Section: Travel:Best of British

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

A SMALL station in Manchester that first opened in the 1800s has been crowned the best in the country at the ‘World Cup of Stations’.

It has trackside seating, an Airbnb upstairs and beat 150 stations across the country for the title.

‘The World Cup Of Stations’ was launched in honour of 200 years of railways in Britain and brings attention to the stories behind the stations and how much they’ve changed and brought communities together.

This year there was 150 nominations from across the country, but Irlam in Salford took the title with 4786 votes.

Irlam Station first opened in 1873 and was used for many years although its station building fell into disrepair in the 1980s.

The station itself remained opened to passengers and now sees as many as 350,000 passengers each year.

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11 years ago, the station house was restored as part of a £2million project and reopened in March 2015.

It’s much more than a simple station now, as inside is a railway-themed café-bar with train carriage booths.

The 142-year-old signal box has been restored and reopened.

There’s a heritage hub too which has railway artefacts including formerly used locomotives.

In The Station garden is an homage to Harry Potter‘s Platform 9 and three quarters, as well as James the Tank Engine.

Also outside in the Station Art Park are 3D sculptures which ‘reflect the area’s history‘ including a seating area and Hobbit-style cottage.

Back inside the station house is Irlam Café Bar which serves up breakfast, main meals from burgers to toasted sandwiches, salads and even Sunday roasts.

Afternoon tea can be booked from £18.95 and train enthusiasts will love that you can enjoy this in the Signal Box.

It’s also a bar so there are plenty of drinks to try too and seats outside for trainspotting.

Above the train station is an Airbnb – the apartment can sleep up to four people across two bedrooms and guests enter through the Station Master’s Door.

One guest wrote in their review: “The apartment is located in a train station which makes this very special place.”

Another called it a “unique space perfect for train enthusiasts.”

A three-night stay for four in November can be booked for £404 – or £33.67pppn.

Tricia Williams, Managing Director of Northern, said: “The station has a unique charm and is well worth a visit. You can enjoy a meal in the café, take a tour of the gardens to see some amazing 3D artwork and visit the heritage hub.”

The other final four stations in the running were Cardoss in Argyll & Bute, Brookwood in Surrey, Yatton in Somerset and Berney Arms in Norfolk.

Last year’s winner was Ashington in Northumberland which closed in the 1960s and then reopened in 2024.

FORGET Mykonos, Saint Tropez and Dubai – if you want to holiday like a celebrity, there are plenty of spots loved by A-listers in the UK.

From English seaside towns to tiny Welsh village, all of these places are loved by celebrities – and you’re likely to see them there too.

Mawgan Porth

Cornwall is sprinkled with beautiful beaches and pretty fishing villages, but there’s one spot in particular that has become a favourite hideaway for A-listers.

The small coastal village of Mawgan Porth is quite often less busy than other towns which is another reason why it’s drawn in celebrity names – it’s even been nicknamed Hollywood-on-Sea.

The likes of Cate Blanchett, Stanley Tucci and Jason Statham have properties in the area, while other big names have also been spotted.

Aquaman star Jason Momoa has been reportedly eyeing up a property in the town.

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Other stars including Jamie Dornan and Chris Martin also reportedly have homes in the area.

The small hamlet has a pretty beach and eating spots like the Ship Inn, the New Yard Restaurant and Fat Apples Cafe.

It’s also equal distance between Newquay and Padstow – so it’s very easy to get to both seaside towns.

Cotswolds ‘Golden Triangle’

The Cotswolds is known as being an idyllic place with classic English-looking villages – some of which are the most beautiful in the world.

It attracts visitors from all over the world and is even home to celebrities, especially in three villages considered the ‘Golden Triangle‘.

One of the towns is Chipping Norton, which is where a number of famous celebs live including the Beckhams, Jeremy Clarkson and Kate Moss.

Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop is also found here.

It’s even been said that at The Chequers, which is the local pub, you might even see David Beckham enjoying a pint.

Another town in the Golden Circle is Stow-on-the-Wold which is close to where Kate Winslet reportedly owns a countryside retreat.

The third place that makes up the Golden Triangle is Burford and it’s been rumoured that Hugh Grant owns a rustic country cottage nearby.

Surprisingly, celebrities have been spotted at Burford Garden Centre, which is considered one of the fanciest in the country.

Beyonce and Jay Z were rumoured to have been spotted there before.

Southend-on-Sea

In recent years, the Essex town of Southend-on-Sea has become an unlikely hotspot for some of the UK’s best-known TV personalities.

Actress Michelle Keegan has been spotted in the area and last year, spent her first Mother’s Day as a mum at the Roslin Beach Hotel on Thorpe Bay.

The Roslin Beach Hotel has also been open to guests like Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise van Outen. Some TOWIE stars have visited too, including Frankie Essex.

Another spot in Southend that has had celebrity visitors is Leigh-on-Sea.

One local called Karen who works at the Osborne Cafe and Seafood merchant on the seafront, previously told The Sun: “We’ve had Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Prime minister Rishi – oh and Bridget Jones’ dad – Jim Broadbent.

“Jedward were down with Gemma Collins, The Hairy Bikers, Denise Welch.”

Leigh-on-Sea is the hometown of Helen Mirren, who moved there as a child.

The trendy seaside town has lots to explore like its high street filled with pubs, tearooms and cafes.

Some of the most popular spots include Ye Olde Smack, which overlooks the Thames Estuary, as well as the neighbouring The Boatyard.

Broadway is the spot for independent shops, antique stores and plenty of boutiques like Just Fox, Heatherbie of Leigh and The Magic Wardrobe.

Mumbles, Wales

This popular coastal village in Swansea is considered the gateway to the Gower Peninsula.

It’s also considered an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you’ll find the ruins of an old castle, a lighthouse, a promenade, and the Swansea Bay Rider Land Train.

The village is a great shopping spot, with a number of high-end shops, independent boutiques, and galleries.

The Times called the Gower Peninsula the best place to live in Wales in 2025.

So it’s no wonder that it’s drawn in some well-known celebrity faces like Bonnie Tyler and Catherine Zeta Jones.

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