The buzzing northern British city that is one of the best cheap city breaks in Europe in 2026

Keen to lift those January blues by booking a holiday, but not quite got the funds to do so? Here’s just the thing. Time Out has just named the greatest affordable city break destinations in Europe in 2026, picking out top destinations that you can have an excellent time in without breaking the bank – and one of the places is here in the UK.

Time Out’s list was based on a huge range of factors, all related to how much you get in each city for your money. Among the price indicators were the cost of a one-bed Airbnb and a pint – who needs much else, eh? It should be noted that this isn’t a list of the most affordable places to go on holiday, but the best cheap destinations. In other words, it’s more about value than the bottom line.

The UK city that made the cut was Hull, which placed third overall. The Yorkshire port city – full name Kingston upon Hull – is a firm favourite among Time Out’s team, often recommended for its cultural scene, LGBTQ+-friendliness and historic old town.

In terms of the cost of pints and rentals, the average cost of a pint in Hull was just £4.75 – which, while not cheap in the context of the rest of the list (Hungarian town Miskolc has ’em for just £1.35), is pretty good for the UK. A one-bed Airbnb rental in the town costs a very reasonable £68 per night.

Commenting on Hull’s inclusion in the ranking, Time Out Guides Editor Ella Doyle said: ‘You can’t ignore one of Hull’s biggest draws: compared to the rest of the UK, it’s seriously cheap. And as the UK’s other major cities all get closer to London prices (we’re looking at you, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester), that’s more and more hard to come by.

‘For the perfect weekend visit, wander round cute shops at Hepworth Arcade and splash out a little at restaurant and bakery Hearth with all the cash you saved on the Airbnb.’

Affordability aside, Hull is also just a great city break, full stop. It’s got The Deep, an enormous aquarium with more than 3,000 species, indie art galleries like Ground and Artlink, a splendid Minster, the well-programmed Hull Truck Theatre and a bunch of top pubs. This summer the Hull Maritime Museum will also reopen, promising loads of new exhibitions.

Top of Time Out’s list of Europe’s top affordable city breaks was Sarajevo

Top of the list was Sarajevo. The capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina has pints for under two quid and Airbnbs for just £34 per night.

Check out the full list of the best cheap city breaks in Europe here.

📍 The best places to visit in the UK in 2026.

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.