Our top 5 cities in the world (and why we'd go back in a heartbeat)

How do you even begin to choose your favourite cities in the world?

We’ve been lucky enough to visit some incredible places over the years and there are plenty that we’ve loved for different reasons. But to make it onto our ultimate short list, there’s one question that matters more than anything else: would we go back?

Life is short and the world is big and there’s always somewhere new to explore, so going back to the same place twice has to really be worth it - and these five cities absolutely are.

We had a think about the ones we’d both be delighted to return to, whether that’s for a holiday or a work trip: not just places we enjoyed, but places that properly stuck with us.

In some cases, like London and Edinburgh, we didn’t just go back, we stayed there! We lived in London for 8 and 13 years respectively, spent a full month in Edinburgh and still can’t seem to keep away.

Here are our top 5 cities in the world

and why they made the cut:

London:

Sorry not sorry New York, Paris, Florence and Seoul: while we love you all dearly, this is the hill we’re willing to die on: London is easily, unquestionably the greatest city in the world.

Maybe we’re biased - after all, we lived there for 8 and 13 years respectively -but even after all that time, it never stopped feeling exciting.

For a start, the museums are incredible and so many of them are free. You can spend an afternoon wandering through world class displays at the British Museum, the Natural History Museum or the V&A and still feel like you’ve barely scratched the surface.

But what really makes London special is its diversity. Living there meant being surrounded by an amazing blend of cultures, languages and cuisines. One night you could be eating incredible Himalayan food, the next grabbing the best tandoori lamb chops in Aldgate and the next discovering a tiny neighbourhood café you’d somehow never noticed before.

And then there’s the history. London’s story stretches back thousands of years and you feel that everywhere, from Roman ruins to medieval streets to grand Victorian architecture.

It’s a city that somehow manages to feel historic while constantly evolving - even after more than a decade living there, we were still discovering new places.

London is also woven into so many of our biggest life moments. It’s where we got engaged (at the Natural History Museum, FYI), where David studied, and where so many of our closest friends still live. We’ve celebrated weddings, birthdays and everything in between there, and more recently we’ve loved rediscovering the city through Jamie’s eyes. Seeing it all again with a two-year-old is so special. Watching him crawl across the glass walkways at Tower Bridge, splash around in the Princess of Wales fountain, eat dinosaur themed afternoon tea and run through London Zoo for the first time has been amazing.

We don’t live there anymore, mainly thanks to rental prices, but we’re still only about 45 minutes away by train. Close enough that we can keep going back, and we do, often.

And every time we go back, we fall in love with it all over again.

Watching tourists enjoying our beloved London always makes us feel proud of the city.

It’s a bucket list destination for so many people and we’ll never stop encouraging others to go.

Edinburgh

Yep, another British city. Edinburgh is London's grander, moodier counterpart and we love it just as much for completely different reasons.

As well as a few Edinburgh city breaks, we spent a full month here during the Fringe Festival in 2022, which meant the city was absolutely buzzing from morning to night: street performers on every corner, last-minute shows, that constant festival energy. But beyond the Fringe (and we'd actually advise avoiding it if you're looking for a normal holiday), Edinburgh has so much to offer. We spent our days ticking off incredible free museums and galleries, wandering through the Botanical Gardens, visiting Holyrood Palace and even heading out to Portobello Beach when we fancied a change of pace.

The city itself is stunning: Sweeping crescents of grey stone houses, striking Scottish churches, cobbled streets and Edinburgh Castle rising over it all. Both the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town are UNESCO World Heritage sites! And if the summer crowds ever feel overwhelming, escape for a peaceful riverside walk through Dean Village.

What makes the city even more special, though, is the people. While London can get a bad, and unfair, rep for being unfriendly, Edinburgh couldn’t be warmer - despite the changeable weather. From helpful locals pointing you toward hidden gems to cheerful conversations in cafés or pubs, the city’s friendliness is one of our favourite parts about visiting.

And then there’s the food and drink. We fell hard for Edinburgh’s famous food scene: cosy restaurants, brilliant brunch spots, historic pubs and whisky bars with castle views. Be sure to walk up to Cafe Calton on Calton Hill for a coffee with sweeping panoramic views across the entire city.

Like London, Edinburgh is packed with history, but we most enjoyed leaning into the dark and mysterious side. While London has Jack the Ripper, Edinburgh has Burke and Hare. Ghost stories are everywhere, from witch trials to plague, Greyfriars Kirkyard - often said to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in the world - and the spine-chilling Edinburgh Vaults. It’s also famously where J.K. Rowling wrote parts of Harry Potter and you can definitely feel that influence wandering through the Old Town.

