THE world’s coolest neighbourhoods have been revealed, and three of them feature in British cities.
The lesser-known areas have all been recognised for their hip nature by Time Out in their annual global list, now in its seventh year.
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The places in World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods list were ranked using the insight of Time Out writers across a selection of the world’s best cities, as well as local experts.
Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, said: “The neighbourhoods on this year’s list have a lot in common: great places to eat and drink, cutting-edge culture, street life and a thriving community.
“But they’re also a distinct reflection of their cities, with each of them offering something special you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
“Some have only just reached their moment; others have been ‘cool’ for some time and are finding a new groove – all of them should be on your radar to visit in these cities.”
Read on to find out which British neighbourhoods made the list and why…
Stokes Croft and St Paul’s, Bristol (6th place on the global list)
Stokes Croft and St Paul’s are home to a variety of people, including students, artists, and members of the Caribbean and Somali communities.
Its vibrant and ever-evolving, and just five minutes from Bristol city centre.
The neighbourhoods are full of independent boutiques, colourful street art, quirky bars and restaurants, like The Crafty Egg, which does a mean brunch and small plates in the evening.
Stokes Croft is also home to Turbo Island an open-air social hub known for its free parties, raves and fires.
Considered less touristy than Clifton but more lively than Easton, it’s described as Bristol at its most authentic.
If you’re tempted to visit the area, Time Out recommends: “Brunch at The Crafty Egg or Grey Tone Coffee for a speciality brew with an Insta-worthy pastry.
“Then head up Gloucester Road, one of Europe’s longest stretches of independent stores, for trinket-hunting.
“Catch a cult or underground movie at the Cube, and for dinner, try an authentic Jamaican meal at St Mary’s Kitchen, finishing your night with homegrown DJs at Crofters Rights.”
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Strathbungo in Glasgow (22nd place on the global list)
It’s Strathbungo’s community spirit, interesting architecture and regular events that have earned it a place on the list.
The area has a strong sense of community spirit with The Strathbungo Society promoting community cohesiveness and events like Bungo in the Back Lanes, which is a street market and community festival.
There’s also Window Wanderland, where residents display artwork in their windows to create a street gallery.
Strathbungo is also known for its Victorian architecture, including traditional tenement houses, as well as great local pubs and restaurants.
Olivia Simpson, native Glaswegian and Translations Editor at Time Out told Sun Travel of the area:
“Lots of new businesses, restaurants and bars have opened up in Strathbungo, but a lot has stayed the same too – residents still flock to Queen’s Park when the sun shines, and old-school pubs like The Allison Arms (which opened in 1884) still pull in locals and visitors.
“In recent years, the arty up-and-comers that might once have made the West End their home have been increasingly drawn to Strathbungo, and there’s also a number of Londoners coming to the area in search of cheaper rents.
“Visitors are drawn to the area for venues like The Tramway, an arts and culture venue which sits just south of the neighbourhood.
“But Strathbungo still feels really local – you won’t find the same number of tourists as you might in the city centre or the West End.”
What locals think of Leyton
Leyton local Adam shared with Sun Travel what it’s like to live in the area…
“Leyton has loads of young people and creatives moving in, but has kept its authentic East End character. It has great wine bars like Dina, which hosts pop-up residencies from amazing chefs.
“It also has so many great pubs, like the Leyton Engineer, the Leytonstone Tavern and the Leyton Star, cafes like Deeney’s and amazing restaurants such as Filly Brook, Bamboo Mat and Singburi.
“Plus, you’re only a moment away from green space because it’s nestled between the Olympic Park, the Hackney Marshes the Wansted Flats.”
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Leyton, London (24th)
Leyton in East London is packed full of character with an abundance of family-run restaurants and independent shops.
Francis Road is a part pedestrianised street and one of the most celebrated spots in the area and home to most of these.
If you’ve ever been recommended a place to eat, drink or shop in Leyton, it’s probably here.
A popular spot is Marmelo Kitchen, a cafe and store that focuses on seasonal and organically sourced produce.
The menu changes weekly and there’s a supper club on the first Thursday and Friday of every month.
Time Out’s World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods
- Notre Dame du Mont, Marseille, France
- Mers Sultan, Casablanca, Morocco
- Pererenan, Bali, Indonesia
- Seongsu-dong, Seoul, South Korea
- Kerns, Portland, USA
- Stokes Croft & St Paul’s, Bristol, UK
- Chippendale, Sydney, Australia
- Principe Real, Lisbon, Portugal
- Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Windsor, Melbourne, Australia
- Zabłocie, Krakow, Poland
- Little River, Miami, USA
- Saint-Henri, Montreal, Canada
- Punavuori, Helsinki, Finland
- 1Gakugeidaigaku, Tokyo, Japan
- Thao Dienm, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Flatbush, New York, USA
- Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany
- East City, Cape Town, South Africa
- Belleville, Paris, France
- Northbridge, Perth, Australia
- Strathbungo, Glasgow, UK
- Chacarita, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Leyton, London, UK
- Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland
- East Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA
- Ekkamai, Bangkok, Thailand
- San Rafael, Mexico City, Mexico
- Mount Pleasant, Washington DC, USA
- Bonfim, Porto, Portugal
- Palace Quarter, Budapest, Hungary
- Brewerytown, Philadelphia, USA
- Kowloon City, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Logan Square, Chicago, USA
- Norwood, Adelaide, Australia
- Osu, Accra, Ghana
- Orchard, Singapore, Singapore
- Union Square, Boston, USA