9 Best Small British Cities to Visit: Off-The-Beaten-Path Gems
Nowhere in the world has such quirky little cities as Britain! When you’re looking for places to visit in England other than London, you’ll find plenty of fascinating small British cities – each one welcoming and culturally rich – perfect for your UK itinerary.
With so many small cities in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to choose from, it might be a little overwhelming to decide which city to explore and which places to visit in the UK for a weekend.
This guide introduces you to nine of the best small British cities, including what to see and do in each, where to eat and where to stay.
9 Lovely Little British Cities to Visit
This article aims to inspire you to visit small cities in the UK! You’ll discover some well-known names, but there are some real hidden gems sprinkled in here too! While the City of London and the City of Westminster are both small cities, this post focuses on little cities that you can visit beyond London.
1. Wells, Somerset
Population: 12,110 (2021)
Wells is the smallest city in England, located southwest of the larger cities of Bath and Bristol.
The stunning 13th-century Wells Cathedral sits at the top of the high street. Adjacent to this is the beautiful Bishop’s Palace, where the freshwater springs that give the city its name are located.
Look out for the pretty 650-year-old houses at Vicar’s Close, near the cathedral. Originally built to house the Vicar’s Choral, the close is the oldest, still inhabited street in the United Kingdom.
🍽 One of Wells’s smallest but nicest restaurants is The Courtyard, tucked away from the cathedral.
🏨 Beryl Country House is the perfect place for a country retreat within the city.
2. Ripon, North Yorkshire
population: 16,589 (2021)
Tiny Ripon is the perfect small British city to visit if you love history, glorious North Yorkshire countryside, quirky traditions and unique little museums.
Located in the lush green Yorkshire Dales, Ripon has no train station: however, it is within 75 minutes of Leeds (by train to Harrogate and onward by comfortable bus).
Visiting the cathedral is one of the most popular things to do in Ripon. Dating back to the 11th century, Ripon Cathedral also contains the oldest building of any cathedral in England (the intact 7th-century Anglo-Saxon crypt)!
Ripon also has three fascinating Victorian museums and a thriving market. If you’re in the market square at 9 pm you can witness the Ripon Hornblower “setting the watch”. This is an unbroken tradition that dates back 1200 years!
Many visitors to Ripon use the city as a base for a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Fountains Abbey.
🏨 Stay at the comfortable Royal Oak Hotel in the Market Square or, pick the fabulous Grantley Hall for a luxury break. Find more places to stay in Ripon here.
3. Stirling, Scotland
population: 92,530 (2022)
Stirling is one of the former capitals of Scotland and one of the best small cities to visit in the UK. Stirling Castle should be on your bucket list, as many visitors say it’s better than Edinburgh Castle!
Beyond the castle, visit the National Wallace Monument to enjoy views across the valley. You can go inside the monument to see various weapons and get insights into Sir William Wallace and the fight for Scottish independence.
True history buffs should then head to the Battle of Bannockburn Experience, where the continuation of that fight under the leadership of King Robert the Bruce truly comes to life!
After exploring, grab a meal at Nicky-Tams Bar & Bothy or the Settle Inn for traditional pub vibes.
In fact, Stirling is a perfect city break for all of central Scotland! It’s an easy day trip from Edinburgh by train, taking about 50 minutes, while from Glasgow Queen Street, it’s only about a 30-minute train journey.
🏨 Stay at Hotel Colessio for the fantastic central location and splash of opulence.
Read Next: 12 Fairytale Scottish Castles To Love
4. Bath, Somerset
POPULATION: 94,092 (2021)
Famous worldwide for magnificent golden-coloured limestone buildings and Roman influence, Bath is a vibrant small British city with over 40 museums, good restaurants, quality shopping and theatres.
The city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 – the only city in the UK with this designation. Thanks to its heritage, Bath is widely regarded as one of the best British cities to visit.
Located in the gorgeous English countryside in Southwest England, Bath is 156km west of London and 18km south-east of Bristol, where the nearest airport is located.
There are so many incredible things to do in Bath. You can immerse yourself in history by visiting the Roman Baths and Pulteney Bridge and admiring the beautiful Georgian architecture of The Royal Crescent.
Enjoy a drink or afternoon tea in The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, then explore the Jane Austin Museum. Be sure to also stop by Sally Lunn’s, which is in itself a museum, and try their world-famous walnut cake and milk jam.
🏨 No.15 Great Pulteney and Abbey Hotel Bath are perfect places to stay.
5. Derry, Northern Ireland
population: 85,279 (2021)
Derry (or Londonderry) is a lovely little city that’s well worth visiting for its history, architecture, and fantastic food scene. Derry has its own airport, where daily flights from London land. You can also fly to Belfast, and take a bus to Derry, for more convenient flight times and airline options.
