Every year, National Geographic releases its anticipated list of destinations that should be on your travel radar. It’s back for 2023 and includes 35 of the most exciting and extraordinary places across the globe. And we’ve got to agree: all of them are bucket-list-worthy AF.
The buzzing northern city of Manchester was one of the UK destinations that made the list, with the publication noting that it’s an exceptional destination to visit as a family. 2023 is looking like a particularly exciting year for Manchester: the £186 million Factory International is due to open in the spring, and will act as the new permanent home of the jam-packed biannual Manchester International Festival. Then there’s the reopening of the refurbished Manchester Museum, featuring new galleries focused on Chinese, South Asian and British Asian culture and a specially designed, family-focused Belonging Gallery.
If you’re thinking about planning a visit, it’s definitely a good time to go. Manchester’s Northern Quarter was recently named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world (according to yours truly), thanks to the area’s pedestrianised streets, its abundance of quirky coffee shops and bars, and ever-changing street art.
Manchester wasn’t the only UK destination to make the ‘National Geographic’ list. Bath did too: the city was praised for its blend of ancient and new attractions, including the reopening of the UK’s oldest lido, Cleveland Pools, and the medieval church Bath Abbey (recently given a £20 million revamp).
The Scottish Highlands also made the list’s ‘nature’ category. The region’s rugged, breathtaking landscapes have always made it a travel-worthy destination, but a rewilding movement aiming to restore the scenery by planting trees and reintroducing flora and fauna offers a new reason to finally make the trip.
ICYMI: trains are now more popular than planes for London-Edinburgh trips.
Plus: this is officially the best Christmas market in the UK.