Go to Sheffield for the cheapest city break. It’s top of the Top 10 cheapest cities in a study released today by TripAdvisor just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend. Check out the tables below for the full lists.
An evening out and overnight stay in a four-star hotel in the Yorkshire city will set you back £153.94, less than half the price of a break in the most expensive city, Edinburgh – which costs £331.28.
The results compare prices in the 20 most popular cities, taking into account typical costs for two people to enjoy a cocktail at a four-star hotel, a meal out, taxis, and an overnight stay for two during August.
And there’s a clear north/south divide – Sheffield, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester are all in the Top 10 best value cities. By contrast, six of the ten most expensive cities are in the South of England – Cambridge, London, Oxford, Bath, Brighton and Southampton – with only Edinburgh offering less value for money.
Brighton offers the best value for dinner, with a meal for two costing an average of just £54.09. At the other end of the scale is Belfast – at £73.01 the city comes out as most expensive for a bite to eat.
When it comes to hotel prices across the 20 cities, Edinburgh has the most expensive average rate for a four-star hotel room, coming in at £233.47. For that money, travellers can have three nights in a Sheffield hotel. Edinburgh could be more expensive in August because prices are inflated for the Edinburgh Festival.
A two-mile return taxi journey costs just £7.64 in Sheffield, yet £18 in London. Cocktails for two cost just over £13 in Sheffield and more than £22 in London.
The title of best value city last year went to Nottingham, which this year falls to eighth position, while the top three most expensive cities, Edinburgh, Cambridge and London have remained for two consecutive years.
TripAdvisor spokesperson, James Kay said: “For travellers planning a UK break over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, heading north will generally offer the best value for an evening out and overnight stay, although this is not always the case so be sure to plan ahead to get the best deals.”
Top 10 cities to save
| Ranking | City | Hotel | Taxi | Dinner | Dry martini | TOTAL | 2013 position |
| 1 | Sheffield | £69.35 | £7.64 | £63.73 | £13.22 | £153.94 | 3rd |
| 2 | Birmingham | £75.49 | £10.00 | £64.01 | £16.56 | £166.06 | 6th |
| 3 | Cardiff | £86.99 | £12.00 | £58.65 | £15.60 | £173.24 | 2nd |
| 4 | Newcastle | £88.24 | £12.00 | £59.94 | £16.08 | £176.26 | 8th |
| 5 | Bristol | £91.55 | £14.42 | £58.48 | £15.98 | £180.43 | 5th |
| 6 | Leeds | £87.33 | £10.40 | £68.08 | £18.52 | £184.33 | 4th |
| 7 | Liverpool | £100.42 | £11.81 | £61.86 | £15.68 | £189.77 | Same position |
| 8 | Nottingham | £102.99 | £11.60 | £69.91 | £14.68 | £199.18 | 1st |
| 9 | Manchester | £100.26 | £12.94 | £69.36 | £17.08 | £199.64 | 11th |
| 10 | Belfast | £105.39 | £11.40 | £73.01 | £14.56 | £204.36 | 12th |
Top 10 cities to splurge
| Ranking | City | Hotel | Taxi | Dinner | Dry martini | TOTAL | 2013 position |
| 1 | Edinburgh | £233.47 | £12.14 | £69.89 | £15.78 | £331.28 | 1st |
| 2 | Cambridge | £179.51 | £13.15 | £67.39 | £17.50 | £277.55 | Same position |
| 3 | London | £167.70 | £18.06 | £59.26 | £22.60 | £267.62 | Same position |
| 4 | Oxford | £158.00 | £14.45 | £67.27 | £16.40 | £256.12 | 6th |
| 5 | Bath | £147.61 | £13.24 | £64.35 | £15.08 | £240.28 | Same position |
| 6 | York | £145.64 | £13.44 | £62.33 | £16.36 | £237.77 | 11th |
| 7 | Brighton | £151.76 | £14.20 | £54.09 | £17.40 | £237.45 | 4th |
| 8 | Glasgow | £133.34 | £9.20 | £59.51 | £16.18 | £218.23 | 12th |
| 9 | Chester | £117.01 | £12.65 | £58.75 | £16.74 | £205.15 | 8th |
| 10 | Southampton | £111.98 | £14.06 | £61.77 | £17.00 | £204.81 | Not included last year |
