Airbnb Reveals Lesser-Known City As UK’s Most Exciting Destination For 2026

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London is not precisely outdated information, however Scotland actually appears to be all the fad.

Whether or not it is new train routes or newfound hype from the largest names in journey, extra individuals are scoping out Scotland reasonably than a one-and-done journey to London.

Do not consider us?

Take it from Airbnb’s newest report, jam-packed with insightful nuggets in your 2026 adventures.

Although you will not discover any recognizable UK getaway, there are quite a few European stunners talked about.

However there’s one vacation spot ‘throughout the pond’ that is able to wow you because it’s laden with storybook castles, conventional pubs, a pleasant riverfront to discover, and the legend of one of many world’s most well-known mysteries you may settle as soon as and for all.

Inverness: A Postcard Metropolis With out Tourism Overload

You could know Glasgow and Edinburgh, however Inverness flies underneath the radar.

Rising up, my grandparents lived on Inverness Drive in Tyler, TX. Even realizing then that connecting streets had been Scottish themed, resembling Aberdeen Drive and Edinburgh Drive, none of us ever put collectively that Inverness was an actual place, and I used to be an avid Nationwide Geographic subscriber on the time.

Nonetheless, this lesser-known metropolis isn’t even near being a family title these days, with the likes of different main UK locations.

Moderately small in dimension, residence to only 48,000 individuals, it sits in that candy spot between nature and metropolis comforts with out the city chaos you discover elsewhere.

Straddling the River Ness, you may simply peruse Inverness for hours, discovering well-preserved Victorian buildings, lots of which home conventional pubs courting again ages.

Inverness isn’t solely a captivating metropolis itself, but additionally the proper springboard to the famed Scottish Highlands for epic countryside surroundings brimming with lush greenery, historic castles, and tranquil lochs.

Not often will you see an ugly crowd right here, even at the most well-liked landmarks, making it one of the crucial engaging visits to the UK, as different cities are on a record-breaking tear.

Airbnb Hypes Inverness As A Solo Vacation spot

In their very own phrases, Airbnb states “As “me time” replaces “plus one,” solo explorers are curating a few of the 12 months’s most intriguing getaways” and guess which Scottish adopted…

Yep — Inverness.

Look — I would don’t have any drawback hopping on a airplane and exploring London alone — till the invoice got here…

$25 for so-so fish and chips, $10 for a pint of beer you may’t pronounce — yeah, that may be exhausting to swallow if you’re not splitting prices.

Inverness is far lighter on the pockets.

Being an Airbnb subject, we might be remiss to not perform a little digging to see how a lot trip leases go for.

You will discover whole flats within the metropolis heart this spring for round $100 per evening, so it’s doable.

In fact, there are hostels and cute bed and breakfasts as an possibility too…

The purpose being, although it is not the largest metropolis to get misplaced in for a complete week, there’s loads to do and see, all whereas stretching your finances should you select to courageous Inverness by yourself phrases.

Whether or not or not it’s castle tours, whiskey tastings, city walking tours or beautiful hikes (post-winter), you’ll absolutely have a blast!

And that is to not say Inverness is not loved by {couples} both. It is protected to say Inverness is without doubt one of the most romantic settings in all the UK.

Has The Legend Of “Nessie” Come To An Finish?

Put apart tourism statistics and development predictions for a second. If Scotland has one declare to fame, it’d sound foolish, but it surely’s the Loch Ness Monster (in any other case often known as “Nessie”).

The legend of Nessie all began within the 1930’s when a neighborhood couple made waves saying they noticed an unknown creature.

Tales have been handed down for many years, together with a well-known picture trying one thing like a tentacle protruding of the waters of Loch Ness.

Immediately, you may nonetheless go on boat tours hoping to catch a glimpse of what appears to be Scotland’s model of Bigfoot.

However this widespread attraction lately got here to a crashing halt as longtime researcher Adrian Shine claimed he has given up on the elusive lake dweller, claiming it merely cannot be true to exist and should be defined by pure phenomena or just a misidentified species.

Actual or not, Nessie has created an entire subculture trade for tourism. If something, it is enjoyable to speak about with locals over a pint.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Author & Journalist based mostly in San Diego has visited 36 international locations and written over 1000 articles with a give attention to sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a light-weight on lesser-known gems.