The southwest of England has been named as the No.1 place to go in the world in 2025 in a prestigious newspaper ranking.
The region tops a 52-strong annual list of ‘best destinations’ by The New York Times (NYT), which urges people to explore the area because it has strong links to Jane Austen and this year is the 250th anniversary of her birth.
‘Celebrations abound’, the newspaper remarks.
Other spots that make the list include Greenland, Sydney, Scotland, East London and a city in America infamous for its high crime rate.
Explaining why the southwest of England is top for this year, the NYT says: ‘Jane Austen fans have a good reason to explore the southwest of England this year: It’s the 250th anniversary of her birth, and celebrations abound.
‘Hampshire was both Austen’s birthplace and a source of inspiration; as a novelist, she was most prolific in this bucolic setting. Start out at Jane Austen’s House, her former cottage, featuring an exhibition and themed festivals.
‘The Jane Austen Country Fair will liven up Steventon in July, while Southampton is displaying Austen’s traveling writing desk and hosting the irreverent hit show “Pride and Prejudice* (*Sort Of).”
‘In Winchester, activities include literary readings, guided walks, access to Winchester College and a new statue at Winchester Cathedral, her final resting place. In Bath, the Jane Austen Centre is going all out, with dance balls and its Grand Regency Costumed Promenade.
The southwest of England has been named as the No.1 place to go in the world in 2025 by The New York Times, which urges people to explore the area because it has strong links to Jane Austen and this year is the 250th anniversary of her birth. It recommends visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Bath (pictured above), where she lived for five years
Greenland is opening a ‘sparkling new international airport’, explains the NYT
Sydney earns a place in the ranking for its reputation as a ‘seafood mecca’ and its ‘expanding’ metro network
‘Farther afield are sites used as locations for Austen film adaptations — like Stourhead, in Wiltshire, which appears in the 2005 version of “Pride and Prejudice”.’
Visit West explains in addition that in Bath – where Austen lived, from 1801 to 1806 – there will 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 author Jane Austen made Bath her home, the city was a thriving spa resort, popular with fashionable society,’ says Visit Bath.
The tourist board adds: ‘Retrace Jane’s steps on your visit to Bath and you will discover the same elegant yet vibrant city which provided inspiration for two of her six published novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.’
Explaining why Greenland is also on the list, the NYT notes its forthcoming ‘sparkling new international airport’, adding that it ‘is expected to bring many new visitors eager to take in the Northern Lights, the vast glaciers, the fjords and more on this giant Arctic island’.
Sydney earns a place in the ranking for its reputation as a ‘seafood mecca’ and its ‘expanding’ metro network, reveals the NYT. It explains: ‘There is no living in Sydney without a hefty awe of the sea, where both sustenance and communion are found’ and recommends tourists head to the city to feast at the Sydney Fish Market, which is getting an upgraded market hall this year.
Scotland’s Flow Country, meanwhile, became the first peatland to earn Unesco recognition, with the NYT adding: ‘It is one of the world’s biggest carbon stores, which makes it key to the fight against climate change. It is home to diverse wildlife. And it happens to be stunning.’
And East London, the NYT says, is the UK capital’s ‘latest cultural hotbed’. The paper highlights several upcoming new openings, including the new Sadler’s Wells East theatre for contemporary dance in February and the V&A East Storehouse, which will unveil a David Bowie centre in September.
The NYT suggest visiting Stourhead in Wiltshire, pictured above, where the 2005 version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was filmed
Scotland’s Flow Country is the first peatland to earn Unesco recognition. The NYT adds: ‘It is one of the world’s biggest carbon stores, which makes it key to the fight against climate change’
The NYT says East London is the capital’s ‘latest cultural hotbed’. It highlights the upcoming opening of the Sadler’s Wells East theatre for contemporary dance (pictured above)
Detroit finds a spot on the ranking ‘as it is showing remarkable signs of renewal’
New Orleans is one of several U.S destinations to feature on the list. It will host the 11th Super Bowl In February
Across the pond, Detroit, associated over the years with urban decline, finds a spot on the ranking because ‘today it is showing remarkable signs of renewal’.
The NYT adds: ‘The biggest addition looms large above the Detroit River — the 1.5 mile/2.4km Gordie Howe International Bridge will 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 top U.S destinations to make the list include New Orleans, which will host the 11th Super Bowl in February, and Washington D.C, which will be the home of the LGBTQ+ International WorldPride gathering in May.
Tourists can also take inspiration from the past 20 years of NYT recommendations, which encompasses 914 destinations.