Bristol

FROM big cities to waterfront towns in the Lake District – these destinations are the top places to visit this winter.

The Tripadvisor Travel Index has found places on the up based on searches for travel between November 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027.

At the very top of the list is the city of Cardiff which “transforms into a winter wonderland at Christmas.”

Tripadvisor suggests a walking tour of the city, or if you want to explore further afield, take this day trip by steam train.

The capital of Wales has plenty to explore from its historic castles to museums and shopping arcades.

Cardiff Market, which is housed under a Victorian glass ceiling is a market that spans across two floors with lots of food stalls underneath.

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Another popular spot is Caroline Street which is known locally as Chip Alley as it’s where you’ll find the majority of fish and chip shops and fast food takeaways.

For those wanting to visit in time for the Christmas market, the Cardiff Christmas Market runs from November 12 until December 23.

In second place is Pitlochry in Scotland which has deep ties with the royal family.

It dates back to the 1840s when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Pitlochry.

Queen Victoria praised the town for having fresh ‘Highland air’ which transformed the quiet village into a thriving Victorian holiday resort.

One suggested attraction is a trip to Blair Athol Distillery which is a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice winner.

In third spot is Keswick which was praised for its “stunning scenery” particularly around Derwentwater.

It’s framed by mountains like Skiddaw which is the fourth-highest mountain in the Lake District.

For those who want to get out on the water visitors can book onto a Keswick lake cruise – this has views of Skiddaw and ‘Jaws of Borrowdale’ which is a dramatic and narrow gorge.

Another spot on the list is the seaside town of Newquay which while it’s popular for its beaches in the summer, is proving to be a top winter choice too.

When it’s a little darker, take a stroll around the town which has cosy cafes, pubs and shops.

One of the trending cities includes Durham, the historic city sits on the River Wear and has thousands of years of history including its castle and cathedral.

Other cities on the list include Bristol, Leeds and Norwich.

Top Trending UK Destinations…

1. Cardiff, Wales
2. Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross
3. Keswick, Cumbria
4. Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne
5. Bristol
6. St Andrews, Fife
7. Norwich, Norfolk
8. Stratford-upon-Avon, West Midlands
9. Newquay, Cornwall
10. Leeds, Yorkshire

FROM trendy coastal towns to reformed suburbs, the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK have been revealed – and only one in the UK’s capital.

Time Out has found the country’s most exciting spots, taking into account factors like thriving food scenes, nightlife, theatre, art and shopping.

11 neighbourhoods made the list, and in top place is Govanhill in Glasgow – the former deprived suburb was also voted the fifth best in the world.

It was praised for its trendy new bars, bookshops and brunch spots.

Reporter for the Scottish Sun Oliver Norton revealed more about it – he told us: “I’m not surprised that Govanhill has just been voted the fifth coolest neighbourhood in the world.

“There’s always something going on, and the multicultural vibe has totally transformed what some once considered a deprived dump.

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“When visiting, I like to swing by Cibo, an Italian kitchen and deli, or one of the trendy cafes before browsing through local book and record shops.

“Later in the day, the area comes alive thanks to some of Glasgow’s best pubs – far away from the stress of the city centre.

“Personal favourites include McNeill’s Bar or Ryan’s Bar where some of the city’s finest DJs and selectors have provided the soundtrack to many a night.”

Only one London neighbourhood made it onto the list and that was Newington Green.

The North London neighbourhood came third on the UK list, and 33rd position in the world’s best.

The publication described Newington Green as “brimming with brilliance.”

Along with plenty of lovely coffee shops and restaurants, the area does have some more gritty spots too.

Time Out said “From newly forged, hipstery gastropub Golden Tooth and small-herd butcher-cum-nightclub Stella’s to legendary Turkish seafood joint Sariyer Balik and the old Mildmay Club, Newington Green successfully combines both new and old London.”

Coming in ninth spot was the only seaside town on the list, Central St Leonards in East Sussex.

It was praised by Time Out for its ‘tip-top coffee shops’, galleries and ‘indie businesses’ like the indoor market called Heist along with its hole-in-the-wall bars and cafes.

Earlier this year, Time Out even said that St Leonards was giving Margate a run for its money as a ‘trendy coastal epicentre‘.

The second best neighbourhood on the list was revealed to be the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast – which also came 24th in the ‘best in the world’ list.

It was described as having “cobbled lanes and old warehouses housing galleries, gig spaces, restaurants, yoga studios and enduring cultural institutions.”

Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens said: “Whether you’re wanting a pint in a pretty setting, the city’s coolest souvenir shopping or a backdrop for your Instagram pictures, the Cathedral Quarter is the place to be in Belfast.”

“The area is anchored by St Anne’s Cathedral, where cobbled streets branch out to reveal buzzy bars, pubs and independent shops.

“Once an old warehouse district, this trendy quarter is now the city’s creative heart. Victorian warehouses that used to store linen and rope now house art galleries and indie coffee shops.”

When it comes to food, Jenna suggests checking out The Dirty Onion and Yardbird, The Muddlers Club, and the Common Market.

The North of England is where most of the cool neighbourhoods are according to Time Out.

These included the likes of Underbanks and Central Stockport, Crookes in Sheffield and the Georgian Quarter in Liverpool.

Full list of the 11 coolest neighbourhoods in the UK 2026…

1. Govanhill, Glasgow
2. Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
3. Newington Green, London
4. Underbanks and Central Stockport
5. Leith Walk, Edinburgh
6. Crookes, Sheffield
7. Heaton, Newcastle
8. Beeston, Nottingham
9. Central St Leonards, East Sussex
10. Georgian Quarter, Liverpool
11. Old Market, Bristol

Meanwhile, it emerged over the weekend that Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam did not select three of his key players because of the state of the StoneX Stadium pitch.

Pedro Rubiolo, AJ MacGinty and Steven Luatua were rested for the trip to north London.

“They came off big injuries last season so it wasn’t worth putting them on that pitch,” Lam explained.

“If we were playing the game at home or if it was a semi-final, they would have played.”

Saracens have been contacted for comment.

Lam has previously voiced his opposition to artificial pitches being used in the Prem.

Following the Bears’ league win at Newcastle in April, Lam blamed the pitch for causing a number of injuries to his team.

“These pitches are hard – I’m not a big fan of them,” Lam said at the time.

“We always take injuries on them and we’ve taken a few more.”

Newcastle installed a new pitch at Kingston Park this summer before the 2026-27 season and have kept it fully artificial.