It topped a new list of places to go by Time Out.
A visit to one of Scotland’s cities has been crowned the “best thing to do in the UK” by Time Out, and it is neither Edinburgh or Glasgow. The experts described it as “a fantastic history-focused trip”, and also praised the city’s various upcoming festivals and other events.
As reported by the Daily Record, Time Out has put together a roundup of 25 of the “best things to do in the UK right now”. There are five Scottish experiences in total on the list, one of which is visiting the city of Stirling. The magazine previously declared Stirling the best place to visit in the UK at the start of 2026.
Time Out singled out the wide variety of events and festivals that are taking place in Stirling in the coming weeks and months. Among these are the Stirling Highland Games on August 15, the multi-genre Interesting Things Music and Arts Festival on the same day, BBC Radio 2 in the Park in September, and Stirling Cocktail Week later in the year.
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The experts also praised the city’s historical significance, noting its connections to figures such as William Wallace and Mary, Queen of Scots. Stirling is home to many historic attractions, including Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument, and the Stirling Old Town Jail.
Time Out wrote: “Stirling has witnessed many of the nation’s most significant events—from William Wallace’s defeat over the English to the crowning of Mary Queen of Scots at just nine months old—making for a fantastic history-focused trip.
“In 2026, Stirling Distillery will release its first batch of Stirling whisky and independent venues will celebrate Stirling Cocktail Week with serious food and drinks deals all over the city (dates still to be announced). And every August there are the rollicking Highland Games featuring Highland dancing, the Stirling Stones competition and battle reenactments.”
According to Stirling Council, the number of people visiting Stirling has soared past pre-Covid levels. The Scottish Tourism Economic Activity Monitor states that 4.6 million tourists visited the city in 2024, which was an increase of more than 10 per cent compared to the previous year and higher than the previous peak in 2017.
The city has also received a number of other accolades in recent years, in addition to being named the best place to visit in the UK by Time Out. Stirling was previously crowned Scotland’s top visitor destination by Lonely Planet and Scotland’s cultural capital by LNER in 2025.
Stirling Council Leader Susan McGill commented: “This latest recognition from Time Out is another fantastic achievement for Stirling and reaffirms the area’s reputation as a must-visit destination. We have world-class attractions, rich history and heritage, a packed programme of exciting events, a thriving cultural scene and stunning scenery. From our vibrant city centre to our beautiful rural communities, there is so much to explore, enjoy and experience across Stirling.
“Our excellent transport links have been improved with the new Lumo train service from London—so there has never been a better time to visit Stirling and enjoy everything we’ve got to offer. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from across the world to Stirling during the rest of the summer and this year.
“We are also committed to working with our tourism businesses and other partners to support further growth in this key part of the economy.”
More information can be found on the Stirling Council website. For the full list of the 25 best things to do in the UK right now, see the Time Out website.

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