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THE top 50 cities to visit in 2026 have been revealed, and the UK hasn’t done too badly.

Time Out has teamed up with Intrepid for its annual Best Cities of 2026, speaking to 24,000 people living in cities around the world.

A panel of 100 Time Out city experts were also asked about the most exciting cities in the world, looking at data from 44 different criteria.

This includes food and drink, green spaces, culture, sense of community and Gen Z appeal.

While Melbourne came out on top, Edinburgh came in third, followed by London in fourth.

Edinburgh was praised for its famous Fringe Festival, as well as its “cherry-blossom-lined parks, cobbled alleyways and distinctive neighbourhoods that offer hours of exploration”.

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It was also one of the happiest cities in the survey, with it highly rated for both food and green spaces.

When it comes to London, its the new attractions that were praised such as the Museum of London in Smithfield.

And 99 per cent of Londoners praised its art and culture.

Bath snuck into the full top 50 at number 26, praised for its new hotels, good community feel and the celebration of 20 years of the Thermae Bath Spa.

Time Out Travel Editor Grace Beard said: “Every year, we survey locals in cities all over the planet to create our definitive annual ranking.

“Now in its tenth anniversary year. Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel is not only a global snapshot of city living, but a celebration of the fun, culture and community that defines urban life.

“For 2026, we expanded our survey to reach 150 cities and added questions that dig deeper into the everyday lives of locals, including new categories for love, romance and community feel.

“The result is a truly diverse and exciting list of destinations, deeply informed by local insight and Time Out expertise, with smaller and second cities slotted between the world’s major metropolises.”

Outside of the UK, the highest rated city in mainland Europe was Zurich, coming in 11th place.

This was followed by Copenhagen (13), Krakow (16) and Porto (17).

The Spanish cities of Madrid and Valencia snuck into the top in 19th and 20th, respectively.

For long-haul destinations, New York, Bangkok and Tokyo all made the top 10.

Shanghai was praised for being easier to travel to this year, following the scrapping of visas until the end of 2026, while Seoul was one of the most popular with Time Out staff.

Another study named the 100 best cities in Europe, featuring 17 in the UK – here’s the full list.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor has been to more than 100 cities around the world and has named her favourite ways to do it on a budget.

And London was even named the world’s best city by Tripadvisor so we rounded up all of our top things to do in the capital.

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With a two-mile long beach, a charming high street and great food, it’s the perfect spot for a day trip

A coastal suburb located just 15 minutes from a major UK capital city deserves a spot on your spring getaway list right now. Although it’s not quite warm and sunny yet, a seaside trip is an excellent way to clear your head, and nothing quite compares to those stunning views across the water.

I visited Portobello near Edinburgh late last year, and I’m amazed I hadn’t made the journey earlier. With a high street packed with independent retailers, fantastic cuisine, and excellent transport connections, it’s truly an ideal destination if you’re looking to venture slightly off the tourist trail.

The bus journey from the city centre took just 15 minutes, dropping us directly in the town’s centre, and it was instantly apparent that this location was something special.

Unsurprisingly, our first port of call was heading straight to the waterfront for a leisurely stroll along the coast. The conditions were gloriously sunny and clear, albeit cold, but it was quite invigorating following the hour-long train journey from Glasgow.

Portobello’s shoreline stretches for two miles, boasting a Victorian-era promenade and panoramic views across the Firth of Forth. Given it was a bright Sunday morning, the area was reasonably busy, with numerous families out strolling and dogs bounding across the sand.

The first thing that struck me about the beach was its cleanliness. It’s evident that the locals of Portobello, or ‘Porty’ as it’s fondly referred to, take immense pride in their environment.

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I regret not visiting during the summer months, as I can see this being a fantastic spot for sunbathing and perhaps even taking a dip in the sea. But it’s not long now until it’ll hopefully be warm enough to do just that.

In 2024, Portobello was named the second-best coastal town in the UK by JoJo Maman Bebe, and its beach has also been honoured with a Keep Scotland Beautiful award, proving its allure.

After a leisurely stroll along the beach and working up an appetite, we decided it was time to grab a bite to eat. The seafront at Portobello beach is lined with a huge array of dining options, from enormous pizza slices at Civerino’s to brunch and coffee at The Beach House.

Many of these places offer outdoor seating, allowing you to dine practically on the beach, and it was lovely to see so many people doing just that.

We chose to visit Shrimp Wreck, a seafood joint boasting a small yet appetising menu. This street food stall was featured on BBC’s My Million Pound Menu and is renowned for its fish finger sandwiches – even securing a finalist position in the Birds Eye Fish Finger Sandwich Awards in 2017.

Naturally, this is what I opted for, and I can see why it’s so popular. Battered flaky fish fillets, mushy peas and the best chips I’ve ever had, all served in a soft roll, was perhaps the messiest meal I could have chosen, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

Next, it was time to properly explore the high street where the bus had left us. It’s situated just behind the promenade, and whilst it wasn’t as bustling as the beach itself, there were still plenty of people milling about – and importantly, a good number of shops open for business.

