This Yorkshire town has been named among most welcoming locations on Earth by travel experts
A Yorkshire town has been listed among the top 10 most welcoming cities/towns across the globe by travel experts.
Booking.com has published its 14th annual Traveller Review Awards based on more than 370 million verified reviews from travellers around the world.
The categories are ‘10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth’, ‘UK’s Top Most Welcoming Cities’ and ‘Most Welcoming Regions on Earth’.
This year’s Most Welcoming Places on Earth celebrates destinations where visitors feel genuinely cared for, with personal touches, warm interactions and hosts who go above and beyond to make trips memorable.
Among these global winners Harrogate - the only UK location to make it on this year’s top 10.
Renowned for its elegant spa heritage, green spaces, and well maintained streets, the town offers a relaxed yet refined atmosphere, complemented by friendly independent shops, cafes, and a strong sense of community.
Some of the recognised accommodation showing remarkable hospitality includes Hotel du Vin and Bistro and Rudding Park.
Chief business officer at Booking.com, James Waters, said: “From welcoming hosts who go above and beyond for guest stays to expert taxi drivers sharing ‘local-only’ tips, these personal touches can make a trip truly special for travellers.
“The Traveller Review Awards continue to shine a well-deserved spotlight on our partners who help create lifelong memories for travellers.
“It’s one of our ways of saying ‘thank you’ from all of us at Booking.com and the hundreds of millions of travellers around the world.”
Most Welcoming Cities on Earth 2026
1 - Montepulciano, Italy
2 - Magong, Taiwan
3 - San Martín de los Andes, Argentina
4 - Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK
5 - Fredericksburg, Texas, United States
6 - Pirenópolis, Brazil
7 - Swakopmund, Namibia
8 - Takayama, Japan
9 - Noosa Heads, Australia
10 - Klaipeda, Lithuania
UK’s Top Most Welcoming Cities 2026
1 - Harrogate, North Yorkshire
2 - Newry, County Armagh
3 - Broadway, Worcestershire
4 - Enniskillien, County Fermanagh
5 - Portstewart, County Londonderry 6 - Wells, Somerset
7 - Dornoch, Highlands
8 - Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire
9 - Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
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Most Welcoming Regions on Earth 2026
1 - Hidalgo, Mexico
2 - Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
3 - Navarra, Spain
4 - Idaho, United States
5 - Himachal Pradesh, India
6 - Sachsen, Germany
7 - Phang Nga, Thailand
8 - Overijssel, Netherlands
9 - Epirus, Greece
10 - Chiriquí, Panamá