As we head into spooky season, we want to see what it is we’re fearing as a nation, but not only that, what’s got so deeply under our skin that we need to search for it and seek out more information?

From clowns to clustered holes, spiders to social situations – our study reveals what really terrifies Britain in 2025.

According to five years of Google search trend data, Britons make nearly 900,000 phobia-related searches every month, or close to 30,000 a day. That’s a lot of late-night Googling for comfort!

But what are we actually afraid of… and why? Our analysis of national search volumes uncovers the UK’s top searched for fears, while psychotherapists explain what’s fuelling this quiet epidemic of anxiety.

Trypophobia (Fear of Small Holes) – 86,000 Monthly Searches

It might sound niche, but trypophobia tops the list by a landslide. It’s the fear of small clusters of holes – think honeycombs, seed pods, or aerated chocolate. Viral imagery on TikTok and pop culture references have turned this discomfort into the internet’s strangest collective cringe.

“They provide us with a sense of discomfort, often felt physically,” says Psychotherapist Josh Hubbins, who likens it to the body’s reaction to a thriller. “Even virtual exposure can trigger sensations similar to fear.”

While many searches are curiosity-driven, the continued popularity of trypophobia hints at how the internet shapes, and sometimes creates, our modern fears.

Coulrophobia (Fear of Clowns) – 78,400 Monthly Searches

A timeless terror fuelled by painted smiles and Stephen King. Searches for clown phobia spiked after the release of IT in 2017 and rise again every October.

Katie Shields, Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist, explains: “Clowns look human, but not quite. Heavy makeup hides their real expressions, replacing them with exaggerated smiles or frowns. When we can’t predict someone’s intentions, our bodies react with unease.”

Even in 2025, coulrophobia remains one of Britain’s most culturally reinforced fears – proof that the uncanny still unnerves us.

Trypanophobia (Fear of Needles) – 75,000 Monthly Searches

Interest in needle phobia skyrocketed during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, then dropped by around a third. Still, tens of thousands of Brits search for ways to overcome their fear each month.

Hubbins notes that “needle fear is one of the most common phobias I see”, often stemming from childhood trauma or vicarious learning through seeing someone else’s bad experience.

And while public health messaging helped many confront it, this fear remains a barrier for some – especially with renewed attention on booster campaigns.

Agoraphobia (Fear of Crowds or Open Spaces) – 61,100 Monthly Searches

Search interest in agoraphobia grew by 22% during lockdown, reflecting the unease of being trapped indoors… and the later anxiety of returning to crowded spaces.

“Phobias can develop from trauma or negative past experiences,” says Hubbins. “After isolation, reintegrating into normal life was genuinely difficult for many.”

Younger generations appear particularly affected, with Hubbins observing a post-pandemic surge in social and agoraphobia cases among under-40s.

Phasmophobia (Fear of Ghosts) – 49,700 Monthly Searches

Every October, Britain gets haunted – at least online. Searches for ghost-related phobias leap by up to 340% in Halloween season, driven by horror films, video games like Phasmophobia, and the nation’s enduring love of a good scare.

Culturally, it’s less about belief in ghosts and more about how the supernatural feeds our fascination with the unknown – the fear of what we can’t quite see.

Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting) – 41,100 Monthly Searches

Perhaps one of the least talked-about but most life-limiting phobias, emetophobia affects travel, dining and even parenthood.

Eloise Skinner, Psychotherapist and author, says: “If a fear begins to noticeably restrict everyday activities, that’s the point to seek help. Self-help tools are valuable, but professional therapy provides structured desensitisation and support.”

This steady search volume shows how many silently live with fears that aren’t socially visible and yet, can be deeply impactful.

Thalassophobia (Fear of the Ocean) – 19,100 Monthly Searches

Britain might be an island nation, but that doesn’t stop nearly 20,000 of us a month from Googling our fear of deep water. Popular Reddit threads and ocean-based horror media (The Meg 2, anyone?) likely add to the fascination.

To a point the fear is good, it’s a safety mechanism and while not seasonal, thalassophobia taps into something primal – the fear of unseen depths and creatures beneath that could lead to death. 

Claustrophobia (Fear of Confined Spaces) – 18,100 Monthly Searches

Another phobia magnified by the pandemic. From lockdowns to long commutes, the anxiety of being trapped remains a major concern.

Interestingly, global related searches for “fear of elevators” and “fear of tunnels” rose by 15% in the same period, between late 2020 and late 2022.

