Most underrated UK City break?

[ILikeBigBurpsAndICannotLie]

Where’s a really great city to explore for 2-3 nights? Like the idea of somewhere less obvious than the capitals.

Hastings. Funicular railway, caves, live music scene, great seaside promenade walks, exhibitions, restaurants, boutique shops, Elizabethan houses in the Old Town, Regency architecture in St Leonards, beautiful parks, a pier, loads of seafront B&Bs, restaurants, beach cafes....

Southend on Sea 😁

Agree with Liverpool and Portsmouth. I also found the hotels and restaurants are very good value in Liverpool (if you pick the right weekend). You can stay in a very nice 4 / 5 star right in the centre for the cost of a Premier Inn.

I'm also going to add Birmingham - lots to do in terms of museums / entertainment / activities, not pretty by any means but fun.

Does Greenwich count, I love it there?

Manchester is an excellent foodie destination. It's worth looking at what's on if you go there as it has a few good theatres and the arena.

Liverpool is lovely - the maritime museum is one of my favourite ever museums

Plymouth can be fun, some areas are a bit run down but the barbican and William yard are great and have lovely seafood (Platters on the barbican is particularly good), and you can get little boats over to Cornwall or go up to the moor for a walk/ cosy country pub

Canterbury is on the high speed train from London, again lots of great restaurants and you can go punting. East Kent has some great vineyards so it's worth doing wine tasting nearby, particularly if you like sparkling wine

I wouldn't describe Bath or York as underrated as they are amongst the top tourist destinations in the country but both are beautiful. The roman baths are great and Jorvik is really fun.

Belfast

I recently spent 5 days in Newcastle as my daughter was doing a work experience placement there. I thought it was an awesome city and would definitely do a mini break there

Newcastle gets my vote.

Not a city, but I also like Southport for the odd short break.

Liverpool and if you wanted to visit Chester too it’s a 45 minute train ride away
Lincoln
Cardiff

I’m curious what you do in Southport? I live relatively close and like the parks and an occasional walk round, but I’m not sure what there is to ‘do’ in a ‘city break’ style?

I like Newcastle but have never thought it as somewhere that’s got loads to offer tourists. What do
folk do for 2-3 days? In my head it’s a shopping and drinking sort of city!

Second Wells and Norwich. Surprised to see someone recommending Plymouth, which is a dump IMO.

Watching with interest as considering a short break to Newcastle and Durham in September - never been to either and heard good things

Aberystwyth and west coast of Wales.

Newcastle and Liverpool

Was just going to say Aberystwyth! Currently here and it’s fab when the weather is nice. New Quay, although not a city is also lovely.

can not imagine Portsmouth as a destination, I’ll have to look at it again, always thought it was a bit grim.

ive just been up to Liverpool and Manchester and they were really nice.

Another vote for Liverpool here.

Cambridge - despite a thread on here the other day about how crime-ridden it is, I really enjoyed it for a weekend last year (and didn’t notice any crime or ASB). I loved the museums and need to go back as the Polar Museum was closed.

The historic dockyard has more than one days worth of ships etc if that’s what floats your boat.

A had a 2 day break in Newcastle a while back, loved it, loved the people.

Also love Lincoln, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham.

we go to Cambridge quite a lot, daughter lives there - loads to do and of all the cities she could live in I can think of few which would give me fewer qualms as to her safety. But surely not ‘underrated’!

@Lottapianos maybe I’m being unfair to Newcastle as I go a lot and probably know it too well that I overlook things to do if you’ve never been!
durham is about 15min on the train and parts of the city are lovely but it’s tiny and other parts are very run down. The cathedral and round the river path is nice but the “town centre” is very shabby with lots of empty shops. Worth a trip but I don’t know if you could even fill a day there.
newcastle is good for shopping, a walk along the quayside is nice, Baltic flour mill if you’re into modern art, there’s a science museum which I’ve never been in but assume it’s aimed at kids, get the metro out to Whitley Bay or Tynemouth for a wander along the coast…..

Lots to look at. Thank you!

Much preferred Bristol to Bath despite Baths history and some of its pretty areas,

Belfast was a great trip too and quick to fly over from Manchester.

@garlictwist
Sorry, didn't notice it was specifically cities! I've just been influenced by a few blurry long weekends in Kendal enjoying the beer, the music and heading for some fresh air every morning.
@Jennalong
I heard my favourite breakfast spot closed (Method) hoping that was a one off and the other independents can keep afloat.

I've just had a holiday in Newcastle and loved it!!! The people are lovely and it's only a four hour train journey from Aberdeen where we live.

Ds loved the Roman history and I lovely the shopping and the Lit &Phil. DH enjoyed our trip to Durham. Lovely relaxing holiday - easy for us to get to and no-one in the family got sick which is a Heimbach family travel speciality.