Ipswich may not immediately strike you as the place to take a UK vacation, however TripAdvisor has revealed the winners of the 2020 Travellers’ Choice Destination awards – and it’s been voted as the top ’emerging destination’ in the country.
The Suffolk town is the only British destination in the global ranking for this category – meaning it must be pretty special.
So what does ’emerging’ actually mean? Well, TripAdvisor defines these places as being ‘ahead of the curve’, destinations that ‘smart travellers are already saving to their “Trips” on TripAdvisor’.
The UK town comes 14th in the list, with Kaliningrad in Russia in the top spot, followed by Saranda in Albania, Beirut, Luxor and Naoussa in Greece.
A spokesperson said: ‘Our Tripadvisor travellers have spoken – Ipswich has been named one to watch and the only UK destination to make the global list of Emerging destinations.
‘With superb transport links, an excellent range of accommodation options – including the new luxury Salthouse Harbour Hotel, which is currently ranked the No1 hotel in Ipswich [on TripAdvisor] – an ever-growing list of theatres, dance houses and things to, Ipswich is attracting some well-deserved traveller attention.
‘With future development plans for the St Peter’s Dock area of the waterfront, as well as the ongoing regeneration of the town centre, the future for Ipswich as a global tourism hotspot is exciting.’
Alongside this, the town has a renowned dance and theatre scene’, along with a vibrant community of indie shops, waterfront bars and cosy pubs.
The town’s top attrations on the travel site include the New Wolsey Theatre, DanceEast – which hosts ‘premieres of internationally acclaimed choreographers’ – the Ipswich Regent theatre, the Tudor Christchurch Mansion, Alton Water for cycling, fishing and walking, and the Saints area of the town for ‘unique shops’.
But which destination made the top spot?
TripAdvisor says that top-ranked Kaliningrad, a tiny sliver of Russia between the Baltic Sea, Poland and Lithuania, is a ‘stunning city that blends the culture and architecture of Eastern Europe and Russia like nowhere else’.
Take a look at the top 25 list – these could be the inspiration you need for your next break!
Top 25 emerging destinations in the world
1. Kaliningrad, Russia
2. Saranda, Albania
3. Beirut, Lebanon
4. Luxor, Egypt
5. Naoussa, Greece
6. Rugen Island, Germany
7. Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
8. Monopoli, Italy
9. La Paz, Mexico
10. Curaçao, Caribbean
11. Ile d’Oleron, France
12. Guayaquil, Ecuador
13. Tulsa, United States
14. Ipswich, United Kingdom
15. Franschhoek, South Africa
16. Tangier, Morocco
17. Takamatsu, Japan
18. Cala d’Or, Spain
19. Petropolis, Brazil
20. Antwerp, Belgium
21. Mirissa, Sri Lanka
22. Alvor, Portugal
23. Winnipeg, Canada
24. Darwin, Australia
25. Agra, India
