The South West of England has been named as the No.1 place to go in the world in 2025 in a prestigious newspaper rating.
The area tops a 52-strong annual list of ‘best locations’ by The New York Times (NYT), which urges folks to discover the space as a result of it has robust hyperlinks to Jane Austen and this yr is the 250th anniversary of her delivery.
‘Celebrations abound’, the newspaper remarks.
Other spots that make the list embody Greenland, Sydney, Scotland, East London and a city in America notorious for its excessive crime fee.
Explaining why the South West of England is high for this yr, the NYT says: ‘Jane Austen followers have a good purpose to discover the southwest of England this yr: It’s the 250th anniversary of her delivery, and celebrations abound.
‘Hampshire was each Austen’s birthplace and a supply of inspiration; as a novelist, she was most prolific in this bucolic setting. Start out at Jane Austen’s House, her former cottage, that includes an exhibition and themed festivals.
‘The Jane Austen Country Fair will brighten up Steventon in July, whereas Southampton is displaying Austen’s travelling writing desk and internet hosting the irreverent hit present Pride And Prejudice* (*Sort Of).
‘In Winchester, actions embody literary readings, guided walks, entry to Winchester College and a new statue at Winchester Cathedral, her closing resting place. In Bath, the Jane Austen Centre goes all out, with dance balls and its Grand Regency Costumed Promenade.
The South West of England has been named as the No.1 place to go in the world in 2025 by The New York Times, which urges folks to discover the space as a result of it has robust hyperlinks to Jane Austen and this yr is the 250th anniversary of her delivery. It recommends visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Bath (pictured above), the place she lived for 5 years
Greenland is opening a ‘glowing new worldwide airport’, explains the NYT
Sydney earns a place in the rating for its repute as a ‘seafood mecca’ and its ‘increasing’ metro community
‘Farther afield are websites used as areas for Austen movie diversifications — like Stourhead, in Wiltshire, which seems in the 2005 model of Pride And Prejudice.’
Visit West explains in addition that in Bath – the place Austen lived, from 1801 to 1806 – there shall be a ‘Persuasion nautical-themed ball’ on May 31, a ‘Sanditon seaside-themed ball’ on June 28 and a ‘special Yuletide birthday ball’ on December 13 at the Jane Austen Centre.
‘When the celebrated writer Jane Austen made Bath her house, the city was a thriving spa resort, widespread with trendy society,’ says Visit Bath.
The vacationer board provides: ‘Retrace Jane’s steps on your visit to Bath and you’ll uncover the identical elegant but vibrant city which supplied inspiration for two of her six revealed novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.’
Explaining why Greenland is also on the list, the NYT notes its forthcoming ‘glowing new worldwide airport’, including that it ‘is anticipated to deliver many new guests keen to take in the Northern Lights, the huge glaciers, the fjords and extra on this big Arctic island’.
Sydney earns a place in the rating for its repute as a ‘seafood mecca’ and its ‘increasing’ metro community, reveals the NYT. It explains: ‘There isn’t any residing in Sydney with out a hefty awe of the sea, the place each sustenance and communion are discovered’ and recommends vacationers head to the city to feast at the Sydney Fish Market, which is getting an upgraded market corridor this yr.
Scotland’s Flow Country, in the meantime, turned the first peatland to earn Unesco recognition, with the NYT including: ‘It is one of the world’s greatest carbon shops, which makes it key to the struggle towards local weather change. It is house to various wildlife. And it occurs to be gorgeous.’
And East London, the NYT says, is the UK capital’s ‘newest cultural hotbed’. The paper highlights a number of upcoming new openings, together with the new Sadler’s Wells East theatre for modern dance in February and the V&A East Storehouse, which can unveil a David Bowie centre in September.
The NYT counsel visiting Stourhead in Wiltshire, pictured above, the place the 2005 model of Pride And Prejudice was filmed
Scotland’s Flow Country is the first peatland to earn Unesco recognition. The NYT provides: ‘It is one of the world’s greatest carbon shops, which makes it key to the struggle towards local weather change’
The NYT says East London is the capital’s ‘newest cultural hotbed’. It highlights the upcoming opening of the Sadler’s Wells East theatre for modern dance (pictured above)
Detroit finds a spot on the rating ‘as it’s displaying outstanding indicators of renewal’
New Orleans is one of a number of U.S locations to function on the list. It will host the eleventh Super Bowl In February
Across the pond, Detroit, related over the years with city decline, finds a spot on the rating as a result of ‘at the moment it’s displaying outstanding indicators of renewal’.
The NYT provides: ‘The greatest addition looms giant above the Detroit River — the 1.5 mile/2.4km Gordie Howe International Bridge shall be North America’s longest cable-stayed bridge when it opens in the fall, connecting motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to Windsor, Ontario, and the Trans Canada Trail.’
Other high U.S locations to make the list embody New Orleans, which can host the eleventh Super Bowl in February, and Washington D.C, which shall be the house of the LGBTQ+ International WorldPride gathering in May.
Tourists can also take inspiration from the previous 20 years of NYT suggestions, which encompasses 914 locations.
