook Page | facebook.com | Local discovery + social proof | Free |
| 5 | Yelp (UK) | yelp.co.uk | Reviews + local discovery | Freemium |
| 6 | Yell | yell.com | Major UK directory for local services | Freemium |
| 7 | Thomson Local | thomsonlocal.com | UK directory visibility | Freemium |
| 8 | Scoot | scoot.co.uk | UK directory visibility | Freemium |
| 9 | 118 Information | 118information.co.uk | UK listings/people-business data | Free/Freemium |
| 10 | BT Phone Book | thephonebook.bt.com | Legacy directory data | Free/Freemium |
| 11 | FreeIndex | freeindex.co.uk | UK SME directory | Freemium |
| 12 | 192.com | 192.com | Business/people directory | Freemium |
| 13 | Central Index | centralindex.com | UK business directory | Freemium |
| 14 | Touch Local | touchlocal.com | UK directory | Freemium |
| 15 | My Local Services | mylocalservices.co.uk | UK directory for local services | Freemium |
| 16 | MisterWhat | misterwhat.co.uk | UK directory | Freemium |
| 17 | Cylex UK | cylex-uk.co.uk | Directory + reviews | Freemium |
| 18 | Hotfrog UK | hotfrog.co.uk | Directory + category discovery | Freemium |
| 19 | Foursquare | foursquare.com | Local discovery/data ecosystem | Free/Freemium |
| 20 | Infobel | infobel.com | Business directory | Freemium |
| 21 | Tipped | tipped.co.uk | UK business listings | Freemium |
| 22 | Bizify | bizify.co.uk | UK directory (free option) | Free/Freemium |
| 23 | TheBestOf | thebestof.co.uk | UK local reviews + “trusted” angle | Freemium |
| 24 | ThreeBestRated | threebestrated.co.uk | Curated “top 3” listings | Free |
| 25 | UK Small Business Directory | uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk | UK SME directory | Free/Freemium |
| 26 | Business Directory UK | business-directory-uk.co.uk | UK directory | Paid options |
| 27 | Approved Business (B2B) | approvedbusiness.co.uk | B2B leads for suppliers | Free/Freemium |
| 28 | UK Business List | ukbusinesslist.co.uk | UK directory + listing options | Free/Freemium |
| 29 | Local Pages | localpages.co.uk | Regional directory (SW & Wales focus) | Free/Freemium |
| 30 | Opendi UK | opendi.co.uk | Directory + reviews | Freemium |
| 31 | Tuugo UK | tuugo.co.uk | Directory + listings | Free/Freemium |
| 32 | Yalwa UK | yalwa.co.uk | Directory listings | Free/Freemium |
| 33 | OpenStreetMap | openstreetmap.org | Map data used across apps | Free |
| 34 | Yably | yably.co.uk | Reviews + directory discovery | Freemium |
| 35 | UK Business Directory | uk-business-directory.co.uk | General directory | Free/Freemium |
Tier 3 and Tier 4: Reviews-first, niche, trade, hospitality, and “nice-to-have” (36–70)
| # | Site | Link | Typical value | Cost type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | TripAdvisor | tripadvisor.co.uk | Hospitality + attractions discovery | Free/Freemium |
| 37 | Trustpilot | trustpilot.com | Reputation + brand trust | Freemium |
| 38 | Checkatrade | checkatrade.com | Trades leads + credibility | Paid |
| 39 | TrustATrader | trustatrader.com | Trades leads + reviews | Paid |
| 40 | Rated People | ratedpeople.com | Trades leads | Paid |
| 41 | MyBuilder | mybuilder.com | Trades leads | Paid |
| 42 | Which? Trusted Traders | trustedtraders.which.co.uk | Trust-focused directory | Paid |
| 43 | MyJobQuote | myjobquote.co.uk | Trades leads | Paid |
| 44 | Bark | bark.com | Leads marketplace | Paid |
| 45 | Houzz (UK) | houzz.co.uk | Home improvement discovery | Freemium |
| 46 | DesignMyNight | designmynight.com | Bars/restaurants discovery | Free/Freemium |
| 47 | OpenTable (UK) | opentable.co.uk | Restaurant bookings | Free/Freemium |
| 48 | TheFork (UK) | thefork.co.uk | Restaurant bookings | Free/Freemium |
| 49 | Just Eat | justeat.co.uk | Takeaway discovery | Paid/Commission |
| 50 | Deliveroo | deliveroo.co.uk | Takeaway discovery | Paid/Commission |
| 51 | Uber Eats | ubereats.com | Takeaway discovery | Paid/Commission |
| 52 | Treatwell | treatwell.co.uk | Beauty bookings | Paid/Commission |
| 53 | Fresha | fresha.com | Beauty/wellness bookings | Freemium |
| 54 | Booksy | booksy.com | Beauty bookings | Freemium/Paid |
| 55 | Yell Business (advertiser options) | business.yell.com | Enhanced placements | Paid |
| 56 | Applegate | applegate.co.uk | UK marketplace/directory | Freemium |
| 57 | Business Magnet | businessmagnet.co.uk | UK directory / citations staple | Freemium |
| 58 | Brownbook | brownbook.net | Global directory (UK coverage) | Free/Freemium |
| 59 | Cybo | cybo.com | Global directory (UK coverage) | Free/Freemium |
| 60 | Webwiki | webwiki.com | Directory-style site discovery | Free/Freemium |
| 61 | Kompass | kompass.com | B2B directory | Paid/Freemium |
| 62 | Europages (UK) | europages.co.uk | B2B directory | Freemium |
| 63 | Dun & Bradstreet | dnb.com | B2B presence + data | Paid/Freemium |
| 64 | Issuu | issuu.com | Local brochure/catalog visibility | Free/Freemium |
| 65 | Vivastreet (UK) | vivastreet.co.uk | Local classifieds discovery | Free/Freemium |
| 66 | 118 Business Directory | 118businessdirectory.co.uk | Additional UK directory coverage | Free/Freemium |
| 67 | Studio36 UK Directory | studio36digital.co.uk | Manually reviewed directory | Free/Freemium |
| 68 | Loc8NearMe | loc8nearme.com | Local discovery directory | Free/Freemium |
| 69 | Opendi City Pages (UK) | england.opendi.co.uk | City-level listing discovery | Free/Freemium |
| 70 | Reddit local recommendations | reddit.com | Not a directory, but community discovery | Free |
Note: Some platforms above are “directories,” some are “review-first,” and some are “lead marketplaces.” They all act as local discovery surfaces — but you should prioritise based on relevance and ROI.
