A UK city was named one of the best in the world, earning it the title of the best in Britain by an esteemed international travel publication. When people think of tourists in the UK, their mind probably goes straight to the country's capital, London. It is home to some pretty famous sites, such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, as well as the West End. However, London didn't take the crown in this list by a renowned tourism publication.

Time Out recently released its list of the best cities in the world, and the top UK city to go to was revealed to be Edinburgh. The Scottish capital is steeped in fascinating history, as well as great pubs and restaurants and live music. In the list of the best cities in the world, it takes the number three spot, beating out competition from the likes of New York, Cape Town and Bangkok. To come up with the list, Time Out quizzed more than 24,000 locals to rank the best cities on the planet.

The list is now in its tenth year, and is described as "a rundown of the most exciting places to live in and to explore in 2026".

The top spot on the list goes to Melbourne, Australia, followed by Shanghai, China. Edinburgh is in third place and receives epic praise from the publication. "Edinburgh takes everything that makes life worth living and turns the dial up several notches: outstanding food, beautiful green spaces, and a vibrant arts and culture scene," says Deputy UK Editor
Chiara Wilkinson.

"This historic city, built around a towering castle and crowned by an extinct volcano, boasts cherry-blossom-lined parks, grand Georgian architecture and cobbled alleyways whose stories stretch back to the medieval period."

She adds: "You'll find a range of distinct neighbourhoods here, all of which you could easily spend hours exploring: try Stockbridge for independent boutiques, Morningside for cute coffee shops, the Cowgate for late-night bars and clubs and Leith for trendy new restaurants (read all about it in our list of the best Edinburgh restaurants for 2026).

"One of the Scottish capital's best qualities is how easy it is to get around on foot - you still feel the unmistakable thrum of a busy city, but there's comfort in knowing you're never too far from anywhere (perfect for speed-walking between comedy shows at the Fringe each August)."

In 2026, particular highlights in Edinburgh include the Hidden Door festival, the Edinburgh Arts Festival, and the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

However, it is not the only UK city to rank in the top 10. Even though it wasn't crowned the best in the UK, London comes just after Edinburgh in the global ranking at number 4.

The publication praised the historic attractions in London, as well as the food and arts scene here. Meanwhile, the number 26 spot went to Bath in Somerset, the world-famous ancient Roman city that attracts visitors from across the world for its history and uniquely preserved charm.

The UK's neighbour, Dublin, landed a number 45 spot on the list. No other UK cities made it into the top 50 list. The full list can be viewed here.