Inspired.
Love in Lockdown: 6 of the UK’s Top Lockdown Valentine's Day Searches Revealed
03/02/21
The UK’s first Valentine’s Day in lockdown is fast approaching - and around the country, couples are looking for ways to make the most romantic day of the year an occasion to celebrate despite the usual Valentine’s dates being off the menu.
Here at Inspired Agency, we’ve analysed some of the top trending Google searches in the UK compared to the previous Valentine’s Day* to find out how people are planning on making Valentine’s Day 2021 a special occasion for their significant other in lockdown.
The 6 Most Common Valentine’s Day Lockdown Searches
Here are the most common Valentine’s Day lockdown searches with the most recent monthly search volume.*
- 'Valentine’s Crafts' (17,500)
- 'Valentine’s Day Decor' (10,270)
- 'Valentine’s Day Poems' (7,530)
- 'Valentine’s Day E-cards' (1,880)
- 'Valentine’s Day Memes' (1,870)
- 'Valentine’s Day Cupcake Ideas' (1,610)
Mark Patterson, our Managing Director, commented: “Unfortunately many couples across the UK will be unable to see each other this Valentine’s due to the lockdown, but it’s clear people are nonetheless searching for ways to make the holiday an occasion to celebrate.”
Mark continued; “The search data we’ve gathered shows couples are looking into everything from at-home arts and crafts activities to sending each other E-cards and Valentine’s poems. Regardless, this will be a Valentine’s Day we’ll all be sure to remember.”
Read on for our breakdown of some of the most popular Valentine’s related search queries this year.
1. Valentine’s Crafts
With the usual date nights out of the bargain, it’s time to get crafty...
Those in Wales are searching the most for Valentine’s-themed arts and crafts** - though the option is popular across the UK, with total searches for 'Valentine’s Crafts' increasing from 11,260 to 17,500 year-on-year in a 155% increase. Brixton-based Anya and Bex run Brixton Life Drawing and are providing a fun way for couples to bond even if they can’t be together in person; “We’re running a Valentine’s Day life drawing event for couples that have been separated due to the pandemic - we’ll be delivering wine and charcuterie boards to front doors across the UK for them to enjoy!”
Regardless of whether you’re with your S.O. this Valentine’s, why not plan in some crafts to give as a Valentine’s gift?
As they say, all the best gifts come from the heart.
2. Valentine's Day Decor
With going out to your favourite romantic spot not an option this year, couples are looking to bring the romance back home.
With the ambience of your favourite restaurant off the cards, it looks like UK couples are looking to recreate the feeling of a night out, in. Search volume across the UK increased from 5,360 in the run-up to last Valentine’s day to 10,270 this year, marking a 192% increase year-on-year. This is especially the case in England, where Google Trends data shows couples are going crazy over decorating for February 14th.
From red fairy lights and candles to heart balloons and love in lockdown banners, couples want to create that special Valentine’s feeling from the comfort of home. Charlie from Sussex, who runs the blog Modish Male, says; “COVID has basically ruined any ideas of going out, so I’m bringing it all home! I’ve bought the decorate-at-home Biscuiteers Valentine’s box and a paint-and-decorate your own heart plate (cringe I know, but I love it). “For decoration, I have a lot of balloons (which I have to blow up myself with helium as all the shops are shut!) rose petals, lights, candles etc. to make our home as Valentine's Day themed as I can!”
Out out, in in.
3. Valentine’s Day Poems
Roses are red, violets are thorny...
Everyone needs a laugh in the current times - and Wales is jumping on the idea of sending cheeky Valentines poems this year, although the idea looks to be proving popular with couples nationwide as the 'cheeky Valentine’s Day poems' appeared as one of the top Valentine’s-related queries on Google Trends in the UK. Searches for 'Valentine’s Poems' increased from 6,800 to 7,530 year-on-year, marking a 111% increase - however, with the term’s current trending status, we would expect this increase to become even more evident as we approach Valentine’s Day.
Sending a romantic and/or naughty Valentine’s poem in the form of a cake topping, a card or an embroidered cushion could be the ideal way to give your partner a laugh amongst all the doom and gloom of lockdown. There are plenty of these already out there on the internet for you to choose from - or if you fancy yourself a poet, you could even try your hand at writing your own.
4. Valentine’s Day E-cards
Love from a long distance...
For couples living in different regions of the UK or for those who are doing long-distance from abroad, the current social distancing regulations mean that they will be unable to see each other in person on Valentine’s Day.
With this in mind, couples are finding other ways to show their loved ones some affection - as seen through the trending searches for 'Valentine’s Day E-Card', which has increased from 1,330 searches the previous run-up to Valentine’s Day to 1,880 this time around in a 141% increase. This is seeing the most popularity by far in Scotland, likely due to the country’s stricter lockdown measures resulting in more couples being unable to see each other.
It’s not just Scottish couples who are finding ways to send love from a distance, however. Anna Reay, a professional singer from Newcastle, is receiving requests from those currently abroad to surprise their significant others by singing outside their homes and workplaces in a socially distanced manner: 'I’m being ‘sent’ by someone in Spain to surprise his girlfriend here in the UK by singing her favourite song to her in front of her shop. They’ve been apart all year.'
🎵 Near, far, wherever you are... 🎵
5. Valentine’s Day Memes
Image credit: Inspired Agency
I am once again asking for you to be my Valentine.
Valentine’s Day memes are popular throughout the UK - couples across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are turning to this tried-and-true method of wooing their partners, with the term trending for UK Valentine’s Day-related queries and searches seeing a 105% increase year-on-year from 1,780 searches to 1,870. Whether soppy or daring, this is a great way of having a little fun regardless of whether you’re self-isolating together or separated by the lockdown measures.
6. Valentine’s Day Cupcake Ideas
Move over banana bread - here come the cupcakes!
Judging by the Google Trends results for 'Valentine’s Cupcake Ideas', this seems to be a very English interest, with all significant search volume for Valentine’s-themed cupcakes coming from English couples.
Searches for 'Valentine’s Day Cupcake Ideas' have increased from 600 last Valentine’s to 1,610 this time around - marking a 268% increase in searches.
From red velvet cakes to heart-topped vanilla icing and even cakes topped with a love note, the internet is bursting with ideas for foodies who can’t go out for dessert this Valentine’s Day. You could even turn it into another Valentine’s themed activity and have your significant other join in the baking session. Try creating different topping designs for each other - who said you needed to go out to spend quality time together?
*Search data taken from Google Ads Keyword Planner using the most recent data currently available, comparing December 2019 to December 2020.
**Location-specific data is for the past 30 days at the time of writing and was found using Google Trends.
