Top Cities To Visit During The Winter In The UK and Europe

Winter is an ideal time to visit cities, because you can take advantage of the indoor attractions and avoid pounding hot sweltering pavements and thronging crowds. If you want to make a weekend of it, you will generally find prices are cheaper in January and early February up until the tourist season swings into life with half term and Valentine’s Day. 

Enjoy the crisp frosty days, gather a group of friends and take a coach hire trip to one of these top urban destinations. 

York

The streets of York are often dusted with snow in the winter, lending even more charm and character to this popular historic city. Take a bracing walk along the city walls and take a visit to the York Minster with its stunningly beautiful mediaeval stained glass windows. There is also the Jorvik Viking centre to visit and the Yorkshire Museum.

Bath

Bath is a traditional tourist destination, and it can be crowded in peak season so January is an ideal time to visit. The thermal spa is of course the big attraction and a wonderful place to warm yourself on a chilly winter’s day. The thermal baths can be accessed at the Thermae Bath Spa, and you can view the original Roman Baths and learn how they came to be.

The handsome Georgian buildings offer a range of premium shopping and dining options and you can explore the delights of the Jane Austen Museum, the Regency Rooms and the National Fashion Museum, which features a fascinating range of contemporary and historical items of clothing and footwear. 

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is a beautiful city with fine gothic architecture and a charming mediaeval town centre that is an UNESCO world heritage site. Everywhere you look is a photo opportunity, with canals, cobblestone streets, and ancient churches. It’s also famed for its outstanding beers, so it’s the perfect place to install yourself in a cosy pub and enjoy a pint or two.

Take a canal boat tour or enjoy the cultural treasures of the Hof Bladelin, Groeninge Museum, Church of Lady, and the Market Halls. There are also some excellent places to stay, eat and drink.

Oslo, Norway

If you are really craving a nip in the air and sparkling frosty surfaces, you can’t go far wrong in winter in Norway. Pack a parka and take a trip to the capital Oslo, where you will find some excellent museums and galleries to visit, such as the National Museum and the Munch, named for the country’s most famous artist. 

If you are in need of warming up, you will be spoilt for choice at the many saunas, including a floating sauna in the harbour.