Liverpool Named UK’s Second-Friendliest City for 2026

Key Points

• Liverpool has been described as one of the friendliest cities in the UK following its second-place finish in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.
• Liverpool scored 92.86, finishing behind Edinburgh but in front of Birmingham.
• Liverpool proved to be the biggest gainer in the 2026 friendly city ratings, improving from a joint eighth-place standing the previous year.
• Liverpool’s outgoing communities and vibrant culture were commended by the Condé Nast Traveller magazine.
• Furthermore, Liverpool placed itself at the fifth place in terms of being among the best cities in the UK in the Readers’ Choice Awards that year.
• The results were determined via voting by readers of Condé Nast Traveller UK magazine.
• Edinburgh has been rated the friendliest city in the UK while Glasgow was relegated to the fourth place having won the award for two consecutive years.
• The results can boost Liverpool’s image as a visitor destination.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 8, 2026 — Liverpool has been recognised as one of the UK’s friendliest cities after ranking second in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.

The result places Liverpool behind Edinburgh, which took first position with a score of 93.47, and ahead of Birmingham, which ranked third with 92.15. Liverpool recorded a score of 92.86 in the reader-voted friendliness category.

The 2026 result represents a significant rise for Liverpool. According to Condé Nast Traveller, the city moved from joint eighth place in 2025 to second place this year, making it the highest climber in the latest ranking. The result places Liverpool above Glasgow, Manchester, Belfast, London, Aberdeen, Bath and Brighton.

Condé Nast Traveller published the rankings on October 6 as part of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards. The magazine said the survey was based purely on votes from its UK readership. The 2026 awards are the 29th edition of the annual event.

Why Did Liverpool Rank So Highly?

Condé Nast Traveller described Liverpool’s residents as outgoing and inclusive. The publication also highlighted the city’s social atmosphere, suggesting that visitors can quickly become involved in conversations and local nightlife.

In its description of the city, Condé Nast Traveller referred to Liverpool’s lively bars and its reputation for welcoming visitors. The magazine said travellers could find common ground through discussions about the city’s maritime history, its major football rivalry and its association with The Beatles.

The ranking does not represent an official government assessment of hospitality. It is a reflection of the views expressed by readers who participated in the Condé Nast Traveller survey. The score indicates how the city performed in the publication’s friendliness category, rather than providing a measurement of every resident’s experience.

Liverpool’s second-place position nevertheless gives the city a strong result in a nationally recognised travel ranking. Its rise of six places from joint eighth also makes the result particularly notable when compared with the 2025 table.

The award comes as Liverpool continues to be promoted as a destination with a combination of cultural attractions, music heritage, sporting interest, nightlife and waterfront tourism. These factors contribute to the city’s appeal for short breaks and longer visits.

How Did Liverpool Compare With Other Cities?

Edinburgh was ranked the friendliest city in the UK for 2026, achieving a score of 93.47. Condé Nast Traveller said the Scottish capital was good-humoured, open-minded and associated with strong creative energy.

Birmingham took third place with 92.15. The city was described as the only new entry in the friendliness ranking and was praised for its welcoming residents and growing food scene.

Glasgow ranked fourth with 88.34 after winning the title for two consecutive years. Condé Nast Traveller noted that the city retained its reputation for hospitality, nightlife, music and cultural attractions despite losing the top position.

Manchester placed fifth with 86.26, followed by Belfast with 85.33. London ranked seventh with 83.89, while Aberdeen recorded 82.15 and Bath scored 81.64. Brighton completed the top ten with 79.94.

Rank	City	Score
1	Edinburgh	93.47
2	Liverpool	92.86
3	Birmingham	92.15
4	Glasgow	88.34
5	Manchester	86.26
6	Belfast	85.33
7	London	83.89
8	Aberdeen	82.15
9	Bath	81.64
10	Brighton	79.94

The results show a clear improvement for Liverpool, while several previously high-ranking cities experienced changes in position. Manchester fell from second place in 2025 to fifth in 2026, while Glasgow dropped from first to fourth.

What Did Liverpool’s Other Ranking Show?

Liverpool also appeared in Condé Nast Traveller’s separate list of the best cities in the UK for 2026. In that ranking, the city placed fifth.

The best-cities list was also based on votes from Condé Nast Traveller readers, but it assessed the broader appeal of UK cities rather than focusing specifically on friendliness. The ranking considered the overall attraction of destinations for travellers, including culture, food, accommodation and visitor experiences.

Edinburgh topped the best-cities ranking as well as the friendliness table. London came second, Bath third and Glasgow fourth. Liverpool ranked fifth, ahead of Manchester, Brighton, Oxford, Belfast and Birmingham.

Condé Nast Traveller described Liverpool as a city that had developed from its former industrial image into a creative destination. The publication highlighted vintage shops, art galleries and arts venues as part of the city’s appeal.

The two rankings provide different forms of recognition. The friendliness result focuses on how readers view the welcome offered by a city and its residents. The best-cities ranking considers a wider range of reasons for visiting and staying in a destination.