Acrophobia (Fear of Heights) – 18,000 Monthly Searches

Shields explains: “Fear of heights is one of the most universal fears. Even with a safety barrier, our nervous system still says ‘stay safe’, in a similar way to how some struggle with water. It’s not entirely irrational, it’s evolutionary.”

This fear doesn’t spike seasonally, but remains consistently high – possibly reflecting how common it is to encounter height-related triggers in modern life and how debilitating they can be for some that they feel compelled to seek out coping tactics.

Arachnophobia (Fear of Spiders) – 12,600 Monthly Searches

Peak search season: Autumn.

As house spiders wander indoors during mating season, arachnophobia searches climb nearly 30%. Though global search interest dipped slightly post-pandemic, spiders continue to crawl their way into the UK’s top 10 phobia-related searches.

Shields notes: “We’ve evolved to spot spiders instantly – even harmless ones. It’s our survival wiring.”

Honourable Mentions

• Megalophobia (fear of large objects) – 10,300 monthly searches
• Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words) – 8,200 monthly searches
• Nyctophobia (fear of darkness) – 6,100 monthly searches
• Thanatophobia (fear of death) – 7,300 monthly searches
• Atychiphobia (fear of failure) – 2,300 monthly searches

Curiously, glossophobia (fear of public speaking) doesn’t make the top 10, even though surveys consistently rank it as one of Britain’s most common anxieties. That suggests people may Google “presentation tips” or “social anxiety help” instead of the fear itself, clinical term or otherwise.

Seasonal & Cultural Trends

• Halloween Hijinks: October brings an 82% increase in fear-related searches overall, with clowns, ghosts, spiders and darkness topping the seasonal surge.
  
• Pandemic Legacy: Claustrophobia and social fears soared, while fear of flying plummeted by 37% during lockdowns.
  
• Pop Culture Triggers:
  
  • American Horror Story and viral trypophobia memes reignited “hole fear.”
  • Creepy clown sightings (2016-2017) drove spikes in coulrophobia, with no small thanks going to the release of the film “It”.
  • Horror games (i.e Phasmophobia, Five Nights at Freddy’s) help sustain ghost-related fears year-round.
    

Why do we fear what we fear?

According to experts, our phobias are rarely random. They’re a blend of evolution, experience, and culture.

“We’ve developed a biological preparedness for potentially lethal threats,” explains Hubbins. “We’re not scared of the dark itself, but of what we imagine it hides.”

Shields adds that fear isn’t weakness, it’s wiring. “Our ancestors survived by avoiding real danger. Today, those instincts misfire in modern contexts, creating phobias that feel out of proportion.”

Cultural influences play their part too.

Skinner notes: “Different cultures emphasise different fears. Popular media can embed certain symbols – like clowns or confined spaces – into our shared sense of threat.”

How Phobias Form (and Linger)

Phobias often start with a single event – a wasp sting or a panic attack on a flight for example – but can snowball through learned behaviour or vicarious trauma.

Once avoidance begins, it reinforces that fear loop.

“Avoiding the trigger can actually keep the cycle alive,” says Hubbins. “CBT and exposure therapies work by slowly confronting it, helping to break the association between danger and stimulus.”

The Role of Therapy and Support

All three experts agree that while self-help can help, professional therapy is more effective for lasting change.

CBT, EMDR, and exposure therapy are the most evidence-based treatments for phobias, helping clients retrain their threat response.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” says Hubbins. “If you’re experiencing a specific phobia, you’re not alone, therapists see these every day.”

Skinner adds that lifestyle support matters too – sleep, nutrition and physical activity all strengthen emotional resilience.

The Fearful Face of the UK

From digital-age phobias to ancient instincts, our Google habits reveal as much about society as psychology.

Post-pandemic anxieties still linger, seasonal curiosity keeps ghost and clown searches alive and viral imagery proves that fear, like humour, travels fast online.

Whether it’s curiosity, self-diagnosis or genuine distress, these 900,000 monthly searches show one thing clearly: Britain’s fascination with fear isn’t going anywhere.

Sources:
Express Doors Direct analysis of UK Google search data (2020-2025)
Expert commentary: Josh Hubbins (Psychotherapist & EMDR Practitioner), Eloise Skinner (Author & Psychotherapist), Katie Shields (Integrative Counsellor & Psychotherapist)

You’re more than welcome to share our data and images, all we ask is that you cite Express Doors Direct as the source with a link back to this article. The original artwork and press release can be downloaded here.