Liverpool has been named the UK’s best city break destination, according to a new survey by Which?. The Merseyside-city topped the list of the best large cities for a stay in the study by the consumer champion group.
It beats the likes of Edinburgh, York and London to secure the number-one spot on the list. Thanks to some joint rankings, Manchester managed to bag a spot in the top ten, ranking in ninth place.
Which? Surveyed nearly 4,000 members about their experiences of visiting UK’s cities and towns in the last two years. A range of criteria was scored out of five, including accommodation; food and drink; cultural sights; and value for money. An overall city score was calculated based on visitors’ overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend.
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Liverpool scored 84 per cent, while Edinburgh and York followed in joint second with 83 per cent. Liverpool was praised for being ‘lively’ and ‘buzzing’, scoring a full five stars in the cultural sights and tourist attractions category. The city also scored four stars for food and drink, shopping, accommodation, lack of crowds and value for money.
Edinburgh scored a full five stars for cultural sights and tourist attractions, and four stars for food and drink, shopping, ease of getting around, and overall value for money. York, known for its Roman and Viking heritage, also took five stars in the cultural sights and tourist attractions category, with some of its most well known attractions including York Minster, the National Railway Museum and the Jorvik Viking Centre. The city also scored four stars for shopping, accommodation, ease of getting around, value for money and food and drink.
At the opposite end of the tables, Derby (56per cent), Leicester (58per cent) and Swansea (58per cent) were the lowest rated large cities. Among medium-sized cities, Bath was the top scorer, receiving a city score of 82 percent. Wells, Somerset was the highest scoring location in the survey overall, with an impressive city score of 86 per cent, and took first place in the small cities category.
The top ten rankings and scores for the best large cities for a break, according to Which?
- Liverpool - 84
- Edinburgh and York - 83
- Belfast - 77
- Glasgow and London - 76
- Newcastle - 75
- Portsmouth - 74
- Bristol - 73
- Cardiff - 72
- Manchester - 71
- Brighton and Hove, and Leeds - 67
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “Whether you’re after vibrant nightlife, world class museums or a first rate dining experience, our survey shows that the UK has a wealth of fantastic cities just waiting to be explored. Liverpool stood out among the UK’s large cities for its fantastic cultural scene and buzzing atmosphere, beating London and the UK’s other capital cities to take first place.
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For those seeking a more laid-back destination, Somerset is the place to be, with both Bath and Wells scoring highly, and each offering a wealth of historical and cultural sights.”