A coastal town more typically associated with OAPs and sleepiness has topped the list of the UK's best days out.
Eastbourne in East Sussex is less well known than nearby seaside resort Brighton, which has a nationwide reputation thanks to its nightlife and green credentials.
According to Time Out if you've got a day to kill and are within a train or drive's reach from the South East coast, then Eastbourne is the one to go for.
"This coastal town might conjure up images of OAPs on coach holidays, pesky pebbles in your jelly shoes and hordes of tennis fans at Rothesay International, but Eastbourne is well on its way to becoming an established hub for creatives," the publication writes.
In recent years the Towner Eastbourne - a gallery selected to host the 2023 Turner Prize - and a range of eateries including Beanzz Coffee & Kitchen and Port Hotel have made the town a place to be.
Nature can also be embraced via a dip in the sea or through a walk out onto the stunning South Downs.
Second in the rankings, which judged food and drinks scenes, the arts activities available as well as any new hotels, restaurants and events, is Birmingham.
"Birmingham has long been bubbling away as the UK’s most underrated food destination," Time Out writes.
The publication highlights Carters of Moseley, The Wilderness, Grace & Savour at Hampton Manor as buzzy places on the Good Food Guide 2022 that are worth a visit.
Those foodies looking for a set day out can start with a coffee at Wayland's Yard before beer and baos at North Brewing Co's new taproom an then a city centre kayak tour with Roundhouse Birmingham.
Birmingham's "best chicken" at Bonehead is also tipped as a top place for a quick dinner.
In third place is Cardigan in West Wales.
"West Wales remains criminally underappreciated, and charming Cardigan might be its finest spot," Time Out argues.
The old-fashioned market town has become a hub of creative industries and tasty places to eat in recent years.
At its heart lies the recently renovated Cardigan Castle which is worth a visit along with distiller and watering hole Bar 45, and cinema Mwldan.
There are plenty of pretty beaches nearby too.
UK's top 10 places to visit
- Eastbourne
- Birmingham
- Cardigan
- Manchester
- Scarborough
- Glasgow
- Dorset
- London
- Edinburgh
- Liverpool
The list comes as the UK staycation market remains very strong.
Since the coronavirus lockdowns limited travel out of the country, more and more Brits have been looking towards holidays in the UK.
According to Love Home Swap, a quiet trip away from the hustle and bustle of city life will be the staycation trend of 2023.
A quarter of the trips agreed via the site for the rest of 2022 and into 2023 are homes by the sea, with these trips being predominantly taken by families rather than solo travellers or couples.
The most sought-after rural UK travel destinations are The Lake District, Devon, The Peak District, Somerset, and Kent.
The letting company has predicted that the trend for staycations will continue to rise due to the increased cost of living and instability of the pound.
