Is the UK cool? Well, that might be a bit up for debate – but if you ask us, of course it is. After all, in Time Out’s recent list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world (the definitive ranking of all things cool), a whopping four UK neighbourhoods made the cut. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.
And it isn’t just us that thinks the UK is pretty cool. Travel brand National Geographic has just named its ‘Cool List’ for 2024, offering up 30 locations around the world that they reckon are most worth visiting next year – and four UK destinations make the cut.
The rest of NatGeo’s ‘Cool List’ features destinations all over the world, from Chile’s Atacama Desert and Madagascar’s Andrefana Dry Forests to the European Championships in Germany next summer.
So which four UK destinations feature? Well, first up is Belfast. The Northern Irish capital’s inclusion appears to be mostly down to its ‘year of cultural celebration’, which will likely celebrate the city’s maritime heritage and musical history.
Next is Galloway and Southern Ayrshire in Scotland, in part due to its role in the country’s new Unesco trail, while North Yorkshire in England also featured, with NatGeo focusing on the rewilding of part of the Broughton Sanctuary estate.
The final UK place on the ‘Cool List’ goes to Wales. But not just all of Wales – NatGeo specifically hones in on Welsh whisky production, suggesting we should visit distilleries like The Welsh Wind (near Cardigan Bay) and Penderyn (in Bannau Brycheiniog).
You can check out National Geographic’s ‘Cool List’ in full here. But if you’re looking for even more domestic travel inspo, you’re already in the right place. We at Time Out have extensive lists of recommendations for UK travel, from destinations to visit this year to the country’s finest evergreen things to do.
Did you see that this Scottish region is a must-visit destination in 2024, according to Lonely Planet?
Plus: this hotel chain has been named the worst in the UK.
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