How to optimise a local business listing (UK checklist)
The “perfect listing” fields: what to include every time
Here’s what you want to standardise across your local business listings so you look credible to both customers and search engines:
- Trading name (consistent everywhere), primary category, description, services, service areas, opening hours, website, photos/logo, and a local phone number (avoid swapping in tracking numbers as your primary NAP).
NAP consistency: a practical UK formatting guide
Postcodes, units, and phone numbers
Pick one address style (e.g., “Suite 4” vs “Unit 4”) and stick to it. Keep postcodes formatted consistently (e.g., “SW1A 1AA”). Use one primary phone number everywhere; if you use call tracking, keep directory NAP consistent and track elsewhere.
How to avoid duplicates and clean up old listings
A quick citation audit workflow
- Search your business name + postcode, and your phone number, and note duplicates.
- Claim/verify Tier 1–2 listings first (Google/Bing/Apple and the big UK directories).
- Fix duplicates before adding new listings (duplicates dilute trust and can misroute calls).
Are paid UK business directories worth it?
When paid listings make sense
Paid listings can be worth it when the platform already ranks for your service + town queries, has real consumer demand (calls/enquiries), has strong moderation (less spam), supports reviews/reputation signals, and fits your industry (trades/hospitality are usually the clearest wins).
Red flags to avoid (spam directory checklist)
- “Instant approval” with no moderation, irrelevant categories, scraped profiles you never created, and aggressive upsells.
How to track results from local business listings
UTM tracking that won’t break your NAP
Use UTM tags on the website URL field (where allowed) so GA4 can attribute referral traffic correctly. Don’t change your business name, address, or phone number formatting to “track” listings — consistency is the whole point.
Measuring leads
Track referral sessions (per directory), form submissions (per source), calls (using a method that doesn’t overwrite your primary NAP), and direction requests/clicks in your core map listings.
Here’s what you can do next: publish 10 Tier 1–2 listings perfectly, then expand into niche platforms that actually generate enquiries.
FAQs
Do local business listings help SEO in the UK?
Yes — reputable listings help reinforce legitimacy and local relevance, especially when your NAP is accurate and consistent.
How many citations does a UK business need?
There’s no magic number. Most businesses do best with strong coverage on core platforms, a solid set of UK staples, and a handful of niche sites that drive real enquiries.
How long does it take for directory listings to impact rankings?
Expect weeks, not days. Listings are crawled and consolidated over time, and the impact depends on competition and data consistency.
What if my business has multiple locations?
Create unique, verified listings per location (with distinct landing pages on your site) and keep formatting consistent across each location’s citations.
Social signals and real-world sentiment (Reddit, Facebook, X)
Below are typical themes people discuss when they talk about listings/citations (without quoting posts), plus embed-ready links + code you can use.
Reddit: what people typically say
Common themes: “Do the core platforms first.” “Avoid cheap bulk submissions.” “Clean duplicates before building more citations.”
Facebook: what people typically say
Common themes: fixing inconsistent NAP and duplicates, manual vs managed listing services, and what to prioritise for UK SMEs.
X (Twitter): what people typically say
Common themes: debate over how much citations matter vs other signals, agreement that consistency still matters, and emphasis on measuring outcomes (leads), not just “number of directories.”
Conclusion: a simple 30-day UK listing action plan
Week 1: lock down foundations
Claim/verify Google, Bing, and Apple. Standardise your NAP and categories everywhere.
Week 2: add the UK staples
Publish strong profiles on the main UK directories (Yell, Thomson Local, Scoot, 118, FreeIndex, etc.).
Week 3: choose 5–10 niche sites
Trades: Checkatrade / TrustATrader / Rated People / MyBuilder, etc.
Hospitality: TripAdvisor + booking/discovery platforms.
B2B: Approved Business / Kompass / Europages.
Week 4: clean duplicates + track ROI
Fix duplicates, correct old phone numbers/addresses, and track referral enquiries.
Author expertise note (for EEAT): This piece is written from an editorial local SEO workflow used in real listing audits — prioritising accuracy, reputation, and measurable lead outcomes over bulk submissions.