One of the standout spots for me was The Portobello Bookshop, a delightful independent bookshop brimming with novels, cookbooks and much more. The space was light, cosy and inviting, the sort of place where you could easily spend hours browsing without getting bored.

They also host events, such as Q+A’s with authors, so it’s worth checking out their schedule if you’re planning a visit.

Cove is another must-see if you’re a fan of gift shops. This one was packed with every trinket imaginable, from Jellycat toys to candles and shampoo bars, not to mention lovely cards and tempting chocolate bars too.

Portobello’s high street might not be the largest, but it’s certainly one of the most charming I’ve seen. There are additional food and drink options here, as well as pubs and even an Aldi, so you’re unlikely to run out of options anytime soon.

One spot we didn’t manage to visit, which I’m eager to return for, is the swim centre. Here in Portobello, you’ll discover a genuine Victorian Turkish bath, one of only 11 in the UK, as well as a gym and fitness studio, so this is certainly on the list for our next trip.

If you’ve never been to Portobello, it truly is the ideal location for a weekend getaway – even in chillier weather. Its proximity to the lively city of Edinburgh makes it perfect if you’re looking to escape the city rush and spend some time dining, drinking and unwinding by the water.

DID you know that the UK is home to Europe’s largest wave pool?

The resort that’s a haven for surfers has just been named as the best of its kind in the world – it also has on-site restaurants and luxury lodges.

Lost Shore Surf Resort in Ratho has been named the World’s Best Surf Park by Blooloop.

The publication assessed the likes of on-site food and drink, overnight accommodation, hot tubs and recovery pools, viewing areas.

The resort was a £60million project and is found on a Craigpark Quarry just outside of Edinburgh.

It opened in 2024 and last year welcomed 200,000 visitors – of course most were enticed by the fact that it’s home to Europe’s largest wave pool which provides top tiers water conditions for keen surfers.

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Surf lesson start from £65 (£55 for children) and is coached in groups of eight with qualified instructors.

For those who are more experienced, a ‘surf session’ starts from £60 (£50 for children) – you can choose the wave setting and get started.

There are also surfskate lessons on offer which is a form of skateboarding that feels like surfing on dry land – and is recommended for beginners before heading into the water.

These start from £22.50 (£17 for children).

While Lost Shore Resort is obviously a haven for surfers, but there’s so much more to do on-site too from checking out its food options, to checking into its beautiful pods and lodges.

The high-end luxury Hilltop Lodges at the resort have sweeping views across the cove.

Inside are open plan living areas with up to four bedrooms and are ideal for families or large groups.

A stay in a Hilltop Lodge which sleeps up to eight people starts from £200 (with a minimum two night stay).

The cheapest stay is in the waterfront pods which are right next to the wave pool and each comes with a floating super king bed.

It’s high-tech so guests get touchscreen and app control over the pod -it has mood lighting and the en-suite bathroom has underfloor heating.

A one-night stay in the pod which sleeps up to two people starts from £100 per night.

There are plenty of offers for those who want to ‘surf and stay’ with one night in a Waterfront Pod along with four surfs starting from £300.

Blooloop added: “The venue goes above and beyond the core surf park offerings through its Surf Therapy collaborations with The Wave Project and Inclusive Surfing Scotland.

“Weekly events fill the calendar like Quiz Night, dance events, movie premieres, kids surf camps and specialty surf competitions.”

The resort focuses on wellness too, so the resort also has a spa with a wood-fired sauna – a 30-minute session is just £10.

Visitors and members can also book massages and other treatments.

There are even surf-inspired treatments like ‘soulful surfer’ which is an aromatherapy and rebalance ritual.

It’s loved by visitors too, one wrote on Tripadvisor: “Lost Shore is a Phenomenal place. The food was amazing, surf was awesome and the accommodation was stunning. I would highly recommend a visit.”

Another guest added: “The facility is incredible, looks beautiful and the attention to detail of every aspect is clear to see. We stayed in a large pod and it was amazing, right beside the pool, big rooms, kitchen, all the amenities you could want.”

Over the Easter holidays, Lost Shore Resort is offering family stays in the Hilltop Lodges from £150 per night.

And for anyone staying in the months of February and March, guests can enjoy a free brunch, from pastries to granola, toasted croissants and breakfast baps.

There are three different restaurants at the canteen on the resort – lost Kitchen which serves up the likes of chunky fish fingers and fried chicken with chips.

At Lost Taco, dig into Mexican favourites of tacos, burritos and nachos, or opt for Civerinos or pizzas and crispy gnocchi.

As for where to find it, Lost Shore Resort is 25 minutes from Edinburgh‘s city centre.

For more on surfing, one writer visited The Wave near Bristol – which is the second best surf park in the world.

Plus, check out this exotic new ‘floating’ outdoor swimming pool to open right by the River Thames.