I was filled with anticipation and excitement as I made my way up North to spend the day in a UK city that is, by all accounts, a blockbuster location.

Yet, as I wandered the winding cobbled streets and explored the walled city that had been so loudly hyped before my visit, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

The UK is packed with thriving cities that boast fascinating architecture, rich history, iconic landmarks and diverse collections of amenities set against the backdrop of a picture-postcard destination. Some of the most popular cities in the UK to visit, which have long been renowned for their beauty, include Bath, Cambridge, Edinburgh, London, and Oxford.

Another city that often tops this list, attracting thousands of tourists annually, is the historic city of York. The ancient North Yorkshire settlement was named the top place in the UK for quality of life in 2025 in the Good Growth for Cities Index, and was included in a list of the best ten Christmas market cities in the country.