We don’t mean to brag, but we at Time Out know what’s going on in every place that’s worth going to. We’ve got writers from across the globe keeping us in-the-know with all the best things to eat, see, and do in their cities, and every year we put all of that insider info to good use and release an official ranking of the coolest neighbourhoods in the coolest cities in the world.
After consulting local experts, Time Out’s global editors then go through every submission and measure them up based on the quality of their food, drink, arts, and culture, until they’re left with only the creme-de-la-creme; the absolute coolest places on Earth. This year, three UK areas made the cut, in Bristol, Glasgow, and London, in that order.
Stokes Croft & St Paul’s, a small locale ten minutes from Bristol city centre, was the highest ranked UK spot, coming in sixth overall. Our Bristol based writer Annie McNamee who, we have it on good authority, really knows her stuff (spoiler! It’s me), described it as ‘ever-changing and ever-vibrant,’ and highlighted the area’s history as the centre of the city’s African-Caribbean communities who have become instrumental in developing its unique culture over the past fifty years.
Bristol didn’t make an appearance in last year’s list, so it’s cool to see it back on top where it belongs. Britain’s next entry, however, has popped up three years in a row now.
It’s no surprise that Glasgow has consistently made the cut, and for different bits of the city each time. In 2022 Shawlands was named the second coolest neighbourhood in the UK, and last year the West End was our 20th favourite in the world. Today, Strathbungo has taken the baton for Scotland’s biggest city, coming 22nd overall.
Sarah Gillespie, our Glasgow expert, called the area, ‘tiny-but-mighty’, and highlighted its dedication to honouring local history, saying, ‘thanks to a dedicated group of residents, it became Glasgow’s first Conservation Area (together with Pollokshields) in 1973, preserving its Victorian terraces and tenements for future generations.’
Finally, of course, London had to make an appearance. Leyton, in the east end, took over from previous champs King’s Cross (2023) and Walthamstow (2022) in 24th. Local Matt Blake praised the area’s authenticity, saying ‘for what it lacks in £30-a-plate pub roasts, baby-chariot buggy-jams and towering townhouses, it makes up in friendly faces, cheap eats and authentic local businesses.’ You can read more about Leyton here.
Unfortunately, none of our brilliant towns were able to top Notre-Dame-du-Mont in Marseille, which took the gold. This trendy part of France’s second city must just have a certain je ne sais quoi that we can’t beat. Fair play, Marseille. Fair play.
You can read Time Out’s full list of the 38 coolest cities in the world here. See where your fave lands, or use it as a 2025 travel bucket list. Either way give it a read so that you can tell your friends you knew these places before everyone else.
Where to go according to Time Out
Look, keeping on top of this stuff is sort of our whole thing. If you’re looking for the best restaurants in the UK, we’re your guys. If you’re trying to plan a really cool day trip, we’ve ranked our favourite things to do in the country, just for you. We’ve got lists of Britain's best pubs, museums, waterparks, cemeteries, beaches; basically if you can think of it, we’ve tried it, reviewed it, and recommended it. Trust us, we’ve been doing this a while.
Did you see that junk food adverts are being banned on UK buses and trains?
Revealed: the UK area with the fewest high street bank branches according to Which?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country