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The UK's favourite city breaks

Published: 15th May 2023

Which is your favourite?

Discover your favorite city break in the UK. Explore famous landmarks, uncover hidden gems, and enjoy a planned or last minute escape with friends and family.

We've compiled a list of our customers' top UK city breaks, featuring northern gems like Manchester and Liverpool, as well as beautiful cities down south such as Bath and, of course, London.

Bath

A shopaholic's dream, full of independent shops perfect for finding that rare or special gift for a loved one or yourself!

It's a firm favourite for a staycation, and we're not surprised with its relaxing thermal Roman Baths and the most beautiful architecture. Just make sure you look up and don't miss it!

Manchester

Manchester is the real jewel of the north. Not only is it bursting with restaurants and bars to suit any palette, but it features some truly unique museums for a more cultured trip. Check out floor after floor of sporting history at the National Football Museum and the whacky experiments of the Science and Industry Museum.

London

We couldn’t leave the capital off our list now could we? One of the nation’s best cities and for good reason too! There are too many amazing attractions to mention so here’s some of our favourites... Say hi to the royals at Buckingham Palace, if you plan ahead the changing of the guards ceremony is a crowd pleaser for all. Grab a hot drink and take a seat for some people watching in Trafalgar Square. If you love being entertained why not catch a show as the arts industry gets back on its feet or see the beauty of the whole capital from the heights of the London Eye.

It’s not just skyscrapers, shopping and fast attractions London has a plethora of incredible green spaces spread across the city from the famous Hyde Park to the beautiful Japanese gardens of Holland Park.

Liverpool

Another great northern city, Liverpool, is the epitome of cool and a definite contender for the UK’s favourite city break. With its rich musical history the city is full of amazing venues where you can catch some of the best upcoming acts in the region.

Head down to the iconic Albert Docks to try out some of the best restaurants and bars or head over to the Baltic Triangle for a more indie-style evening with a Peaky Blinder-themed bar and some Ghetto Mini Golf!

Bristol

Standing at the banks of the River Avon, Bristol is steeped in maritime history. However, in more recent times it has carved out a reputation as a hub for musicians and artists as well.

For the historians, you'll want to step foot on the iconic SS Great Britain. Once a proud member of our naval fleet, this ship is now one of the UK's top museums, offering a unique historical experience as well as views below the sea. On the other hand, art lovers are sure to want to take a glimpse at the humble beginnings of the ground-breaking street artist, Banksy. There are many walking tours available, offering a different way to get to know the city and one of its most famous sons.

Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is home to many fantastic tourist attractions, amazing food and drink, and, of course, its own world-renowned comedy festival. A great place to visit for walkers and explorers, the hills of Edinburgh are sure to help you earn a hearty dinner of haggis, neeps and tatties.

Every visitor should take a trip up to Edinburgh Castle, if only to admire the incredible views of the city below. And that's before you get to top tourist attractions like The National Portrait Gallery, the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery, and the gruesomely fun, Edinburgh Dungeon.

Birmingham

There's a lot to love about England's sprawling second city. From rich, diverse cultures to fantastic nightlife and a jam-packed calendar of events, there's always something to see and do.

Birmingham Library offers fantastic city views and floor after floor of all the literature you could need. Ready to hit the town? From Broad Street to Bennett's Hill, Digbeth and beyond, you'll find plenty of areas to fill your stomach and wet your whistle in Birmingham.

Nottingham

The birthplace of Robin Hood's legend is also the home of plenty of good times and exciting experiences.

Nottingham enjoys the benefits of eye-catching architecture, from its incredible castle to Newstead Abbey and Old Market Square, as well as a great shopping culture with independent gems hiding in redeveloped industrial sites and secret side streets of the city.

We hope these suggestions inspire your travels. If you're looking for more options, explore our other destinations here, or read more of our blog articles for must-sees, hidden gems and everything else in between.