Anyone who has just come back from the Fringe would be forgiven for thinking the whole world and his dog descends on Edinburgh in the summer to flyer and be flyered. But as it turns out, few Brits have actually been to the Scottish capital, and are more likely to have visited Paris.
This is according to a new YouGov Omnibus survey of 8,000 UK adults, which says 55% have visited Edinburgh and 57% have visited Paris. Similarly, slightly more of us have been to Amsterdam than Nottingham.
So why are we ignoring British cities in favour of those further afield, when there is plenty to recommend our homegrown metropolises? Never mind Paris, here are the four UK cities you should be visiting instead.
Glasgow
Even fewer Brits have been to Scotland’s second city than have been to Edinburgh (just 40%), but Glasgow does lure visitors with a shopping scene to rival Paris’s. Forget the Champs-Élysées and head instead for the Style Mile, a densely packed district of designer boutiques that would keep even the most clichéd of Hollywood-comedy shopaholics busy. And while visiting the Eiffel Tower may involve a lengthy queue, it is even harder to reach the top of the Glasgow Tower – because it often closes in high winds. So you can feel extra special if you do make it inside.
Birmingham
The French may have patisserie, but Brum has sweet treats of its own. Britain’s second city is the home of Cadbury (including the delightfully kitsch Cadbury World attraction), while in the centre, an old custard factory is at the heart of the city’s creative quarter, Digbeth. And it should be a top European city break destination for other reasons too – as any Brummie will tell you, it has more miles of canal than Venice.
Manchester
Paris Saint-Germain’s spending might be grabbing headlines right now, but Manchester will forever be the spiritual home of football. Here you can dine out in Rio Ferdinand’s restaurant, Rosso, and stay in a footie-themed hotel owned by the Class of ’92. And if sport is not your bag, there are plenty of other reasons to visit, not least the city’s good looks and impeccable musical heritage (just ignore the fact the Hacienda has now become luxury flats).
Bristol
Even the French might be willing to concede that British food isn’t so bad these days if they paid a visit to Bristol, which is starting to pack a serious culinary punch. Top chefs are opening new restaurants left, right and centre, and the city also has the cultural kudos of being a haven for street artists, from Bristol boy (or girl, who can be sure?) Banksy to international spray-painters, who come here for the annual Upfest graffiti festival.
