York Named One Of Tripadvisor’s Top UK Destinations For 2026

The historic city of York has been named one of the UK’s must-visit cities for 2026, securing sixth place in Tripadvisor’s prestigious Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations awards. As one of the biggest tourist cities in the UK outside of London, there’s no surprise there. What York lacks in size, it makes up for in history, culture and great pubs full of character.

The accolade places York among the very top city-break destinations in the country, beating off stiff competition from other well-loved UK favourites. The awards celebrate destinations that consistently deliver outstanding experiences, based on a full year of above-and-beyond reviews from real travellers.

Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best represents the highest level of excellence in travel. Out of more than eight million listings worldwide, fewer than 1% earn the title, making York’s inclusion a strong mark of visitor satisfaction and global appeal.

Ranked sixth overall in the UK, York’s success reflects its enduring popularity with travellers who rate its hotels, restaurants and attractions among the very best. The rankings are drawn from reviews covering accommodation, places to eat and things to do, highlighting the destinations visitors genuinely love and recommend.

The 2026 awards cover 270 destinations across 60 countries, with categories including Top Destinations, Culture & History, Food, Honeymoon and Solo Travel — all areas where York continues to shine.

TripAdvisor mentions that the city of York is just two hours from London by rail, and offers nearly 1,900 years of history within its ancient city walls. Founded by the Romans in AD 71 and later shaped by Viking rule, the city is steeped in heritage. Visitors can explore Roman and Viking relics at the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens before stepping through 400 years of social history at York Castle Museum — all part of what makes the city a perennial favourite for UK and international travellers alike.