Liverpool has taken the top spot in a new Which? survey identifying the best cities across the UK.
Scoring an overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend score of 84%, Liverpool has been recognised as the perfect city for a weekend getaway.
Cities across Britain were scored out of five stars across a range of criteria including accommodation, food and drink, cultural sights and tourist attractions, ease of getting around, lack of crowds, and value for money. Edinburgh and York narrowly missed out on the top spot, both scoring 83% overall.
The hometown of the Beatles astonishingly secured five out of five stars in the cultural sights and tourist attractions category, with individuals noting Liverpool's array of cultural and historical attractions. The "lively" and "buzzing" city also scored four out of five stars in the food and drink, shopping, accommodation, lack of crowds and tourist attraction categories.
One survey respondent said: "It's got everything you could possibly want. Great for eating places, great for sights and famous places and very friendly people."
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel added: "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."
The city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, northwest England, is often acknowledged for its rich musical heritage. However, from the 18th to 20th century the city was also a major trade port for consumer goods. Since, it has developed a skyline full of architectural wonders including a gothic cathedral and many repurposed warehouses.
Visitors will not find themselves short of things to do in the city, with museums such as Sudley House and the Maritime Museum to be explored. The World Museum even offers the opportunity to explore outer space and meet live creatures. The city also looks back on its links with slave trade and tells the untold stories of enslaved people in the International Slavery Museum at Royal Albert Dock.
Renowned for its relationship with literature, Edinburgh took the second spot being noted as "bursting with cultural activities". Often associated with J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, the city boasts both countryside and ocean views, as well as a bustling centre.
Another historic city, York, tied with Edinburgh and was also recognised for its cultural spots including York Minster, the National Railway Museum and the Jorvik Viking Centre. Unlike the previous two cities, York is located away from the coast and dates back to the Roman period. In fact, York still retains its city walls.
Whilst London did not reach the top three spots, Boland remarked how this emphasises all that Britain has to offer outside its capital. He 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."
The Which? survey asked nearly 4,000 people about their experiences of UK cities they have visited over the past two years and received over 7,000 responses.