Bath Named UK's Best City for Architecture, Markets, and Luxury Scene

Bath has been named the UK's finest city by Condé Nast Traveller, achieving a high score of 97.78 due to a revived restaurant and bar scene, luxury accommodations, and a wealth of independent shops offering local goods and crafts. Caerleon, known for its rich Arthurian and Roman history, features unique local businesses such as Spirit of Awen, which offers Celtic-inspired art and crystals, and the family-run Village Bakery & Café, praised for its homemade products. In Cornwall, the new town of Nansledan, inspired by King Charles's vision and developed by the Duchy of Cornwall, is set to open a new Tesco supermarket and Market Street with food stalls, shops, and co-working spaces, aiming to become a community hub by 2027. Arezzo, a small Tuscan town near Rome, offers Italy's largest Tyrolean-style Christmas market accessible via a festive train, providing a quieter and authentic alternative to busier European cities during the holiday season. St Albans, close to London and known for its thousand-year-old market and historic cathedral, offers a rich cultural experience including seasonal events such as candlelit concerts, a Live Nativity Trail, and Carols on the Hour, making it an attractive short getaway destination.