Plus Joe Cocker, Dave Berry, Tony Christie.
It’s not just the city but all the open countryside and. Moors within 30 mins drive from the centre
Also for me Seville, Budapest and Berlin.
3 Likes
for me it is venice - art architecture and food - and best of all no cars and of course the islands murano burano and torcello only a vaparetto ride away
5 Likes
I’ve quite enjoyed a few cities I have visited, mainly through work. New York, Paris. Toronto and Vancouver come to mind.
However given the choice I generally prefer to avoid Cities unless there is a good reason.
1 Like
I’ve lived or worked in London, Newcastle upon Tyne, Manchester, Cardiff and Douglas (Isle of Man, made a city only a couple of years ago). They each have their good points, but which would I choose if I had no option but to live in a city? If I focus on city not where it is located, nor cost of living, I think London would win, because of its vast entertainment/cultural scene (and after all, what ekse is a city for?)
From a different angle the nicest city I know is Firenze (Florence): Beautiful, great food, not needing to be expensive, music, other arts, alive, and compact. The only negatives I can think of at this istant are too many tourists at holiday times, and my abilities with languages other than English are abysmal. (Other cities outside UK that I have been to and reflected on in this: Amsterdam, Bankok, Bologna, Bridgetown, Budapest, Hamburg, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Luxembourg, Monaco, Naples, Nice, Paris, Pisa, Prague, Rejkyavik, Rome, Rotterdam, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Siena, Singapore, Tokyo, Venice.)
2 Likes
Tokyo: A city full of delightful contrasts; bustling yet calm, with bright shopping areas tucked beside peaceful temples and gardens. It feels like the future but honors old traditions and crafts, offering everything from fine dining to cozy ramen, soba, yakitori, and sushi.
London: A charming, slightly messy mix; Roman roads, royal palaces, amazing museums, friendly neighborhood pubs, cool used-vinyl/record shops, and global eats.
New York City: A vibrant blend of cultures; every neighborhood has its own vibe, so you can wander from a top museum or Broadway show to a tiny restaurant, jazz bar, record shop, public park, or lively late-night street scene in just a few blocks.
5 Likes
I am not the most travelled poster here but value the familiarity of the known to find ‘hidden gems’. So, my contributions would be:
Bath: So many memories from swimming in the Roman Baths to pub-crawls that didn’t seem to have an end point. So many small, cute places to stay too.
London: Such a cosmopolitan city. I love the range of languages heard while using each escalator and the architecture, when you remember to look upwards, is astonishing. Visit the Newport Street Gallery or look at the roof in the British Museum. It is also surprisingly human; The Foundling Museum or the Covid Memorial Wall.
2 Likes
New York, London, Paris, Munich…
3 Likes
- London obvs. I live there. And it really is the best city in the world. Home of Crystal Palace FC. Offends half the forum.
- Tokyo. The chaos. And yet everyone follows the rules. Drinking a whisky in the bar on the 26th floor of a Shinjuku hotel ( like Bill Murray in LIT) and looking out over LA in Blade Runner. 3D holographic ads with cats. Restaurants you have to enter on hands and knees through a hole.
- Berlin. Incredibly cool ( and cold in winter). Amazing bars, restaurants and clubs. So much history as you walk around.
- Madrid. The Prado. Incredible tapas. G& Ts with half a bottle of gin in them. (Cadiz has even better night life but no Prado)
5 Likes
Yes, but most importantly and of far more significance - Lords Cricket Ground
7 Likes
London, Berne, Barcelona, central Berlin, Paris, Vienna (in winter), Venice (out of season)
3 Likes
Everybody’s talking 'bout it ?
3 Likes
Koln, if for nothing else how that wonderful cathedral overlooks the station on your arrival. And one I haven’t visited but I wish for New Orleans.
3 Likes
Fascinating place.
2 Likes
Wow, what a great list of top cities to explore!
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are definitely favorites—I’d also add Da Nang (that charming former French town) and Hue (the historic imperial capital).
Tokyo is a special place; I lived there as an expat from 2003 to 2012 and really like it. Sapporo and Fukuoka are wonderful picks too, especially since they’re a bit more off the beaten path.
Singapore—should I describe this one? Overrated?
1 Like
Jerez de la Frontera. Visit every year. Love sherry, and the lifestyle.
2 Likes
I wasn’t actually very keen on Ho Chi Minh, but did really enjoy Hanoi both times we went. I love Hoi An and could spend a lot of time there (and end up with too many really nice clothes!), but didn’t think of it as a city. Da Nang OK but I have less strong memories of it.
Yes, I should have thought about Sapporro - I enjoyed my visit there, and then there are several others I have been to but didn’t think about, e.g Sendai and Yokahama, and of course Hiroshima, the place to which every would-be national leader should be required to go and spend time learning. I haven’t been to Fukuoka.
I agree re Singapore!
3 Likes
I love this forum for it’s erudition
best wishes
Ian
2 Likes
Sydney.
1 Like
Just got back from Jerez. Had the most wonderful meal in the Cruz Blanco restaurant - along with too much manzanilla!
7 Likes
