The surprise UK city that just beat Berlin and Amsterdam in Time Out’s 2026 ranking of the best cities in the world

Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel 2026 has been unveiled. For our 10th annual ranking of the world’s greatest cities, more than 24,000 urban dwellers from across the globe told us about life in their city – from how easy it is to make friends in Buenos Aires to how good the public transport is in Singapore to the quality of cultural offerings in Kraków.

After we crunched the numbers and tapped up our network of local writers, three UK cities made the cut. Edinburgh was the highest rated in third place, followed by London in fourth. The only other British city on the list this year was Bath. It ranked 26th on our list, sitting higher than the likes of Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin and Lisbon. 

The little Somerset city got lots of attention last year as it was central to the 250th birthday celebrations of one of Britain’s greatest authors, Jane Austen. Both Conde Nast Traveller and the New York Times named it one of the best cities to visit for that reason. But even after those celebrations have died down, Bath remains an enchanting place to go. 

In 2026 the city’s sprawling Thermae Bath Spa, which features Britain's only natural thermal hot springs, turns 20 years old. So, definitely factor in time to stop by for a rooftop dip and a sauna session. Or, head to the spa at The Francis Hotel, which is launching brand-new facilities this month.

Time Out contributor and Bath local Rosemary Waugh said: ‘Like Bridgerton, which is filmed here, Bath eschews the fustiness of a history lesson in favour of a playful and fun blend of the old and the new.’

For the old, check out the magnificent Bath Abbey, the grand Roman Baths and the Grade I-listed No.1 Royal Crescent. For the new, Rosemary recommends getting dinner at veggie spot Oak, walking the Skyline, and doing a crawl of some of the best indie book shops around: Topping, Mr B’s and Persephone Books.

More of the greatest places to eat in the city include the Michelin-starred Olive Tree (Time Out’s number one Bath pick) and Beckford Bottle Shop and Chequers, which have both been awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand for offering amazing food at great value. 

As a place to live, our survey found that Bath is particularly good if you value a sense of community. It received the highest score for community feel, with 86 percent of locals saying they feel a sense of belonging in the city, and it’s the easiest place to make friends and meet new people out of all cities surveyed, according to 76 percent of locals. And, with a near-perfect 94 percent approval score, it was the top-ranked city for green spaces and nature.

The best cities in the UK, according to Time Out

In our 2026 ranking of the greatest city destinations in the world, three places in the UK made the cut: 

1. Edinburgh (third overall)
2. London (fourth)
3. Bath (26th)

See Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel 2026 in full here. 

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