London (AFP) - Voting ended in Britain's historic referendum on EU membership on Thursday, with the final opinion poll pointing to a slender victory for the "Remain" campaign.

A YouGov survey conducted on Thursday found 52 percent were backing Britain's membership of the European Union, and 48 percent wanted to leave. There will be no exit polls.

Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party, told Sky News television, it "looks like 'Remain' will edge it".

UKIP, whose central purpose is getting Britain out of the EU, would go from strength to strength on the back of the closely-fought referendum campaign, Farage insisted.

"It's been an extraordinary referendum campaign, turnout looks to be exceptionally high and (it) looks like Remain will edge it," he said.

"UKIP and I are going nowhere and the party will only continue to grow stronger in the future."

Farage spoke to Sky News by telephone, a UKIP spokesman told AFP.