A new study has named the most ‘fun and entertaining’ cities to visit in the UK in 2026, and it’s good news for the north.
While a new year often brings with it a renewed urge to want to jet off on holiday, it can also make us eager to see what our own country has to offer by booking a little staycation to experience somewhere new right on our doorstep.
But which cities should we be heading to for a good time?
If you’re looking for adventure and excitement out of your staycation, then travel experts at Braw Scottish Tours set out to find the most fun places in the country by analysing 50 cities and towns across the UK to uncover where visitors are most ‘spoiled for choice’ in 2026.
Whether you’re planning a weekend break or a longer city escape, the right destination can make all the difference, especially if you’re looking for a mix of nightlife, outdoor space, and good value for money.
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Manchester has been named one of the most entertaining cities in the UK / Alex Bracken (via Unsplash) | The Manc Group | MCR Art Fair
The study looked at 17 key factors across three main areas – entertainment and nightlife, recreation and outdoor activities, and lifestyle and amenities.
Everything from pubs and live music venues, to parks and the cost of a pint or movie ticket were analysed, because according to the travel experts, the best cities don’t just offer fun, they make it easy and affordable to enjoy.
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The north has taken the top spot on the list, as Newcastle has been named the UK’s most fun and entertaining city to visit in 2026.
Other northern cities in the top 20 include Leeds, Blackpool, Bradford, and Hull… oh, and Manchester, of course, as our city has claimed a very respectable third place on the list and even ranked first for live music venues, entertainment events, and gyms per capita, which highlights we’re a city that is as active as we are lively.
Top 10 most entertaining cities to visit in the UK
Newcastle
Westminster
Manchester
Norwich
Belfast
Aberdeen
Southampton
Glasgow
Plymouth
Oxford
Overall, Manchester racked up a score of 56.85, cementing its reputation as one of the UK’s leading cultural cities.
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Manchester was also praised for its food and retail scene, placing third for restaurants and fifth for shopping centres, and although the average cinema ticket costs around £10, the city was found to balance this out with a wide range of free events, festivals, and accessible green spaces.
Elsewhere in the top 10 list, outside of the north, you’ll find other major cities like London, Belfast, Glasgow, and Oxford.
Edinburgh and Cardiff find themselves in the top 20, but do miss out on the top 10.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Art & Culture
A much-loved Manc grassroots venue is hosting a live screening of The Traitors final
Danny Jones
A beloved grassroots venue here in Manchester city centre is holding a big screening of this year’s The Traitors final.
Consider already there with bells, whistles and a big hood on.
Yes, following the return of The Traitors mainline show this month, not to mention even more versions of the show landing on the BBC in 2026, we’re expecting record-breaking numbers of viewers for this year’s highly anticipated ‘Grand Final’.
With that in mind, Manc favourite arts and entertainment venue, Fairfield Social Club (FSC), will be playing The Traitors season four final on the big screen.
You do not want to miss this, and we don’t just mean the episode: we’re talking about the unparalleled and often unhinged vibes at Fairfield.
Having been to plenty of live events at FSC over the past 18 months or so, from live viewing parties and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia quizzes to nights out with other social clubs and community organisations, we can personally vouch for their hosting chops.
As for this particular watchalong, they’ve promised they’re “going all in for The Traitors Finale 2026, live on the FSC big screen with a full crowd, big reactions and plenty of drama.”
With the team set to deliver a full pre-show Traitors quiz with plenty of prizes up for grabs, and even free drinks for anyone who turns up in a cloak or top-notch Claudia Winkleman fancy dress, there are so many reasons to make this gaff the place you choose as your venue for the final.
We’ll also be making sure to attend their upcoming Lily Allen line-dancing show, because we’re still obsessed with West End Girl.
Like with The Traitors final, don’t worry, they’ve done this dance MANY times before.
Honestly, this place never disappoints when it comes to variety or enjoyment.
As if any of the above wasn’t already convincing enough for you, tickets are just a fiver, and they also include a welcome drink. Doors will open 6pm, and seating plans are simply first-come first first-served.
Not only is that a great deal across the board, but it’s also probably one of the cheapest drinks you’ll find in town these days…
If you fancy joining in the chaos and inevitable chorus of gasps when the Grand Final goes live, you can grab your tickets for the conclusion of this season’s Traitors at Fairfield Social Club right HERE – and we promise you that it will sell out fast.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via BBC)/Fairfield Social Club (supplied)
Art & Culture
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 12 – 18 January 2026
Emily Sergeant
It may be chilly out there, but January is really hotting up now.
Now that January is in full swing, we’re really not short of exciting activities and events to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester – with everything from smash-hit musicals to 360° walk-through projection shows happening this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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The Great British Rail Sale
UK-wide
Monday 12 January
The Great British Rail Sale / Credit: Northern | Transpennine Express
The Great British Rail Sale has returned for 2026, with train ticket prices will be slashed by up to 50% or more – and this is your LAST DAY to make the most of it.
Millions of discounted train tickets for half term activities, weekend getaways, and even commuting are up for grabs, as the week-long rail sale – which has been running from 6 to 12 January 2026 – gives passengers the chance to save well over 50% on many advance and off-peak tickets.
The reduced fares can be used to travel on thousands of popular routes between 13 January and 25 March 2026.
Looking to escape the elements and have your mind boggled this winter? Sounds like a trip to Museum of Illusions is on the cards then.
