As we trudge through all 31 days of January, it's time to look ahead to the top UK destinations for festivals, events and new cultural institutions to enjoy this year.
Thankfully, Time Out has named the best places in the UK to add to your staycation bucket list – and Folkestone, Kent, has found itself at the top of the list.
Lauded as a “top-tier seaside spot”, the Kentish town’s indie shops, culinary scene, sweeping beach and The Folkestone Triennial art festival saw it crowned the number one UK destination to visit in 2025.
London’s Stratford made a surprising entry in second thanks to two pending cultural institutions – Sadlers Wells East and the V&A East Storehouse – followed by the ceramics and oatcakes of Stoke-on-Trent.
In Scotland, Orkney and Glasgow both made the list in fourth and 15th for their Neolithic archaeology and world-class concerts, respectively.
As for Wales, the capital Cardiff came ninth, while Belfast, with Northern Ireland’s thriving music community, scored 14th.
Chiara Wilkinson, deputy UK editor of Time Out said: “Time Out is delighted to share our ranked list of the 15 best places in the UK to visit in 2025, packed with carefully curated suggestions from expert local writers around the country.
“Some might raise a few eyebrows, but we can guarantee that all of these destinations are well worth a trip this year, boasting dramatic natural beauty, landmark arts festivals, new theatre openings and more. We’ve also shared the best time to visit and our favourite personal recommendations, so you can start planning now and keep the January blues at bay.”
Time Out’s top 15 best places to visit in the UK for 2025
- Folkestone, Kent
- Stratford, London
- Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
- Orkney, Scotland
- Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Southampton, Hampshire
- York, North Yorkshire
- Whitby, North Yorkshire
- Cardiff, Wales
- Birmingham, West Midlands
- Newlyn, Cornwall
- Liverpool, Merseyside
- Norwich, Norfolk
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Glasgow, Scotland
For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast
