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Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge, the Angel of the North – the UK is positively packed with iconic monuments that reel in an endless trail of culture-hungry tourists. And that’s just the landmarks. Don’t even get us started on the exhibitions, stunning vistas and world-famous foodie spots that keep the vacationers coming.
Now, it turns out that all of the culture bursting at our seams has won these fair Isles a shiny prize. Yep, a list of the world’s best countries for travel and tourism has just been revealed for 2026, and the UK scored a spot in the top 10.
Every couple of years, the World Economic Forum releases its Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), a measure of how well 110 different economies are positioned to support travel and tourism. To say that the research is thorough would be an understatement; the TTDI evaluates each nation against 17 different criteria including price competitiveness, cultural resources and even port infrastructure.
Japan took home the global crown this year, scoring high with record visitor numbers and sightseers keen to explore its lesser-trodden regions. Completing the podium spots were the US and Spain, the latter already Europe’s most popular destination this year.
As for the UK, well, the land of fish and chips and afternoon tea ranked seventh overall, retaining its position from the 2024 index. The nation’s cultural strengths – from the glitz and glamour of a show in the West End to the buzz of a football match and the heritage and tradition of Scotland’s whisky distilleries – gave it the edge on China, which scored eighth on the list. You can check out which other nations scored highest here.
It’s not the only recent accolade for the UK, either. Edinburgh, London and Bath ranked among Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in 2026. Not bad, Blighty, not bad. Check out the full report on the World Economic Forum’s website.
Did you see that a British theme park has just been named one of the best new attractions in Europe?
Plus: why Tate St Ives is one of the best galleries in the UK.
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