Liverpool has been named among the UK's best city breaks for 2026, securing fourth place overall and second among the country's biggest cities, according to a new study by Which? The city scored 83 per cent, narrowly missing out on the top spot to Wells, which claimed the crown with an overall score of 87 per cent.
The rankings follow research with more than 3,000 people who assessed key factors across destinations, including hotel prices, culinary scene, landmarks, and value for money.
Liverpool's strengths and scores
In the survey, Liverpool was awarded five stars for its food and drink offerings, cultural sights, shopping, accessibility, and affordability. It received four stars for its overall prettiness and accommodation options, with the average hotel price at £93 per night.
The lowest rankings were for lack of crowds and parking, each receiving three stars. The city continues to attract millions of tourists each year, with more than 61.5 million visitors recorded last year, a rise of 7.8 per cent. Tourism research by STEAM (Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity Monitor) found that 55.55 million of those were day visits, up 8.7 per cent.
Top UK city breaks for 2026
The full list of the best UK city breaks for 2026, with city, city score, and average hotel cost, includes:
- Wells, 87%, £96
- Durham, 85%, £96
- York, 84%, £104
- Liverpool, 83%, £93
- Bath, 82%, £124
- Edinburgh, 82%, £139
- Lincoln, 82%, £79
- Belfast, 81%, £119
- Bury St Edmunds, 81%, £92
- Norwich, 81%, £81
- Salisbury, 81%, £81
- Chester, 79%, £92
- Canterbury, 79%, £88
- Harrogate, 79%, £88
- Shrewsbury, 79%, £79
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 78%, £77
- St David's, 78%, n/a
- St Ives, 78%, £136
- Oxford, 77%, £89
- Winchester, 77%, £99
- Cambridge, 76%, £79
- Chichester, 76%, £99
- Glasgow, 76%, £96
- St Andrews, 76%, £137
- Stirling, 76%, £98
- Stratford Upon Avon, 76%, £110
- London, 75%, £132
- Oban, 75%, £130
- Worcester, 75%, £81
- Cardiff, 73%, £95
- Dundee, 73%, £77
- Portsmouth, 72%, £77
- Bristol, 71%, £85
- Cheltenham, 70%, £98
- Exeter, 71%, £83
- Manchester, 71%, £89
- Warwick, 71%, £81
- Hereford, 69%, £74
- Inverness, 69%, £113
- Lancaster, 69%, £80
- Leeds, 69%, £85
- Eastbourne, 68%, £66
- Brighton & Hove, 67%, £99
- Plymouth, 66%, £73
- Nottingham, 65%, £78
- Sheffield, 65%, £70
- Colchester, 64%, £73
- Hull, 63%, £55
- Gloucester, 62%, £74
- Hastings, 62%, £78
- Southampton, 61%, £92
- Aberdeen, 60%, £63
- Swansea, 60%, £79
- Torquay, 59%, £74
- Birmingham, 57%, £67
- Milton Keynes, 57%, £67
- Derby, 56%, £62
- Fort William, 56%, £132
- Bournemouth, 55%, £87
The study highlights Liverpool's continued appeal as a weekend destination, with its musical heritage, major football clubs, and iconic waterfront among the draws for visitors.
