The 15 best places to visit in Britain in 2024, named by Time Out – and Bristol is number 1, followed by Hull and the Isles of Scilly
The city that is said to have the longest string of independent shops in Europe has been named the best place to visit in Britain in 2024 by Time Out.
Bristol’s Gloucester Road helped it take the crown ahead of London and Newcastle upon Tyne.
Time Out said: ‘The full list of 15 British destinations includes picturesque seaside towns, bustling cities and otherworldly islands, proving that Brits don’t have to travel far to experience the best food, drink, culture and attractions in the world. world.
‘The list was compiled by Time Out’s network of editors and contributors, who ranked the places based on their current food, drink and arts scene, as well as exciting new openings and major events in the coming year.’
Chiara Wilkinson, editor-in-chief at Timeout UK, said: ‘With its vibrant cultural scene set to grow even bigger next year, Bristol was a deserving winner – but it was also great to see underrated destinations such as Hull, Wrexham and Falmouth take their place in the top 15. excuse to book a staycation, this certainly is.’ Scroll down to see the top 10 in reverse order, with the full list at the bottom.
10.Manchester
L’Enclume chef Tom Barnes will open his first solo restaurant, Skof, in Manchester this spring
“Manchester never fails to serve up a cultural banquet,” says Time Out, pointing to the “rescue of grassroots performance venue The Snug and the long-awaited reopening of the Manchester Museum” in 2023.
The guide says 2024 will be “another big one.”
It explains: ‘The star of the show will be the huge, innovative Co-op Live, opening in April, [is] backed by Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles and already has artists like Liam Gallagher and Oilvia Rodrigo lined up to perform.
“And in long-awaited news for the food scene, L’Enclume chef Tom Barnes will open his first solo restaurant, Skof, in the Noma neighborhood this spring.”
9. Falmouth
Time Out reveals Falmouth’s ‘late night credentials have skyrocketed’
‘Falmouth has always been the coolest town in Cornwall,’ says Time Out. ‘Student life here, home to the university campuses of Exeter and Falmouth, has brought some vibrancy and edge to the quiet cobbled streets – but there has always been a noticeable divide when it comes to nightlife.
‘However, in recent times – thanks to new music venue The Cornish Bank – the reputation of late nights has soared.’
A perfect day there? Time Out says: ‘Start with a paddle at Gyllyngvase Beach and then warm up with a cup of coffee at Gylly beach cafe. Then take a look at the independent boutiques and galleries on the high street.’
8. Newcastle
“You might just want to pack up and move to Newcastle,” says Time Out
Newcastle has plenty to cheer about, says Time Out. “The city’s food scene already had a pretty good reputation,” it says, “but new openings in 2023 have really seen it blossom, like natural wine and pizza spot Bawn and new brunch spot Cafeteria: a sort of chic greasy spoon , which seems to be all the rage now.”
The guide adds: ‘Couple this with loads of great galleries and pubs, the legendary Wylam Brewery and Tyneside Cinema and very reasonable prices, and you have a great weekend away. Or maybe you just want to pack up and move there. It happens.’
7.Lewes
Lewes has ‘charming shaky streets’ and is home to ‘Britain’s craziest pub’
Lewes, Time Out notes, is home to ‘charming wonky streets’; a brand new cultural space called Charleston; Anne of Cleves’ former home, Lewes Castle; a ‘mash of artisan shops and delicious foodie spots’ – and ‘Britain’s craziest pub, the Lewes Arms’.
A perfect day there, the guide says, includes “a veggie burger at Bun and Bean and a pastry dessert from Flint Owl Bakery.”
6. Saint Andrew
The ‘coastal gem’ of St Andrews is where Prince William met Kate Middleton
‘A coastal gem in the Kingdom of Fife, St Andrews is home to an ancient university, three beautiful beaches, botanical gardens, multiple pubs, a famous golf course and not much else,’ says Time Out, ‘but it’s also beautiful, extremely walkable and very quiet.’
The guide continues: ‘St Andrews has also been tipped as a popular destination for set jetting in 2024, with the town playing a major role in the final season of The Crown, thanks to where Prince William met Kate Middleton while at university. Fans, come this way.”
5. Belfast
A perfect day in Belfast ‘starts with a healthy morning walk’, says Time Out
Time Out says Belfast is ‘criminally underrated’, adding: ‘If you’re yet to discover its welcoming warmth and cultural vibrancy, 2024 is the year to change that.’
A perfect day there, the guide suggests, ‘starts with a healthy morning walk through the Botanical Gardens, followed by a hearty brunch at Output’.
Then choose to ‘wander through Stormont’s parliament buildings and the monumental Titanic Belfast museum’.
4. London
New restaurants and beautiful hotels contribute to the allure of London for 2024
‘Ah, good old London. No matter how many times you’ve been there or how long you’ve lived there, you’ll always discover new things in the capital,” says Time Out.
‘There are a lot of new restaurants to enjoy, all kinds of wonderful hotel openings and lots of new cultural things to do. Most notably, in 2024 you can dance at Drumsheds, the giant warehouse club housed in a former IKEA, attend a blockbuster exhibition – like Yoko Ono at the Tate Modern or The World of Tim Burton at the Design Museum – and epic New West can see End of performances.’
3. Isles of Scilly
‘Many people say the Isles of Scilly are the British version of the Caribbean,’ Time Out reveals
In justifying the bronze medal for the Isles of Scilly, Time Out points to the ‘white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and dolphin spotting opportunities’ which ‘lead many people to say that the Isles of Scilly are the British version of the Caribbean’.
A perfect day? That means “rent bikes and explore the coastal paths of St. Mary’s Islands before catching a transfer boat to St. Agnes to visit the Turks Head for a hearty pub lunch,” says Time Out.
2. Trunk
Hull gets the silver medal partly thanks to a ‘thriving’ LGBTQ+ scene and a huge aquarium
In addition to the “thriving” LGBTQ+ scene, Time Out notes that this former city of culture has “The Deep,” a huge aquarium with 3,000 species of animals, a picturesque old town that survived the brutal bombings of World War II, and many up-and-coming indie art galleries such as Ground and Artlink’.
The perfect day in Hull? The itinerary should include a caffeine fix at Two Gingers Coffee House, says Time Out, plus a pint at Ye Olde White Hart.
1. Bristol
With a ‘cultural scene as exciting as London’s’, Time Out Bristol awards the crown
And it’s drum roll for…Bristol. The city where, according to Time Out, ‘everyone is apparently moving to’.
What’s so tempting about it?
Time Out says: ‘Its cultural scene is as exciting as London’s… it has picture-perfect streets and a vibrant, diverse nightlife.’
In 2024, the guide says, comes Boxhall, ‘a street food, beer and events space from the people behind London’s Boxpark’; Undershed, a new immersive gallery and musical adaptation of the 2006 film ‘Starter for Ten’ is coming to the Old Vic theatre.
A perfect day in Bristol? Time Out recommends exploring the shops on Gloucester Road, ‘the largest strip of independent retailers in Europe’, and taking a Bristol Ferry waterbus tour to see the city from the water.
For more visits www.timeout.com/uk/things-to-do/best-places-to-visit-in-the-uk-2024.