Thinking of going away for a weekend or a short break? Here are some city break destinations for the perfect UK short break in 2022.
Whether you normally travel abroad or stay in the UK for your holidays, UK holidays have been the standard option for the last two years. Hopefully international leisure travel may become easier again this year but for now, UK travel is the easiest option for holidays.
Luckily, there are plenty of exciting places to visit in the UK, whether you’re looking to get away for a full week or just a quick mini break. UK city breaks are ideal for when you just want to get away for a night or two, or maybe for a long weekend.
So here are some ideas for the best UK city breaks in 2022:
Birmingham
It’s probably not going to come as a huge surprise that top of my list (and at the top of this page) is my nearest city, Birmingham.
I absolutely love visiting Birmingham, and you’ll find several posts about Birmingham throughout this site. Although I live in Shropshire, I usually visit Birmingham fairly regularly and usually spend a weekend there a few times each year.
There’s fantastic shopping, great places for brunch, gorgeous hotels, bars and clubs, and masses of culture. You can visit exciting museums in Birmingham, explore the street art of Digbeth, and seek out independent places to eat in the Jewellery Quarter.
Birmingham sits close to the motorway network and is well served by trains, so it’s really easy to get to. What more could you ask for in a city break?
Wells
Or for a UK city break unlike any other, why not visit England’s smallest city?
Wells has a population of just over 10,000 and you won’t see any glass skyscrapers or massive shopping malls here.
Instead you’ll find a gorgeously historic city with beautiful architecture that dates back to medieval times. The impressive cathedral that gives Wells its city status is well worth a visit, as is the moated Bishop’s Palace next door.
The central market square hosts a thriving food market each week, and there are plenty of little independent bars and restaurants to check out.
And you can easily combine your visit to Wells with a trip to the nearby Mendip Hills, a walk through Cheddar Gorge and a relaxing stay at Strawberryfield Park.
York
York is what most people would think of when they imagine a picture-postcard English city.
Lying within the medieval city walls (York has more than any other city in England), you’ll find the perfect mix of history and the modern day.
It has quirky medieval streets, including the well known Shambles where you can touch the buildings on each side with outstretched arms. Museums like the Jorvik Viking Centre and the National Railway Museum bring a touch of history, while there are modern touches from the many shops and restaurants.
You can take a tour on the river or pay a visit to York Minster, which was famously damaged by fire after a lightning strike in 1984.
With its cobbled streets, Gothic architecture, and charming tearooms, the quintessentially English city of York is perfect for your next UK city break.
Manchester
Over on the other side of the Pennines, you’ll find the city of Manchester which seems to reinvent itself every few years.
As well as being a great city for shopping and for sport, Manchester is also known for its excellent music scene. And on top of this, it also has a reputation for great food and drink, with a wide range of restaurants serving every cuisine imaginable.
The Northern Quarter of Manchester is the place to go if you love shopping in quirky, independent stores. And museums and art galleries like the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), the Whitworth Gallery and the Lowry are well worth a visit.
Manchester’s indomitable spirit and character can be seen throughout the city, and it’s the ideal location for a cool UK city break.
Cardiff
Wales’ capital city is always an excellent choice for a city break. It’s large enough to have plenty to see and do, but small enough to be easy to walk around and have a relaxing atmosphere.
Top things to do in Cardiff include the National Museum Cardiff, which houses one of Europe’s finest art collections, and Cardiff Castle which lies in the heart of the city. You can also pay a visit to Techniquest science museum or just spend hours looking around the maze of Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades.
Don’t forget to visit the Cardiff Bay area, especially if you’re a fan of Doctor Who as there are many filming locations to be spotted there. And Cardiff’s independent food and drink scene is worthy of a visit in its own right!
Brighton
Maybe you’re looking for a city break by the sea? With a relaxed atmosphere, great nightlife and thriving art scene, Brighton is a must-visit city that’s perfect for a weekend away.
It only takes around 30 minutes to reach Brighton from London by train, so it’s very easy to get to from around the UK. Once you arrive, you’re sure to fall in love with this quirky city with its laid-back vibe.
Brighton is great for antique shopping and also has a fantastic foodie scene. And no city break in Brighton would be complete without a visit to the fabulous Royal Pavilion.
Brighton’s broad shingle beach is perfect for blowing away the cobwebs if you’re visiting in the cooler months, and its famous pier and amusement arcades come to life in the warmer months.
Throw in a traditional fish and chip supper and you’ve got the perfect seaside city break!
Dundee
Dundee has been steadily gaining a reputation as one of Scotland’s coolest cities, and is definitely worth considering for a city break in 2022.
Dundee is Scotland’s fourth largest city and the waterfront area has undergone a major regeneration recently. One of the highlights is the new V&A museum which opened in 2018. But there are other more established attractions like the Verdant Works museum which celebrates Dundee’s rich industrial textile heritage.
The city also has a proud maritime history, and Discovery Point houses the RSS Discovery which carried Scott on his voyage to the Antarctic. But these are just some of the many things to do in Dundee, as I discovered when I visited in 2017.
Dundee is really easy to get to from Glasgow or Edinburgh, and it’s perfect for a city break in its own right, or as part of a longer visit to Scotland.
Glasgow
Scotland’s biggest city has also been voted the world’s friendliest, and you’ll be sure of a warm welcome if you decide on a Glasgow city break in 2022.
The city is famous for its dramatic Victorian and art nouveau architecture, and there are plenty of fascinating museums and art galleries like the Kelvingrove pictured above. Glasgow is also home to the Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet, as well as having a thriving music scene.
If shopping is more your thing, you’ll find plenty of independent shops throughout the city, together with many fabulous places to eat and drink.
Glasgow is very easy to reach by car, train or air, and it’s an ideal destination for a UK city break.
Liverpool
Liverpool has a long history as an important maritime city, and is famous all over the world for its music scene and football teams.
And it has become known as a great destination for a long weekend, with plenty to see and do.
There are museums like the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool and Tate Liverpool. If you’re a fan of the Beatles, you’ll enjoy visiting the Beatles Story and of course the Cavern Club. You can plan your visit before you go by taking a virtual tour of Liverpool.
You’ll find a wide variety of excellent restaurants, bars and cafes to keep you refreshed during your visit. And of course, Liverpool city break would be complete without a trip on the Mersey Ferry.
Liverpool is also a very compact city, which makes it perfect for a 2022 UK city break.
Belfast
Over the last few years, the capital city of Northern Ireland has become a popular place to visit for a city break.
If history is your thing, you’ll find lots to intrigue and interest you in Belfast. The city is well known as being the birthplace of the Titanic, and the Titanic museum dedicated to the ill-fated ocean liner is a popular attraction.
You can also visit the Ulster Museum, which is located in the Belfast Botanic Gardens. There you’ll find 8000 square metres of displays including everything from Irish history to Ancient Egypt, as well as fine art and the natural sciences.
And it’s worth fitting in a visit to Mount Stewart, the grand stately home which was voted one of the top 10 gardens in the world.
Combine all of that with the famous Irish hospitality and excellent food and drink, and you’ve got the perfect city break!