Whether you’re looking for somewhere for a romantic getaway, a solo adventure, or an impromptu trip for absolutely no reason at all, here are some of the best city breaks that the UK has to offer. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the idea of travelling the world that we forget to consider all of the beautiful places that are right under our noses.
We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and can literally hop on a train and explore somewhere new in less than 2 hours. Here’s some inspiration:
1. Cambridge
Whilst some of the greatest minds in the world studied and are alumni of the university, Cambridge has got plenty more to offer other than its centuries-old colleges, as gorgeous as they are. From an array of impressive museums, heaps of independent stores, great spots to grab a bite, and historic pubs that were once regular haunts of famous patrons.
🤷♀️ What to do: A quintessential punt along the River Cam must be done of course, it’s a great way to see the city as you meander under bridges, float alongside ducks and pretend to be working on the next groundbreaking theory of something super clever. Cambridge has no shortage of museums or galleries; Kettle’s Yard, the Fitzwilliam Museum, the University Museum of Zoology, and Heong Gallery, are among some that should be on your itinerary, along with a wander at the Botanic Gardens if you fancy some horticulture.
It would be remiss not to take a trip to the ADC theatre, the oldest University playhouse in the country, where the likes of Emma Corrin and Tom Hiddleston have graced its stages. It goes without saying that exploring the university colleges is a must and won’t be very difficult considering the colleges are dotted around pretty much everywhere.
🍴 Where to eat: Midsummer House is the spot if you’re feeling like a fancy meal with river views and The Old Bicycle Shop is a charming haunt great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Bedouin is a North African spot that’s a hit amongst students and there’s Savino’s for some properly good coffee at this family-run, independent Cambridge institution.
🚂 Distance from London: Approximately 1 hour by train.
2. Liverpool
Heading up north by the sea we’ve got Liverpool, the home of The Beatles, Britain’s largest cathedral in Britain, a clock face bigger than Big Ben, and of course the beloved Scouse accent.
🤷♂️ What to do: Book a Beatles walking tour or visit The Beatles Story, an immersive experience all about the musical quartet, scout some familiar locations that have been on the big screen such as The Batman, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, and Fantastic Beasts. You can also head to the top of the Radio City Tower for amazing views of the city, head to the northern outpost of the Tate galleries at Tate Liverpool, and take in the gothic beauty of the Liverpool Cathedral.
Bold Street is the place to get in some shopping at some of the city’s best vintage and independent stores, and a trip to any of Liverpool’s many many museums will sort your cultural fix right up especially considering Liverpool is home to the most museums outside of London in the UK.
🍴 Where to eat: Maray for stunning small plates, Oh Me Oh My for their secret roof garden, NORD for some excellent contemporary Scandi fare and Belzan for some comfort food in a cute neighbourhood bistro.
🚂 Distance from London: 2.5 hours by train.
3. Bath
Found among the rolling hills of Somerset is the beautiful Bath, which is known for and named after its Roman-built baths. It’s a stunning city rich in history, gorgeous architecture, and plenty for visitors to see and do.
🤷♀️ What to do: Visit the Roman Baths of course and see one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world, live out your Pride and Prejudice or Birdgerton fantasies with a walk along the Royal Crescent, don your bonnet for the annual Jane Austen festival, and explore the Assembly Rooms where many a fashionable ball took place. Bath is a history buff’s dream.
🍴 Where to eat: A sumptuous afternoon tea at The Pump Room, Noya’s Kitchen for bright and colourful Vietnamese food, Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House for a meal at the oldest house in Bath, Sotto Sotto for some traditional Italian fare, and The Oven if you were hankering an artisanal pizza pie.
🚂 Distance from London: 1.5 hours by train.
4. Manchester
Manchester seems like it’s becoming more and more like the place to be or at the very least the place to visit, and that’s a lot coming from a die-hard Londoner. It’s booming with culture and history and it’s no wonder that this urban sprawl would rather take the title of the best UK city than settle for the UK’s Second City.
🤷♂️ What to do: Go on a Coronation Street tour, ride the East Lancashire Railway for some stunning vistas, or revel in the buzzing nightlife. The city is absolutely jam-packed with things to do that we’ve got an entire site dedicated to all things Manchester for you to peruse.
🍴 Where to eat: Mughli for its excellent curry and its sassy décor, Moose Coffee for a damn good breakfast, or you could have a look at our ultimate guide for the best restaurants in Manchester.
🚂 Distance from London: 2 hours by train.
