Reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults is a key health promotion target in counties where tobacco consumption is the major preventable cause of ill health. This study describes the patterns and predictors of smoking cessation in a representative British survey of women aged 16 to 65. It examines the influence on quitting of five factors: socio-economic status; domestic circumstances; psychological health; tobacco dependence; and pregnancy status. Smoking status was measured at the point of recruitment to the study and at 1 year and 2 year follow-up interviews. Quit rates at both follow-up points were significantly related to three of the factors: socio-economic status; tobacco dependence; and pregnancy status. Tobacco dependence, as measured by average daily cigarette consumption, was the most powerful predictor of a woman's chances of being an ex-smoker at both the 1 year and 2 year follow-up interviews. The implications of the findings for health promotion policy are discussed.