Find the best deals on flights to Derry here.
There’s plenty to do in Derry, starting with a tour of Free Derry to understand the city’s recent history. The area has many commemorative murals that remind visitors of the Troubles and you can go to see the street art with the artists who created them.
The Peace Bridge connects the two sides of the city where the two different political supporters lived – it’s like a handshake across the water.
Another great tour you can join in Derry is the historical walk over the city walls. Taking you 400 years back in history, you will learn how the city has remained the only intact walled city in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
If you’re a fan of the hit British TV show, Derry Girls, you might also enjoy the Derry Girls original sites tour of the streets made famous in the show.
💡 Local Tip: The Walled City Brewery is a great restaurant and bar that doesn’t stock any commercial brands and brews everything on the premises.
🏨 Stay here: City Hotel has great offers and rooms with views over the river.
6. Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Population: 104,565 (2021)
Lincoln is one of the most charming small cities in England. With pebbled streets, historical buildings, quirky independent shops, and tea rooms, it’s a great destination.
When visiting Lincoln, you’ll want to visit medieval Lincoln Castle, which has beautiful grounds, an interesting prison, and is the only place in the world with an original 1215 Magna Carta. Another must-see attraction is Lincoln Cathedral, where you can book a rooftop tour for some of the best views in the city.
Other great activities in Lincoln include going to the Lincoln Museum, walking on the pier, or taking a boat tour and window shopping in Steep Hill.
Bunty’s Tea Room is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious piece of cake or afternoon tea. For dinner, head to Lincoln’s waterfront where you will find plenty of food options. However, one of the best places to have dinner is Olé Olé Tapas which offers a great selection of Spanish tapas.
💡 Stay here: DoubleTree by Hilton in Brayford Waterfront. It’s not far from the city centre, has comfortable rooms and a rooftop bar overlooking the pier.
7. Salisbury, Wiltshire
Population: 47,690 (2021)
Salisbury is best known for the nearby stone circle of Stonehenge. Many people arrive in Salisbury on a day trip from London by train and then immediately hop on a bus to make a beeline for Stonehenge. But the city of Salisbury is definitely worth a look around.
The main landmark in Salisbury is its amazing 13th-century Gothic cathedral, which has the tallest spire in the country and quite possibly also the oldest working clock in the world. It also has the largest cloister in England, while the Chapter House hosts the best-preserved copy of the Magna Carta on display!
Stay here: Cricket Field House, a modern B&B with an impressive garden. And if you want to grab a bite, stop by Boston Tea Party, a family-owned café that serves homemade feel-good food in a building dating all the way back to the 1300s.
8. Bangor, North Wales
Population: 15,100 (2021)
Picturesque little Bangor in North Wales is one of the oldest small cities in the UK and the oldest in Wales. It’s a far cry from the archetypal vision of a city, as it’s tiny yet has an international airport.
Bangor is also a bilingual city, with a large population of university students (who outnumber the city residents), mostly speaking English, while many of the city’s residents speak Welsh as a first language.
With glorious views of the Menai Straits and across to the Welsh hills, Bangor is beautifully located, and it’s also easy to explore on foot.
Don’t miss a trip to the 19th century Penrhyn Castle – a “fantasy” Welsh castle with incredible views, or down to the historic Bangor Pier, the 2nd oldest pier in Wales. You can also visit the small but stunning 6th-century Bangor Cathedral with its exquisite stained glass windows and regular organ recitals.
Stay here: The ultimate place to stay is at Bangor University!
9. Norwich, Norfolk
Population: 144,525
Norwich may no longer be England’s second-largest city as it was during medieval times, but it still has plenty to offer visitors. This little city in England is about a two-hour train from London’s Liverpool Street station, and you can explore the city on foot.
Take a walk along the River Wensum, which snakes through the city centre and take a stroll down the picturesque Elm Hill, arguably one of the prettiest streets in England.
Next, head to Norwich Market, one of the country’s oldest and largest outdoor markets. You must also visit Norwich Cathedral, the most complete Norman Cathedral in England and one of Europe’s finest examples of Romanesque architecture. It is free to go inside and see the world’s largest collection of medieval roof bosses.
For a real treat, head to the Assembly House for afternoon tea. Not only is the food amazing but the setting is special too. It’s a Grade I-listed building that hosted a Grand Ball to celebrate Lord Nelson’s victory at the Cape of Trafalgar. They also have 15 rooms, so you can stay the night if you book in advance.
Wrap Up – Small British Cities to Visit
As you can see, there are some gorgeous little British cities to visit and, as they usually have far fewer crowds than the UK’s biggest cities, exploring them is a really attractive idea.
Whether you prefer bustling British cities, or fancy visiting small cities in England with hidden gems to discover, there are so many small cities in the UK to explore. The most difficult thing is picking just one to visit!
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