Of course, it’s not all eerie. There’s something joyful about the city too, live music spilling out of pubs, full Scottish breakfasts to start the day and climbing Arthur’s Seat unbeatable views across the rooftops. Edinburgh has a way of getting under your skin. It’s dramatic, a little bit haunting and completely unforgettable. We’d go back in a heartbeat.

San Francisco

We now head across the pond to San Francisco, one of the highlights of our honeymoon and a city that has held a special place in our hearts ever since. From the moment we arrived, it felt vibrant, quirky and endlessly full of things to explore.

One of our favourite memories has to be cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito with pelicans swooping through the mist beneath us like a scene from Jurassic Park and the Bay stretching out in every direction.

Food is a huge part of San Francisco’s draw and after a week-long road trip through the Nevada and California deserts we couldn't wait to dive in. Fabulous Italian seafood with bridge views on the waterfront, mouthwatering set menus in historic Chinatown, one of the oldest in the US, and experimental hipster menus at places like State Bird Provisions. It is a city that satisfies every kind of craving.

Of course the iconic attractions are impossible to ignore: catching the ferry to the infamous Alcatraz prison island, watching the sea lions at Pier 39, riding the classic cable cars and navigating the extreme switchbacks of Lombard Street are all quintessential San Francisco experiences.

San Francisco has that perfect mix of natural beauty, quirky urban energy and a progressive liberal vibe - we would happily spend a long weekend by the Bay again anytime.

Tokyo

Tokyo was unlike anywhere else we’ve ever visited: hyper-modern and buzzing one minute, deeply traditional the next. One minute you’re surrounded by towering neon and cutting-edge technology, the next you’re walking through winding narrow streets and ancient temple grounds. We spent five days in the city and felt like we lived in two worlds at once!

We loved getting lost in it all. From the quirky, colourful streets of Harajuku to browsing Pokémon and Nintendo stores, it constantly felt playful and unexpected. We even spent a day in DisneySea, one of the most imaginative theme parks we’ve ever visited.

Tokyo can feel unbelievably busy, but there’s a calmer, more reflective side to the city. Visiting Senso-ji Temple, Meiji Jingu and the Imperial Palace offered a real sense of Tokyo’s history and gave us a quiet break from the intensity of the main streets.

Food is another huge part of the Tokyo experience and something we were looking forward to the most on our trip. You can explore tiny, tucked-away spots in Omoide Yokocho, local ramen shops next to commuter stations and places like Genki Sushi where your dishes arrive on a little train, or try something new like the huge range of unique street food on offer and completely bonkers experiences like robot cafes.

We also loved diving into Tokyo’s pop culture. Akihabara’s gaming arcades are next level and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the energy, even if you’re just watching. For city views, head up the Tokyo Skytree, still one of the tallest towers in the world, and if you're really lucky with the weather, you might even spot Mt Fuji! Don't leave Tokyo without tackling Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest intersection, where the organised chaos somehow works perfectly. It's these kinds of experiences that stay with you long after you leave.

Tokyo feels like a puzzle of experiences: a modern, mega metropolis that almost feels like a western city, but at the same time it’s a complete culture shock. The Japanese way of life is so different to what we’re used to and that juxtaposition is overwhelming in the best

Sydney

We could happily live in Sydney. It was the first stop on our babymoon and from the moment we arrived, we could see why people fall so hard for it: it’s the perfect combination of a busy, historic city and stunning beaches, with stunning wine regions just beyond the city limits!

We spent a week in Sydney and one of the biggest highlights for us was the whale watching. We were incredibly lucky to have two humpbacks hanging out right next to our boat for almost an hour, something we’ll never forget and easily some of the best wildlife we’ve ever seen.

Back on land, Sydney is full of amazing things to do and see. We loved exploring the bougie coffee shops in Paddington and spending some serious beach time at Bondi and Manly. From historic pubs and rooftop bars in The Rocks, to the Sydney Opera House, listening for kookaburras in the Botanical Gardens and watching sunsets over the Harbour Bridge, it felt like every day had a pinch-me moment.

And then there’s the wildlife, which still feels slightly surreal. Kookaburras, sulphur-crested cockatoos and colourful parrots perched on rooftops and filled the parks with noise, completely unfazed by the people around them. It’s so mad that this is just everyday life for Sydneysiders!

Sydney is special. It's a city that makes you want to slow down and enjoy life and one we would happily return to over and over again.

What would your top 5 cities be?

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