Brits may want to consider a staycation for their next break as five UK neighbourhoods have been named some of the coolest in the world in new rankings.
Cliftonville in Margate, Shawlands in Glasgow, Walthamstow in London, the Northern Quarter in Manchester and Kelham Island in Sheffield all featured Time Out's 51 coolest neighbourhoods in the world for 2022.
Cliftonville actually took eighth spot in the global rankings, according to the new poll.
The Kent town may be best known for Tracey Emin, inspiring JMW Turner and a very impressive art gallery, but according to Time Out, it should also be praised for Cliftonville, which "buzzes with a different kind of energy" than the more famous Old Town.
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"It’s home to one of the UK’s most thriving artistic communities, largely due to an influx of creative ex-Londoners who’ve flocked to the area’s affordable housing and studio spaces, plus the massive tidal ocean pool at Walpole Bay," writes the travel publication.
"The neighbourhood’s spine is Northdown Road, which is a block back from the coast and stretches from the Old Town to Palm Bay.
"Until recently a parade of charity shops and bookies, Northdown is now home to record shops, cafés and conscious groceries, as well as game-changing community-funded venues like queer bar CAMP and gallery Quench."
Time Out polled 20,000 city-dwellers and asked local experts to rank the greatest places for fun, food, culture and community for their latest rankings.
At the top of the pile is Colonia Americana in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"It may be little explored by foreigners, but Guadalajara is known by many Mexicans as the country’s cultural capital – and right now, Colonial Americana is the epicentre of its underground scene," Time Out writes. The art deco and neoclassical architecture, amazing food and incredible music and art scene are all factors that saw the Mexican hotspot prove such a hit.
Visitors to Colonia Americana are advised to browse some contemporary art in Tiro Al Blanco before tucking into chilaquiles and coffee in its courtyard café, Modo.
Meanwhile those planning Portugal holidays may want to head to Cais do Sodré in Lisbon, which took second place, while it was Wat Bo Village in Siem Reap, Cambodia that took the final spot on the podium.
We take a look at the five UK neighbourhoods that made the cut below...
1. Cliftonville in Margate
Cliftonville took the eighth spot in the global rankings, being praised by Time Out for being "home to one of the UK’s most thriving artistic communities". Highlights include Northdown Road, where you’ll find record shops, cafés "as well as game-changing community-funded venues like queer bar CAMP and gallery Quench".
2. Shawlands in Glasgow
Taking 11th place in the rankings, this Glasgow spot has impressed with its parks, art scene and foodie haunts, from restaurants to coffee shops. For a day to remember, recommendations include brunch at Café Strange Brew, snapping a selfie with a Highland cow in Pollok Park, and exploring the art spaces and vegan eateries to be found.
3. Walthamstow in London
Despite having a local reputation for having "hoppy IPAs, sourdough pizza and obnoxiously expensive houseplants", this London neighbourhood offers plenty of arts and crafts, creative spaces and studios with everything from yoga to climbing walls. For those who enjoy a tipple or two, there are plenty of breweries and taprooms to explore.
4. Northern Quarter in Manchester
Taking the 30th spot in the rankings, this Manchester neighbourhood has proven a hit. Time Out recommends: "Stevenson Square and some surrounding streets have been permanently pedestrianised, making for a fresher stroll around the centre of the city’s café and bar culture, with its stunning mix of Georgian houses, Victorian pubs and modern hangouts."
5. Kelham Island in Sheffield
This man-made island from the 1100s is now a must-visit for those after a fun night out. "Once home to derelict warehouses and a few old-school pubs, Kelham Island has undergone a hefty transformation", explains Time Out. "Those old boozers (thankfully) remain but Kelham’s once-empty spaces are now filled by a glut of independent bars, restaurants, shops, cafés and breweries."
- You can find out more and see the full rankings on timeout.com.
