The results of the annual Readers' Choice Awards by luxury and lifestyle travel magazine and website Condé Nast Traveller have revealed the best UK cities to visit, as voted for by their readers - and Cardiff has made it into the top 10 list.
The company claims their reader awards are the biggest and most influential in the business, shining a light on the best places around the world and are produced in collaboration with their sister title in the USA, so our capital city has obviously been delighting visitors across the globe.
The list is based predominantly on 'urban destinations that scored the highest marks when it comes to nightlife, restaurants and friendliness' and then given a total score.
READ MORE: 10 of the best villages to visit in Wales
Of course, anyone who has visited Cardiff in the last few years, pre-Covid pandemic, will know it's got a substantial array of places to eat and socialise.
In the city centre, down at the bay and within the thriving suburbs there are hot spots dotted all over the capital to experience great food and a memorable night out. You can find out more about how to spend 48 hours eating and drinking in the city here.
It may be a capital city and constantly expanding and evolving, but it still has that friendly feel, helped by the fact that in the centre all the eateries, bars, pubs and events are within a short walk. It's compact and easy to navigate within a context of its historic past and contemporary present and future.
The city has a heart beating with culture and sport, as well as the beautiful central Bute Park - read more about Cardiff's parks here - and castle as city centre landmarks to enjoy, and the bonus of waterside dining and strolling in the totally transformed Cardiff Bay.
In last year's Condé Nast 2020 Readers' Choice Awards, Cardiff was number seven, so the only Welsh location is heading in the right direction.
Here is the top 10 in reverse order:
10. York
The Yorkshire city that oozes history and charm and a famous cathedral makes it onto the list due to it now being 'bustling with independent cafés and restaurants, with many locals returning home to set up shop'.
9. Bath
The city of stunning properties, spas and Roman history might need to be higher up the list for some people, especially as Condé Nast comment that Bath is 'beloved as a top spot for one of the best weekend breaks in the UK and one of the most beautiful cities in the UK and even the whole of Europe'.
8. Belfast
The first capital city to make an appearance on the list, Belfast comes in at a very respectable number eight because 'the Northern Irish capital is not just famous for being birthplace to the RMS Titanic, but also for its vibrant culture and art scene'.
7. Cambridge
This idyllic city has a tapestry of history, meandering medieval lanes and waterways weaved within its core and is, of course, famous for its university, 'but now a perky batch of new arrivals are adding cocktail and coffee culture to the equation' means it sails onto this year's list.
6. Cardiff
So here is our capital holding part of the middle ground at number six, and beating some historic cities in the process.
The vibrant food scene is the key to the city's inclusion in the list say Condé Nast. But as we know, there's so much more to our fabulous capital city than food and nightlife.
5. Manchester
It's a hub of socialising in the north west of England, but it never stands still having 'a vibrant cultural history, regularly reinvents itself, building boundary-pushing architecture and becoming a well-established foodie hub in the UK'. So the city happily sits on this year's list.
4. Glasgow
Anyone who thinks there's only one major city in Scotland worth visiting for a fantastic social gathering needs to visit Glasgow, as this city Condé Nast describes as 'buzzy' has made it onto the list for the fourth year in a row.
3. Liverpool
Whatever happens on the football field this season, Liverpool can revel in the glory of beating intense regional rival Manchester in the best UK city to visit according to Condé Nast.
The city offers a huge range of places to eat, socialise and absorb culture, from the famous Mathew Street where The Beatles used to perform, to the converted Albert Dock, as well as pies on match day at Anfield and Goodison Park too, of course.
2. Edinburgh
Second place for Scotland's capital, due to it being 'famed for its festival and varied architecture, and in the last few years the city has developed into a foodie hotspot'.
Edinburgh was the 2020 winner, so residents of this vibrant city might feel somewhat disappointed at losing the crown this year.
1. London
Not a surprise to see London at the top of the tree, but it arguably has a head start being so big and bursting full of a huge variety of social opportunities.
However, in the 2020 list, London could only muster third place and was beaten by Oxford and Edinburgh.
Condé Nast says 'London is not just a major city but a thriving hub of 32 boroughs, each with their own, distinct character, from hip Dalston to colourful Notting Hill and buzzing Soho.
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