List of UK top-ten albums in 2002

The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical albums. This list shows albums that peaked in the top ten of the UK Albums Chart during 2002, as well as albums which peaked in 2001 and 2003 but were in the top ten in 2002. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top ten for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

One-hundred and twenty-six albums were in the top ten this year. Sixteen albums from 2001 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while Come Away with Me by Norah Jones, Justified by Justin Timberlake, Let Go by Avril Lavigne and Missundaztood by Pink were all released in 2002 but did not reach their peak until 2003. All Rise by Blue, Read My Lips by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Songs in A Minor by Alicia Keys were the albums from 2001 to reach their peak in 2002. Four artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2002. Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake, Pink, Shakira and Sugababes were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 album in 2002.

The 2001 Christmas number-one album, Swing When You're Winning by Robbie Williams, remained at the top spot for the first two weeks of 2002. The first new number-one album of the year was Just Enough Education to Perform by Stereophonics. Overall, twenty-seven different albums peaked at number-one in 2002, with Robbie Williams (2) having the most albums hit that position.

Multiple entries
One-hundred and twenty-six albums charted in the top 10 in 2002, with one-hundred and nine albums reaching their peak this year (including The Platinum Collection and The Very Best of Sting & The Police, which both charted in previous years but reached a peak on their latest chart run).

Four artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2002. Badly Drawn Boy, Blue, Robbie Williams and Westlife were the acts who had two top 10 albums this year. Badly Drawn Boy's two entries were both released this year.

Chart debuts
Forty-three artists achieved their first top 10 album in 2002 as a lead artist. Badly Drawn Boy had one more entry in his breakthrough year.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo album, or featured appearances on compilations or other artists recordings.

Darren Hayes scored two top 10 albums with the group Savage Garden prior to the launch of his solo career; debut release Spin peaked at number 2 in April 2002. Justin Timberlake's first post-NSYNC project Justified rose to number-one in February 2003; none of the group's three albums had reached the top 10.
 * Notes

Soundtracks
Soundtrack albums for various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included About a Boy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

Best-selling albums
Robbie Williams had the best-selling album of the year with Escapology. The album spent fourteen weeks in the top 10 (including seven weeks at number one), sold over 1.2 million copies and was certified 5× platinum by the BPI. Missundaztood by Pink came in second place. Enrique Iglesias' Escape, A Rush of Blood to the Head from Coldplay and One Love by Blue made up the top five. Albums by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eminem, Westlife, Elvis Presley and Oasis were also in the top ten best-selling albums of the year.

Top-ten albums

 * Key

Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2002, including albums that reached their peak in 2001. The figures only include main artists, with featured artists and appearances on compilation albums not counted individually for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 2002 is also shown.