Bristol named among the best cities in the world

Hot air balloons at Lloyds Amphitheatre this morning from above
-Credit:Ben Birchall/PA Wire


When you think of the 'best cities in the world', from a travel perspective at least, you may include places like New York, Paris, Sydney, Rome, and such. But Bristolians born and bred in the city will tell you that Bristol really should be among them.

And now it is. Thanks to a list by TimeOut of the 50 'best cities in the world in 2025', Bristol is now known as being among the best on the planet. It ranks number 48 in the list, beating Mumbai and Warsaw.

According to the list, which was published on Wednesday, January 15, and put together after 'quizzing thousands of locals to rank the best cities in the world right now', Bristol made the cut for a variety of reasons.

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From its street art, to its events, developments, protests, raves - and especially its "rebellious and creative streak" - here's why it was included on the list for this year, according to TimeOut...

When asked what makes Bristol great, the article said: "Street art on every corner, plus a lively mix of protests, raves, mega festivals and DIY gigs – Bristol's long been known for its rebellious and creative streak, but the city is now moving out of its underground phase and going global. Bristol is hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2025 and welcoming a host of big new arrivals, including street food hub BoxHall and Hotel Gotham, its first five-star hotel, which is emerging from the city's medieval Guildhall following a £20 million renovation.

Love Saves The Day is full of colourful stages and areas
Love Saves The Day is full of colourful stages and areas -Credit:Paul Gillis/Reach Plc

"Not to mention the stalwarts of the Bristol festival scene, with Bristol Light Festival, Love Saves the Day, Upfest, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Harbour Festival, East Bristol Brewery Trail and Bristol Sounds all making a return in the summer."

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Sticking with the theme of festivals and events, when it comes to why you should visit our city now, the article continues: "Bristol may not be the world's best-kept secret anymore, but it still manages to surprise with every visit. The city has seen a new festival launch every year since 2022 – first there was FORWARDS, which was followed by Bristol Cocktail Weekend in 2023 and BS3 Live in 2024. Who knows what’s in store for 2025?"

‘Diverse and inclusive’ was the term most locals would choose to describe their 'famously bohemian city', according to TimeOut. Bristol also scored highly for its food scene, which garnered an 83 per cent approval rating, and for its arts and culture, which 75 per cent of locals rate.

Bristol locals, tell us, do you agree?

Bristol wasn't the only city in the UK to make the cut, however, with London, Edinburgh, Brighton, Glasgow and Belfast, beating us in the rankings. If you're curious to know which other cities made the top 50, then the list in full looks like this:

  1. Cape Town

  2. Bangkok

  3. New York

  4. Melbourne

  5. London

  6. New Orleans

  7. Mexico City

  8. Porto

  9. Shanghai

  10. Copenhagen

  11. Chicago

  12. Lisbon

  13. Edinburgh

  14. Hong Kong

  15. Sydney

  16. Amsterdam

  17. Barcelona

  18. Seville

  19. Paris

  20. Medellin

  21. Hanoi

  22. Madrid

  23. Berlin

  24. Dubai

  25. Singapore

  26. Rio de Janeiro

  27. Beijing

  28. Chiang Mai

  29. Jakarta

  30. Vienna

  31. Tokyo

  32. Marrakech

  33. Perth

  34. Brighton

  35. Prague

  36. Glasgow

  37. Brisbane

  38. Marseille

  39. Budapest

  40. Los Angeles

  41. Lagos

  42. Seoul

  43. Valencia

  44. Montreal

  45. Bilbao

  46. Abu Dhabi

  47. Belfast

  48. Bristol

  49. Mumbai

  50. Warsaw