The city topped the list (Image: Getty)
The best city break in the UK has been chosen by the readers of Which? magazine, and the winner is the charming North Yorkshire city of York.
“York is a delightful city to walk around, especially atop its 700-year-old perimeter walls. Visitors loved the range of attractions, from the world-famous York Minster to lesser-known spots such as the (completely free) Railway Museum. York got five stars for attractiveness, ease of getting around, cultural sites and accommodation,” writes Which? magazine.
York excels in places to eat, things to see, attractiveness, and ease of getting around. But, as one survey respondent pointed out, there is a fairly significant problem with the city.
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The centre of York is remarkably well preserved (Image: Getty)
“York is a wonderful place to visit, but the downside is that it does make it very popular, and many of the streets are narrow and crowded,” they said.
The North Yorkshire city performed well in every category aside from parking (which is understandable, given it’s walled, medieval and has great train links) and crowds. Readers awarded York two stars out of five in both categories. The latter is, from my three years living in the city, a problem.
A staggering 9.4 million people visited York in 2024, meaning the relatively small city of around 200,000 people attracts more tourists than anywhere else in the UK, per capita or otherwise.
Most will descend on the grand 1,400-year-old minster, its award-winning pubs and restaurants, and the enchanting Shambles.
The city can get busy (Image: Getty)
The cobbled lanes are arguably the best-preserved medieval street in the world and scored a mention in the 1086 literary hit, the Domesday Book.
During my university years, I saw the Shambles transform with the seasons and time of day. At Christmas, the streets were packed full of nifty-gifty hungry punters looking for a deal and a warm baked good to fortify them against the chill. In the summer, the Shambles are crammed full of the sound of busking students, hen parties, and day-trippers there to enjoy some of York’s pubs.
During these periods, heading to one of the less-busy but equally charming streets on the other side of the city until the throngs ease is advisable. York is lovely, but its medieval lanes can’t accommodate everyone who wants to come, and as a result it’s a tough place to be at its busiest.
And it seems that people might be becoming a little wary of York’s business. Visitor numbers fell by more than half a million from 2024 to 2025. But, in truth, the parking and crowds are small issues in a city that’s got so much to offer. Not least, food.
The recently released Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Restaurants for 2026, which is based on first-hand reviews from millions of travellers over the last year, shows that York has a far higher concentration of great eateries than anywhere else, despite having a population almost 50 times smaller than London.
The Shambles can become quite packed (Image: Getty)
The city of 200,000 has the highest-ranked restaurants of anywhere in the UK, with Brazilian joint Casa Brazilian Rodizio coming eighth worldwide. The family-run, authentic Brazilian rodizio-style restaurant aims to “provide an unforgettable authentic taste, service and experience for an unbeatable set price!” By all accounts, it has succeeded.
Other York restaurants performed really well in the UK rankings, with Buongiorno, Enoteca By L’uva and Damastique making the top 25 in the ‘best casual dining’ list. Legacy At The Grand also found itself at number seven in a rundown of the UK’s best date-night restaurants, and Melton’s reached the same spot on the ‘best fine dining’ rundown. And finally, the family-run Turkish outfit Kapadokya 50 was named one of the UK’s best hidden gems.
The Which? city break survey results are based on an online survey conducted in August 2026 of 3,142 Which? Connect panel members who told us about 6,436 UK city break experiences where they visited for leisure purposes and stayed for at least one night in the last two years.
The cities are divided into large (over 200,000 people), medium (70,000 to 200,000) and small (under 70,000).
UK’s best large cities for a city break
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York (84%)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (78%)
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
