[category]
[title]
Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for a holiday abroad. But we’re also huge advocates for a staycation. Britain is teeming with towns, cities and villages all with their own brilliant unique charm. There’s the sweet chocolate-box vibes of the Cotswolds, the romantic drama of the Lake District, the underrated cities outside of London and the unbeatable beaches of Devon and Cornwall, to name but a few. And this year, there’s an abundance of brand new things to see and do across the country.
To help you fill your calendar, Time Out’s editors and writers have ranked 14 places across Britain that will be particularly worth a visit in 2026. Thanks to a game-changing new rail route and packed programme of cultural and community events, our number one must-see place in the UK in 2026 is Stirling.
Time Out UK’s news editor Ed Cunningham wrote: ‘Stirling is far from an unsung destination; the Scottish city’s greatness is legendary, particularly its immense historical sights – including its castle and National Wallace Monument, both beacons of Scottishness – and access to extraordinary natural landscapes like Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. But in 2026 there’ll be one huge new reason to visit Stirling: the launch of an affordable direct train service from London that will make the city cheaper, easier and more accessible to get to than ever.’
Budget rail operator Lumo is launching a direct route from London to Stirling in mid-2026. The trains will run to and from London Euston four times a day Monday to Saturday and three times a day on Sundays. If you book early enough in advance, you’ll be able to find a one-way ticket for less than £30.
The new route is landing at a perfect time. This year, Stirling will also host the finale of its 900th anniversary celebrations. Festivities have been going on for the last two years and they’ll wrap up in May with a huge night of music, dance, comedy and more at Stirling Castle. On top of that, Stirling Distillery will release its first batch of Stirling whisky in late 2026 and independent venues across the city will take part in Stirling Cocktail Week, offering stellar food and drinks deals, in the autumn.
We suggest taking advantage of the new train route in August, when you can combine your city break with the Stirling Highland Games and International Gathering. It’s a showcase of elite Highland athletic events like the caber toss, hammer throw and shot putt, accompanied by a creative arts programme with live historic battle demos, live music and talks on Scottish heritage.
Other spots that made it onto our list of the UK’s best places to visit in 2026 include Hastings and St Leonards, Stockport, Edinburgh and Cirencester, as well as London’s Strand (read more about the latter here).
See Time Out’s full roundup of the UK’s best places to visit in 2026 here.
Plus: Nottingham is getting a major new LGBTQ+ district.
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.