It’s time to let your competitive side out – get ready to experience the city’s most unique attraction like never before. Race through the vortex, create the best mirror image, and complete the brain gym the fastest to win the dazzling trophy at the end.
Whether you’re team building with your work lot, or taking your mates for a bit of healthy competition, it’s a great one to have a go at.
A huge gaming event is happening in Manchester at the moment.
With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP at the Science and Industry takes ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming, with everything from retro arcade games, to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and so much more.
Power UP is taking place each weekend only throughout this month, with each ticket including unlimited play all day.
Have you seen that Vue Manchester Quayside has had an ‘Ultra Lux’ upgrade?
Vue currently has 93 state-of-the-art cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland, totalling more than 850 screens – and the Quayside cinema is the latest to benefit from upgraded seating.
75 brand-new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats have been installed across seven screens, offering film fans what is, quite literally, the chance to sit in the best seats in the house, as each seat provides the very-best view of the big screen and comes with a host of premium features.
Some of these exciting premium features include extra-wide armrests, a personal table for snacks and drinks, your very-own beverage cooler, and even a back and legs that recline independently.
Fancy making the most of all the January dining deals on offer over these next couple of weeks?
The time has come again for Manchester’s restaurants and bars to slash their prices in a bid to entice customers to keep eating and drinking out all throughout January, and that means hundreds of places are offering up half-price scran, added freebies, or two-for-one offers this month.
There’s loads of offers beyond Manchester city centre too, as suburban gems are getting in on the action in 2026.
So whether you’re looking for a date night for less, an affordable family dinner, or a cheap eat after work with your mates, we’ve got you covered.
Read our massive round-up of January dining deals here.
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Got a sweet tooth? This’ll cure it.
There’s nothing quite like a hot chocolate to warm you up on a chilly winter’s day, but we guarantee you’ve never seen a hot chocolate quite like this anywhere else in Manchester… it’s quite literally, hot chocolate.
Head down to Salvi’s in the Corn Exchange for a proper Italian hot chocolate.
It’s the kind of treat that makes you forget all about New Year’s resolutions (at least for the afternoon anyway, we won’t tell anyone).
You can even pair it with one of their famous cannolis for the ultimate sweet treat combo. We dunked ours straight in, no messing about.
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SIX The Musical
Manchester Palace Theatre
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 January
SIX The Musical / Credit: ATG Tickets
SIX The Musical is arriving in Manchester this week.
The crowning glory of Broadway, the West End, and beyond, the international smash hit musical SIX makes its royal return to Manchester following its previous sold-out success, and will be taking to the Palace Theatre stage.
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From Tudor queens to pop princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power.
Find out more and get your hands on last-minute tickets to a show here.
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LUMINISCENCE
Manchester Cathedral
Wednesday 14 January – 26 March
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LUMINISCENCE Manchester / Credit: Supplied
Manchester Cathedral is set to be lit up with ‘truly stunning’ new 360° walk-through projection show this winter.
Combining 360° video mapping, new orchestral arrangements of iconic songs, and a narrative story celebrating everything that makes Manchester and its residents so special, visitors will be invited to step into a ‘spellbinding fusion’ of light, sound, and storytelling.
LUMINISCENCE is set to pay tribute to Manchester’s rich cultural heritage through specially arranged orchestral renditions of iconic anthems – with the setlist including songs by Oasis, The Verve, Joy Division, and Elbow, just to name a few.
The Matcha Kyoto has found a permanent city centre home.
There’s no denying that this viral matcha spot has gone crazy in Manchester, with pop-ups all over our city, but now, after huge fan demand, they’ve finally opened the doors to their very-own home, and are bringing a little slice of Japan to Lincoln Square.
Step inside their new cafe and you’ll find with traditional Kyoto details, as well as their famous matcha drinks topped with satisfying cream swirls and banana pudding.
They’ve even got a full food menu now, too. Think a range of sandwiches, including egg mayo, teriyaki chicken and black truffle mushroom, and delicious baked treats.
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Could a trip to the theatre could be on the cards this year?
Greater Manchester has firmly earned itself a spot as a place for world-renowned touring theatre productions to make a stop off at.
This beloved industry has now well and truly bounced-back post pandemic – with the region’s three main theatres, Palace Theatre Manchester, Opera House Manchester, and The Lowry, all having welcomed some absolute show-stopping productions in 2025.
Our region’s theatre events calendar is already jam-packed with award-winning musicals, family-friendly plays, inventive dance productions, and so much more in 2026, so we’ve rounded up some of the best shows to see and grab tickets for this year.
If there’s one thing Manchester is known for across the world, it’s music.
Our region is not only a historic musical hub in and of itself, having been the birthplace of so many legendary famous names, but it’s also a major UK stopping point on many global artists’ tour schedules too, thanks to the city’s various sizes of stage and venues.
This means there’s a jam-packed schedule of gigs happening all throughout 2026 – with something for everyone, no matter your taste in music.
Read our picks for 10 of the best gigs happening in Manchester this year here.
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What else is there to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2026?
Oh, so much. So so much.
The next 12 months are shaping up to be another monumental year for Manchester, with absolutely loads of huge developments, events, and reopenings on the horizon. Expect major global events like the BRITs and The MOBO Awards, huge openings like The Medlock Hotel at the expanded Etihad Stadium, and the relaunch of venues like Manchester’s popular Cat Cafe, and The Spinners Rest (formerly known as The Shamrock).
We’ve rounded up some of the best things to look forward to throughout the year here.
Emily Sergeant -
13th January 2026 
