York named UK’s best big city for a domestic holiday by Which? readers

Cobbled alleys, medieval stained glass windows and a mixture of independent shops and restaurants are just some of the reasons why York has been ranked as the best large city for a domestic holiday, according to a new annual survey from Which?

The cathedral metropolis was rated 86% by members of the consumer group who visited the city – with top ratings for its food and drink offer and cultural attractions.

Belfast came in second place on 85%, followed by Edinburgh, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Despite a dazzling array of cultural attractions and some of the best restaurants in Europe, London was the seventh favourite large city for Which? members to visit.

The top-rated city of medium size was Cambridge with its “historic college buildings” and “well-kept gardens” on 81%. The home of one of the UK’s most prestigious universities was followed by Canterbury, Winchester, Chester and Harrogate.

The best place for a domestic break in a smaller settlement was Wells in Somerset, which garnered 88%, in part due to its “epic endeavour of ecclesiastical architecture”. St Davids in Pembrokeshire and Bath came a close second and third place, followed by St Andrews in Scotland and Ely in Cambridgeshire.

Members of Which? were asked to rate 56 cities and towns and give them scores out of five in seven categories: food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights, shopping, ease of getting around, lack of crowds and value for money.

Not all areas were as warmly received by domestic tourists, with Aberdeen getting 59%, which was the lowest rating for a large city.

Southampton and Plymouth were rated 61% and 63% respectively, keeping them off the bottom of the table.

The lowest-rated medium-sized city for a short break was Ipswich on 54%, with Gloucester and Bournemouth just above the Suffolk town.

The least-regarded smaller area to visit was the seaside town of Hastings, in East Sussex, and just above it in the table came one of the bastions of Conservative England that inspired the letter-writer pseudonym “Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells”.

Residents of Tunbridge Wells are sure to be sharpening their quills to protest at the paltry two stars given for the spa town’s food and drink offering and what visitors thought of its value for money.

Guy Hobbs, the editor of Which? Travel, said: “While the UK’s stunning coastal and countryside destinations have stolen much of the glory during the recent ‘staycation’ boom, our research shows just how much the UK’s towns and cities have to offer those searching for the perfect long weekend away.”