Liverpool has been named as the UK’s best large city for a break in a new Which? survey.
The consumer watchdog surveyed almost 4,000 members about their experiences of visiting UK cities and towns in the last two years.
All were scored on criteria including accommodation, food and drink, cultural sights and tourist attractions, ease of getting around, lack of crowds, and value for money –plus overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend.
Liverpool took top spot in the large cities category with a city score of 84%, beating capital cities Belfast (77%), London (76%), Cardiff (72%) and Liverpool’s close neighbour Manchester (71%) by some margin.
“Lively” and “buzzing” Liverpool scored a full five stars in the cultural sights and tourist attractions category, with respondents noting an impressive range of cultural and historical attractions beyond the Beatles.
Taking joint second place in the large cities category are Edinburgh and York, with tied city scores of 83%.
The “stunning” Scottish capital is “bursting with cultural activities” according to visitors, while York, known for its Roman and Viking heritage, also took five stars in the cultural sights and tourist attractions category.
Among medium-sized cities, Bath was the top scorer, receiving a city score of 82%, thanks to attractions such as its Roman baths and the Georgian houses of the Royal Crescent.
Wells in Somerset was the highest scoring location in the survey overall, with an impressive city score of 86%, and took first place in the small cities category.
At the opposite end of the tables, Derby (56%), Leicester (58%) and Swansea (58%) were the lowest rated large cities.
In the small and medium sized categories, Bournemouth, Torquay and Fort William in Scotland also fared poorly with joint scores of 58%.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Whether you’re after vibrant nightlife, world class museums or a first rate dining experience, our survey shows that the UK has a wealth of fantastic cities just waiting to be explored.
“Liverpool stood out among the UK’s large cities for its fantastic cultural scene and buzzing atmosphere, beating London and the UK’s other capital cities to take first place.
“For those seeking a more laid-back destination, Somerset is the place to be, with both Bath and Wells scoring highly, and each offering a wealth of historical and cultural sights.”