5. Bristol
Once a former city port and now a buzzy charming city, Bristol is one of the best places to live in the UK and a trip there would easily make you see why. Bristol was the first British city to be crowned the European Green Capital, is a hotspot for creative media, technology, electronics and aerospace industries, and is a laid-back relaxed retreat away from London.
🤷♀️ What to do: Walk over the Clifton Suspension Bridge, hop on board the SS Great Britain, or explore the hipster hub of Stokes Croft – often labelled ‘Bristol’s Shoreditch’. Bristol is known as the UK’s first ‘cycling city’ so what better than to explore the maritime city on two wheels, a cycle through the lush Clifton Downs or past the city’s graffiti hotspots may be just what the doctor needed. For more on all things Bristol, head to our site entirely dedicated to the city here.
🍴 Where to eat: Head to The Llandoger Trow for traditional pub grub and discover the many myths surrounding the building (e.g. pirates and secret tunnels), Souk Kitchen for amazing Mediterranean food, Sergio’s for fantastic Italian food and BYOB, or browse the street food at St Nicholas Market. If that wasn’t enough then we implore you to browse our handy article on the very best restaurants Bristol has to offer.
🚂 Distance from London: 1 hour 45 minutes by train.
6. Brighton
Classic British beach time fun awaits at Brighton, it’s best enjoyed with a lovely dose of sun although there’ll still be plenty to do if the weather isn’t at its best and you’ll be able to avoid the faff of fighting for a spot on the beach.
🤷♂️ What to do: Wander around The Lanes and discover indie cafes, record stores and book shops galore, play arcade games on the Palace Pier, stroll along the beach and take in the sea breeze, or be transported to faraway lands by visiting the gorgeous Royal Pavilion. We’ve got a handy guide dedicated to the most brilliant things to do in Brighton that you can fill your itinerary with.
🍴 Where to eat: Cin Cin for the most incredible Italian food (try the giant rabbit croquettes), The Salt Room for amazing seafood and afternoon teas, or Lucky Beach for its delicious burgers and loaded fries (and because it has the highest rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association and it shares its profits to help with community projects in Rwanda).
🚂 Distance from London: 1 hour by train.
7. Edinburgh
The glorious capital of Scotland has something to offer at any time of the year and is arguably one of the best city breaks there are in the UK, it’s certainly a favourite of mine. There are endless things to do in the city but it also feels fairly compact and it’s easy to get from one place to the next. A trip to Edinburgh never disappoints.
🤷♀️ What to do: Hike up to Arthur’s Seat for jaw-dropping views of the city skyline, visit Edinburgh Castle for some history, tasting some whisky is mandatory in Scotland, or prepare to be completely mind-boggled at Camera Obscura. Lucky for you we have an entire site dedicated to all things Edinburgh so you can peruse all the lovely things you can get up to in Scotland’s capital, and there is a lot.
🍴 Where to eat: Spoon – a spot where JK Rowling used to write – for brunches that will cure any hangover, El Cartel for the city’s best tacos, or Oink for a succulent pork roll on the go. If you’ve got a big appetite, we’ve got a whole load of articles letting you know all the best eats there are in Edinburgh.
🚂 Distance from London: 4.5 hours by train, 1.5 hours by plane, or 7.5 hours by car.
8. York
A historic city found nestled in North Yorkshire, York has essentially become the UK’s very own Hogsmeade, thanks to its Tudor architecture and quirky buildings that loom over streets such as the famous Shambles. Home to plenty of Harry Potter-themed shops, charming markets, and tons of gorgeous pubs, a stunning staycation or day trip is to be had in York.
🤷♂️ What to do: Admire the stunning architecture of York Minster, discover the city’s history at York Dungeon, or wander through The Shambles; a narrow, winding street, which is supposedly one of the most picturesque streets in Britain. Walk along the Roman fortifications that protected York once upon a time ago, and travel through time in an immersive display that shows York’s history. York is reportedly incredibly haunted too so a ride on the Ghost Bus to see the most haunted sights of the city is a must for those who enjoy ghoulish stories.
🍴 Where to eat: Ambiente for the most incredible, authentic tapas, Star Inn City for good food and great wine, and Shambles Market for spectacular street food that you can chow down as you stroll down historic streets.
🚂 Distance from London: 2 hours by train.
9. Oxford
You can never go wrong with a trip to the city of dreaming spires, that moniker alone would be enough to convince me to hop on a train to Oxford. The city is truly a beaut with glistening meandering rivers, gothic and baroque architecture everywhere you turn, and lush green quads trimmed to perfection.
