Exeter crowned the UK’s best 24-hour city for travels this year!
It turns out you don’t need to head to the big cities for fun adventures because loads of the lesser-known and smaller cities have just as much on offer.
Holiday accommodation provider Stay in Devon has highlighted the UK’s best 24-hour cities. Ranked on the number of attractions, restaurants, and historic sites they house, they have found the best cities in the UK that can be explored easily in a day, freeing up time to explore further afield to National Parks, AONBs, and Blue flag beaches!
The best 24-hour UK cities are…
Exeter
From adventure parks and Red Coat tours to castles and escape rooms, Exeter city has it all when it comes to planning a fun-filled city break. Pick from over 320 restaurants and hunt down some live music in one of many hidden venues. Take your pick from over 20 National Trust sites or head to the Dartmoor National Park. Love the Jurassic Coast? Just head south!
Bath in Somerset
The city of wellness welcomes guests to admire Georgian architecture and recuperate in thermal baths until their heart's content. Enjoy a cosmopolitan scene and independent shops, museums, galleries, and over 420 eateries. Hop on a tour bus for the major sites and stroll through botanical gardens. The Costwolds are within easy reach for your countryside fix and the many historic attractions will keep you busy for hours.
Dundee in Angus
The sunniest city in Scotland has made it into the top ten with its seaside location and a huge wealth of attractions on offer. Soak up art and culture at the V&A Dundee and test the brain at Dundee Science Centre. Pick from over 300 eateries and wander around the vibrant city centre shops, boutiques and galleries. Hit one of the many award-winning beaches close by or play a round of golf with seaside views. For mountains, the Cairngorms National Park is just 50miles north!
Norwich in Norfolk
A historic castle, cathedral, a bustling marketplace, and winding streets all make up the beauty of Norwich city. Ample shops, boutiques, and bistros make up the vibrant city centre along with museums, galleries, and around 600 restaurants! Trampolining, bus tours, and bowling are all part of the fun and the Norfolk Broads are just around the corner! Gardens, Vineyards, and beaches all make up a fun-filled trip to this wonderful city.
Carlisle in Cumbria
Industrial and forward-thinking, Carlisle is dotted with museums, shops, galleries, and hundreds of eateries! Start your tour with some hard-hitting history, taking in the castle and military museum then plan for some excitement with a session of laser quest or a challenging escape room. With there being 123 attractions and 245 restaurants (and counting) there is enough to keep you entertained in the city for sure, but for some peace and quiet head to the Lake District and visit its famous lakes.
Also in the top 10 are:
- Preston in Lancashire
- Inverness in Highlands
- Cambridge in Cambridgeshire
- Chester in Cheshire
- Gloucester in Gloucestershire
Read the full article to read more about the UK’s top ten and also find out in more detail what these amazing UK cities have to offer. Which ones will you be putting on the list this year? https://www.stayindevon.co.uk/handbook/uks-best-24hour-cities
*Data collected by survey in March 2022. Full breakdown of the data can be found in the blog post.
