This lists songs that hit number one on the charts in the UK during 1961. If a song spent nonconsecutive weeks at number one, the number of weeks for each occurrence at the top is shown in parenthesis.
In the early years of the UK chart, occasionally two songs were at number one simultaneously. This will be indicated with two asterisks.
| Date | Artist - Title | Weeks at #1 |
| December 25 1960 – January 7 1961 | Cliff Richard and The Shadows - I Love You | 2 |
| January 8 – 21 1961 | Johnny Tillotson - Poetry In Motion | 2 |
| January 22 – February 18 1961 | Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight | 4 |
| February 19 – 25 1961 | Petula Clark - Sailor | 1 |
| February 26 – March 18 1961 | Everly Brothers - Walk Right Back / Ebony Eyes | 3 |
| March 19 – April 29 1961 | Elvis Presley - Wooden Heart | 6 |
| April 30 – May 13 1961 | The Marcels - Blue Moon | 2 |
| May 14 – 20 1961 | Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound | 1 |
| May 21 – 27 1961 | The Temperance Seven - You're Driving Me Crazy | 1 |
| May 28 – June 24 1961 | Elvis Presley - Surrender | 4 |
| June 25 – July 15 1961 | Del Shannon - Runaway | 3 |
| July 16 – 29 1961 | Everly Brothers - Temptation | 2 |
| July 30 – August 5 1961 | Eden Kane - Well I Ask You | 1 |
| August 6 – 26 1961 | Helen Shapiro - You Don't Know | 3 |
| August 27 – September 16 1961 | John Leyton - Johnny Remember Me | 4 (3) |
| September 17 – 23 1961 | Shirley Bassey - Reach For The Stars / Climb Ev'ry Mountain | 1 |
| September 24 – 30 1961 | John Leyton - Johnny Remember Me | 4 (1) |
| October 1 – 7 1961 | Shadows - Kon Tiki | 1 |
| October 8 – 14 1961 | The Highwaymen - Michael | 1 |
| October 15 – November 4 1961 | Helen Shapiro - Walkin' Back To Happiness | 3 |
| November 5 – December 2 1961 | Elvis Presley - His Latest Flame | 4 |
| December 3 – 23 1961 | Frankie Vaughan - Tower Of Strength | 3 |
| December 24 1961 – January 6 1962 | Danny Williams - Moon River | 2 |
22 different songs hit number one in the UK during 1961.