Liverpool’s appearance in both lists indicates that it performed strongly in two separate categories. It was recognised not only for its social atmosphere but also for its wider cultural and visitor offer.

How Does the Result Reflect Liverpool’s Identity?

Liverpool has a strong international identity linked to music, football, maritime history and popular culture. These features give visitors several accessible ways to engage with the city and its communities.

Condé Nast Traveller specifically pointed to the city’s maritime past, football rivalry and Beatles heritage as potential conversation topics for visitors. Those references reflect the distinctive subjects that often shape Liverpool’s public image and tourism marketing.

The magazine also associated the city with lively nightlife. Its comments suggested that visitors entering a busy Liverpool bar could quickly encounter a sociable atmosphere and conversation.

However, the ranking should not be interpreted as proof that every visitor will have the same experience. Reader surveys measure opinion and perception, and individual experiences may differ depending on the area visited, the time of year, the type of accommodation used and the activities chosen.

The ranking does provide evidence that Condé Nast Traveller readers viewed Liverpool positively in the context of hospitality and welcome. Its movement from joint eighth to second place gives the city a stronger position than in the previous year’s results.

What Was the Wider 2026 Awards Context?

Condé Nast Traveller said the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards were based purely on votes from its UK readership. The publication presented the awards as a broad assessment of readers’ favourite destinations, hotels and travel experiences.

The friendliest-cities list included locations from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The magazine noted that rankings changed from year to year, while many of the same cities continued to appear among the top ten.

Cambridge was the only city to leave the top ten in the friendliness category in 2026. The publication also said Brighton and Bath slipped slightly, while Scotland’s two largest cities both remained in the top four.

The best-cities ranking showed a similar pattern of movement. Edinburgh rose from fifth place in 2025 to first in 2026. London moved into second, while Bath dropped from first to third. Oxford entered the top ten, while Cambridge and Aberdeen were no longer included in that list.

For Liverpool, the most significant change was its rise to second place in the friendliness category. The result gives the city a stronger position than it held in the previous year and places it among the leading UK destinations in the 2026 awards.

Why Is the Recognition Important for Liverpool?

The ranking could be useful for Liverpool’s tourism and hospitality sectors because travel awards often influence how potential visitors compare destinations. A high position in a reader-voted list can provide promotional value for hotels, restaurants, attractions, tour operators and cultural venues.

The result may also support Liverpool’s wider destination-marketing efforts. Visitors considering a UK city break could view the ranking as an indication that the city offers a welcoming social environment alongside its established cultural attractions.

For local businesses, the recognition may create an opportunity to connect friendliness with existing tourism themes. Restaurants and bars can promote the city’s social atmosphere, while museums, music venues and heritage sites can highlight the range of experiences available to visitors.

The ranking may be particularly relevant to domestic travellers planning short breaks. Liverpool’s position alongside Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham gives it visibility among some of the UK’s most recognisable city destinations.

The result does not guarantee higher visitor numbers or increased spending. Those outcomes would also depend on travel costs, hotel prices, transport links, the events calendar, economic conditions and the quality of visitors’ experiences after arrival.

Background: What Are the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards?

The Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards are an annual travel survey in which readers vote for preferred destinations, hotels and other travel-related categories. The 2026 event was the 29th edition, and Condé Nast Traveller said the city results were based on votes from its UK readership.

The awards include separate categories for the best cities and the friendliest cities. These categories should not be treated as identical because they measure different aspects of a destination’s appeal.

In the 2026 friendliness ranking, Edinburgh took first place, followed by Liverpool and Birmingham. Liverpool’s second-place score was 92.86, while Edinburgh recorded 93.47.

In the best-cities ranking, Edinburgh also came first. Liverpool placed fifth, behind Edinburgh, London, Bath and Glasgow. The magazine described Liverpool’s cultural and creative attractions, including vintage shops, galleries and arts venues.

Liverpool’s 2026 result follows a lower joint-eighth position in the previous friendliness ranking. Its rise to second place made it the highest climber on this year’s list.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Visitors and Local Businesses?

For visitors, Liverpool’s ranking is likely to strengthen the city’s image as a welcoming destination for UK breaks, music trips, football-related travel and cultural tourism. It may encourage some travellers to consider Liverpool alongside Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham when choosing a city-break destination.

For tourism businesses, the recognition could provide fresh promotional material during the 2026 and 2027 travel-planning periods. Hotels, restaurants, bars, attractions and tour operators may use the result to reinforce Liverpool’s reputation for hospitality and social experiences.

The likely effect will be positive but gradual rather than immediate. A travel ranking alone is unlikely to determine visitor numbers, but it can influence awareness and contribute to a broader perception of the city.

The greatest long-term benefit will depend on whether visitors’ experiences match the award’s message. Consistent service, accessible transport, well-managed attractions and a welcoming environment would help Liverpool maintain the reputation reflected in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller survey.