Five best cities in the UK ranked – number one not in England | UK | Travel

In the UK alone, there are a total of 76 cities, and no two are the same. Some of our cities birthed iconic bands, authors and football teams, while others barely even pass the city credentials. But which of these stand out the most? As someone who has lived in four UK cities, I feel I have good grounds to rank the top five UK cities, and number one is not an English city.

Admittedly, I have not visited every single UK city, but I have travelled to many and spent lots of time in some of the biggest. Here are my top UK cities.

Home to the Industrial Revolution, iconic football clubs and a massive musical legacy, Manchester had to make the top five. I’ve been to Manchester a couple of times, and I absolutely love it. The Northern Quarter has such a buzz about it, and an energy that you can’t quite explain, but I think that comes down to the people and the music. Too many iconic bands, such as Oasis, The Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, and The Stone Roses, have all come out of the city itself, helping to put it on the map globally. If you are looking for a city break and enjoy nightlife, this is your call to give Manchester a try.

Known for its stunning architecture, beautiful castle backdrop and celebrating the arts, Edinburgh is one of the UK’s top cities. As I was born only an hour out of the city, I have spent lots of time there from a very young age. It is a lovely place to visit all year round, with amazing restaurants, shopping and arts galleries dotted all over the place. But the thing I know it best for is the Fringe Festival that takes place in August, when the city truly comes to life. You can spend your time watching obscure art, chatting to people from all over the world and laughing at comedians you’d never heard of prior. If you’ve never visited the Scottish capital during the festival, I’d urge you to go for it.

Known most for being home to the RMS Titanic and a complex political city, Belfast is a place like no other. Visiting for the first time in 2016, it took me by surprise and quickly held a special place in my heart. As a lover of all things history, I have devoted a lot of time to learning about Belfast’s journey through time. The pubs in Belfast are an institution and you are guaranteed to meet a local full of craic and anecdotes to no end upon visiting.

What to say about London? I lived here for two years and learned so much. It is such a vibrant place with so much to offer and so culturally diverse. The best thing about London is the opportunity, there is a never-ending list of things to do, people to meet and also the chance to build your career. It is the heart of pop culture, arts and entertainment in the UK, with the West End being just one example of that. London is no-brainer must visit, and if you can, I’d encourage everyone to live there for some time.

In at number one is one of my favourite places in the world, Glasgow. This city is truly like no other, and that is down to its people, sense of community and openness. I have also lived there for a couple of years, and have never experienced being smiled at by strangers more than those two years. The city is a buzz right now ahead of the World Cup, which adds to the magical feeling it gives off even more so. Known largely for street art, its live music scene and football heritage, the city feels alive, even in the pouring rain.