🤷♀️ What to do: Visit one of the many stunning colleges Oxford has, in particular, Christ Church is not to be missed if you’re looking for any Harry Potter filming locations and Magdalen for its sprawling deer park and picture-perfect grounds. A visit to Oxford would not be complete without a punt along the river where you’ll take the city in from the water, or go on a tour of the university led by students and its alumni who know it best and will take you behind the scenes.
If you’re looking for a more relaxing pastime in the city then a picnic on Port Meadow is just the thing, or if you fancy getting some history in your trip then lucky for you Oxford is in no shortage of excellent museums, namely the Ashmolean, Pitt Rivers Museum, Museum of Natural History, and the History of Science Museum.
🍴 Where to eat: Head to Edamamé for authentic Japanese cuisine, The Handle Bar for its funky decor and smashing brunch dishes, or Oli’s Thai for magnificent, fresh food (but plan ahead – this place gets booked up weeks in advance). The Coconut Tree is great for Sri Lankan fare, the Turf Tavern is notoriously hard to find but I luckily stumbled upon it by accident, initially rooms for students but was transformed into a pub in the 12th century, it’s one the oldest spots in the city to grab a drink.
🚂 Distance from London: 1 hour by train.
10. Norwich
Norwich has a great mix of history with its cathedral and castle but also has a bustling cultural hub, a flourishing arts scene, plenty of theatres and live music venues.
🤷♂️ What to do: Explore the Norwich Lanes for lovely independent shops and cafes, take a trip to Norwich Market for everything from old records to fresh fruit, or get lost in the Norfolk Broads. A trip to the castle and cathedral goes unsaid, and a walk along Elm Hill is the perfect spot to take some gorgeous pictures on the stunning road.
🍴 Where to eat: Make a trip to Farmyard for psychedelic interiors and local, seasonal dishes, Warwick Street Social for a slightly fancier meal, or The Library for an excellent and reasonably priced meal in a Victorian library (don’t worry, you don’t have to keep the noise down).
🚂 Distance from London: 2 hours by train.
11. Winchester
Here’s a fun fact for any history buffs – Winchester claims to be the ancient capital of England (there are a number of conflicting stories, but this appears to be the strongest claim). This was right up until the eleventh century when William the Conqueror arrived and decided that both London and Winchester would be capitals. However, by the fourteenth century, Winchester had lost its status and London took the sole title. Classic London.
🤷♀️ What to do: Marvel at one of the country’s greatest cathedrals, embark on one of Britain’s loveliest national trails, The South Downs Way, and try and time your trip so you’re there for their fortnightly Farmers’ Market – one of the UK’s largest. (There are plenty of biggest and bests in Winchester.) Wander down the River Itchen for some countryside lushness or stumble through the lovely independent stores that Winchester has to offer.
🍴 Where to eat: The Chesil Rectory which, which dates back to 1425 and bursting with charm, serves up some delightful modern British grub and Josie’s knows how to brunch superbly well.
🚂 Distance from London: 1 hour by train.
12. Durham
The gorgeous Durham has plenty to do and see but everything is pretty compact making it great for a city break. It’s hilly with plenty of historic streets to meander down, a stunning river going around the city and even a castle to boot.
🤷♂️ What to do: Row along the River Wear, climb Durham Cathedral for excellent views of the city, or visit the beautiful Botanical Gardens. (You could also make a trip to Klute, which is officially the worst nightclub in Europe. You know, just to say you’ve been.)
🍴 Where to eat: For great food and possibly the best hot chocolate you’ll have in your life, head to Claypath Deli. Head to Zen for amazing Thai Asian fusion, La Spaghettata (affectionately known as Spags) for cheap yet brilliant Italian food, Whisky River for riverside cocktails, or pop into any of the many cute coffee shops that Durham has to offer (e.g. Chapters, Leonards, Flat White and 9 Altars).
🚂 Distance from London: 3 hours by train.
13. Lincoln
Found in the East Midlands is Lincoln, a city brimming with history and charm. Explore a vibrant city centre and all the history Lincoln has to offer.
🤷♀️ What to do: Marvel at the medieval Lincoln Cathedral which was the world’s tallest building for over two centuries, wander up (or down) Steep Hill and discover a variety of independent stores, or explore the medieval Tattershall Castle. Lincoln is home to one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta and a trip to Lincoln won’t be complete unless you see the document first hand in Lincoln Castle where you’ll also find a Victorian prison.
🍴 Where to eat: Make a trip to Olé Olé for tempting tapas, or make a lunch trip to The Cheese Society for all things cheese.
🚂 How to get there: 2 hours by train.