We’ve made it through the worst of the winter and it’s fair to say we are all well overdue a trip away. If we’ve realised one thing over the course of the pandemic, it’s that a great holiday can just as easily be found right on your doorstep as it can by flying abroad.
There are so many great cities to visit in England, and to help decide which one to travel to next, we put a poll out to you, the LADbible audience. Here are the top cities you chose, plus some ideas of what to get up to while you’re there.
1. London
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It’s not really a surprise that our capital topped the list of places to visit in England. There are countless world-famous tourist attractions and so many vibrant neighbourhoods to explore in London. Don’t miss iconic landmarks and attractions such as the Tower of London, the spellbinding shows in the West End’ and ‘Hope’ the enormous blue whale skeleton at the Natural History Museum. You can also go on all manner of themed tours in London including bike tours, Harry Potter tours and even a silent disco drag queen diva tour.
There are fantastic places to eat and some can be found in the unlikeliest of places, like La Bodega Negra in Soho. It may look a bit like (ok, a lot like) a sex shop from the outside, but head through the door and downstairs to find a secret subterranean Mexican restaurant.
A city famous for shopping, browse the bustling districts like the landmark Oxford Street, vibrant Carnaby Street, the upmarket boutiques of Regent’s Street or the totally unique market at Camden, a warren of fashion, curiosities, street food and so much more. Afterwards, take a breather at one of the many beautiful green spaces like the Royal Parks, which include Hyde Park, Regents Park, Kensington Gardens and St James’ Park to name but a few. Each one is a little slice of calm in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
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2. Manchester
Coming in at second place is Manchester. The birthplace of Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Smiths and many more musical legends. This rich musical history has birthed a thriving nightlife scene where you can catch upcoming artists and established acts at venues like the Albert Hall and Mayfield Depot, plus smaller places like YES, Matt and Phreds Jazz Club and The Deaf Institute.
There are loads of great places to eat in Manchester too, with pretty much every cuisine you can think of. From brilliant pubs like The Marble Arch and the famous ‘Curry Mile’ in Rusholme, to incredible views at the sky-scraping bar and restaurant 20 Stories and street food destinations like Hatch, Escape to Freight Island and GRUB. Fancy a bit of everything? Scranchester food tours guide you around some of the best places to eat in the city, all with a side dish of history.
3. Liverpool
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Next on the list is Liverpool. Take a wander around the historic Royal Albert Dock, bursting with restaurants, bars and independent shops, with lots of museums and galleries nearby including the Tate Liverpool. There’s also a thriving theatre scene in the city, so why not catch a show at one of the many venues including The Liverpool Empire and the Playhouse Theatre?
Grab a bite to eat at Liverpool’s first street food market, Baltic Market. With a whole host of food traders, there’s something to enjoy, whatever it is you’re craving. They’ve also got live music every weekend the whole year round.
Get an insider’s guide to the city with one of the very popular Liverpool Cycle Tours, taking in famous landmarks and sites in Liverpool. There’s the City Centre Tour, a Beatles Tour or, if you prefer two feet to wheels, there’s the night-time Walking and Drinking Tour with drinks included in the price.
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4. York
A historic walled city originally founded by the Romans, York is a great place for a city break. Take a wander through the famous Shambles, one of the best-preserved Medieval shopping streets in Europe, and believed to have been the inspiration behind Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.
There are so many beautiful spots in this city, we’d definitely recommend heading out for a picnic and just drinking in the views. Dean’s Park is right by the Minster and has spectacular views of this elegant landmark. You can also pitch up on the three-and-a-half kilometres of the perfectly preserved City Walls, or why not grab a spot on a bench by the River Ouse and watch the boats, barges and canoes drift on by?
5. Bristol
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Bristol is a city bursting with creativity, where you can find cool cafés, incredible street art, independent shops and live music hiding around every corner. It’s also home to the street with the most independent shops in the country, Gloucester Road. Guided tours include street art tours featuring the many works of Banksy, or see the city from a different perspective on top of a stand-up paddle board.
Vinyl-lovers can get their fix at one of the many great record shops in the city like Idle Hands in Stokes Croft, Rise at the top of Queen’s Road or Wanted Records which can be found amongst the other indie stalls at St Nicholas Market. By the side riverside at Wapping Wharf, there’s a collection of converted shipping containers called CARGO, each housing an independent trader. There are restaurants, cafés and retail shops too. A great place to find a whole load of indies in one place.
6. Leeds
The Yorkshire city of Leeds is buzzing with culture and cuisines from every corner of the globe. With a strong independent community, explore its thriving food and drink scene at eateries such as the very popular Swine That Dines supper clubs with ‘nose-to-tail’ or ‘roots and shoots’ menus, and independent Mexican restaurant Lupe’s Cantina in Burley.
Take a trip to Kirkgate Market, one of the largest indoor markets in Europe with everything from food and drink to fashion, flowers and so much more. There’s also Tailor’s, a speakeasy-style gin bar, which operates as an actual tailor during the day. If you’d like a guide to the food and drink scene, check out one of the many Food and Beer tours available.
7. Exeter
A Medieval city with easy access to East Devon’s beautiful coastline and beaches, Exeter is the perfect city break for the active traveller. Take in the Gothic architecture of the city centre before heading out into nature with outdoor activities like a 26-mile cycle route and walkway along the River Exe estuary. Plus, you can take a canoe, kayak or paddle board along England’s oldest ship canal or scale the South West’s largest indoor climbing wall.
After a busy day in Exeter, head to the historic Quayside where you’ll find many a pub to enjoy a crisp pint, with lots of restaurants, cafés and music venues nearby for wherever the night takes you. Our top pick around the Quay is Topsham Brewery located across two beautiful listed warehouse buildings. In the taproom, there’s a changing selection of delicious beers, as well as pizzas, a large beer garden and live music.
8. Birmingham
Did you know that England’s second largest city (and the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games) has more miles of canals than VENICE? That’s right, it’s got 35 miles of historic canals you can explore by foot, bike or barge. Explore the city’s warren of waterways with Away2Dine and enjoy a local gin tipple as you cruise along.
The vibrant Custard Factory is home to many independent shops as well as some of the city’s best bars and restaurants including NQ64 – a retro video game bar.
Birmingham also has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city outside of London – just saying – including Indian fine-dining at Opheem. And, for some out-of-the-ordinary high-octane fun, there’s the Bear Grylls Adventure centre which features a shark dive experience, high ropes course, iFLY indoor skydiving and lots more.
Feel good about 2022. Reconnect with your favourite people and places and find exciting events on an English city break this spring. Find out more on visitengland.com/escape.
Sponsored by Visit England
Topics: Travel
The UNILAD Team