The south west of England has been named the No.1 place in the world in 2025 in a prestigious newspaper ranking.
The region tops a 52-strong annual list of ‘best destinations’ The New York Times (NYT)which encourages people to explore the area because it has strong links with Jane Austen and this year marks the 250th anniversary of her birth.
‘Celebrations abound’, notes the newspaper.
Other places that make the list include Greenland, SydneyScotland, East London and a city in America notorious for its peak crime course.
Explain why the south west of England is top for this year, the NOW says: ‘Jane Austen fans have a good reason to explore southwest 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 at Jane Austen’s househer former cottage, with an exhibition and themed festivals.
‘The Jane Austen Country Fair will liven up Steventon in July, while Southampton showcases Austen’s traveling writing desk and hosts the irreverent hit show “Pride and Prejudice* (*Kind 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 Center goes all out, with dance balls and its Grand Regency Costumed Promenade.
The south west of England has been named the No.1 place in the world in 2025 by The New York Times, which is encouraging people to explore the area because of its strong links with Jane Austen and this year being her 250th anniversary. birth. It recommends visiting the Jane Austen Center 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 rankings for its reputation as a ‘seafood mecca’ and its ‘expanding’ metro network
‘Further afield are sites used as locations for Austen film adaptations – such as Stourheadin Wiltshire, appearing in the 2005 version of “Pride and Prejudice”.’
Visit West further explains that in Bath – where Austen lived from 1801 to 1806 – there is a ‘Persuasion nautical-themed ball’ on 31 May, a ‘Sanditon seaside-themed ball’ on 28 June and a ‘special Yuletide birthday ball’ will be. on December 13 at the Jane Austen Center.
‘When 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 footsteps on your visit to Bath and you’ll discover the same elegant yet vibrant city that provided inspiration for two of her six published novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.’
To explain why Greenland is also on the list, the NYT notes its upcoming ‘sparkling new international airport’, adding that it is ‘expected to bring many new visitors eager to see the Northern Lights, the vast glaciers, to take in the fjords and more about this giant Arctic island’.
Sydney earns a place in the rankings for its reputation as a ‘seafood mecca’ and its ‘expanding’ subway network, the NYT reveals. It explains: ‘There is no life in Sydney without a solid awe of the sea, where both sustenance and communion are found’ and recommends tourists head to the city to feast on the Sydney Fish Marketwhich is getting an upgraded market hall this year.
Scotland’s Flow Country, meanwhile, became the first peatland to gain Unesco recognition, with the NYT adding: ‘It is one of the world’s biggest carbon stores, making it key to the fight against climate change. It is home to diverse wildlife. And it happens to be amazing.’
And East London, says the NYT, is the British capital’s ‘newest cultural hotbed’. The paper highlights several upcoming new openings, including the new Sadler’s Wells East theater for contemporary dance in February and the V&A East Storehouse, which a David Bowie Center in September.
The NYT suggests visiting Stourhead in Wiltshire, above, where the 2005 version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was filmed
Scotland’s Flow Country is the first peatland to gain Unesco recognition. The NYT adds: ‘It is one of the world’s largest carbon stores, making it key to the fight against climate change’
The NYT says East London is the capital’s ‘newest cultural hotbed’. It highlights the upcoming opening of the Sadler’s Wells East contemporary dance theater (pictured above)
Detroit finds a place in the ranking ‘because it shows remarkable signs of renewal’
New Orleans is one of several American destinations to appear on the list. It will host the 11th Super Bowl in February
Across the pond, Detroit, which has been associated with urban decline over the years, finds a place in the ranking because it ‘shows remarkable signs of renewal today’.
The NYT adds: ‘The biggest addition looms large over the Detroit River – the 1.5-mile/2.4-km Gordie Howe International Bridge will be North America’s longest cable-stayed bridge when it opens in the fall, connecting motorists, cyclists and connecting pedestrians to Windsor, Ontario, and the Trans Canada Trail.’
Other top US destinations to make the list include New Orleans, which will host the 11th Super Bowl in February, and Washington DC, which will host the LGBTQ+ International WorldPride event in May.
Tourists can also get inspiration from the past 20 years of NYT recommendationswhich includes 914 destinations.
