Edinburgh has been named one of the top locations in the UK for a city break, while Fort William has once again found itself among the country’s lowest rated tourist spots.
Regaining its title as one of the “worst towns to visit” in the UK, the Highland destination apparently fell short of visitor expectations according to new research.
Consumer magazine Which? surveyed more than 3,000 people about city breaks they had taken around the UK over the past two years, asking about their experiences in various towns and cities around the UK.
Each destination was then given an overall score based on factors including attractiveness, food and drink, value for money, cultural sights and more.
Broken down by size, Edinburgh was ranked as the best overall in Scotland as well as the best large city with a score of 82%. It was then followed by St Andrews, which received five-stars for its food and drink scene and an overall score of 80%, earning it a spot among the best “small UK cities” for a short break.
As for medium sized cities, Dundee is the only to have been named by Which, earning a score of 73% — which isn’t far behind Glasgow’s 76% rating overall.
As for the “outdoor capital of the UK”, Fort William only received a score of 56% from visitors, which is the second lowest rating overall, coming just ahead of Bournemouth which earned 55%.
With that in mind, here are the 9 best and worst places to visit in Scotland according to tourists — including Fort William.
1. Edinburgh
Edinburgh has been named as the best place to visit in Scotland, as well as one of the best cities in the UK, overall. With a score of 82%, the Scottish capital earned a top five-star score for its cultural experiences, attractiveness and ease of getting around, with four-stars across its food and drink scene, accommodation options, and shopping. As for where Edinburgh fell short, it came down to the crowds, parking and the city’s value for money. | Adobe Stock
2. St Andrews
St Andrews is the next best destination for tourists in Scotland, with an overall score of 80%. The best “small city” in the country, the town earned five-stars from visitors for its food and drink offering, ease of getting around, and attractiveness. It also scored highly when it comes to cultural sights and value for money. | Getty Images / Canva
3. Glasgow
The third best Scottish city to visit overall is Glasgow, which received a score of 76% from visitors. With five-stars for its ease of getting around and food and drink scene, it was also highly rated for accommodation options, cultural sights, shopping and value for money. | Getty Images / Canva
4. Stirling
Also among the most highly rated spots across Scotland is Stirling, which also earned 76% from past visitors. | Adobe Stock