Brits looking for some staycation inspiration may want to consider the UK's most walkable city, with everything from Harry Potter-worthy streets to chocolates and vikings.

The bustling city of York has long been a firm favourite with UK holidaymakers thanks to the plethora of things to see and do, the wide array of restaurants, and the bars and clubs that can make for cheap nights out.

It was recently named the UK's most walkable city in a study by LateRooms which compared 20 popular UK cities on a number of factors including how many highly-rated attractions there were per square mile, the air quality, the amount of 'urban greenery', the number of centrally located hotels, and how easy it was to complete basic errands on foot such as getting a coffee or popping to the shop.

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York Minster, the cathedral in the centre of York city, Yorkshire, England, UK.
York Minster is a must-visit

It's not difficult to see why York topped the list. For a start, the city boasts heaps of cobbled streets (many of which are pedestrianised) full of charming shops and eateries, not to mention its iconic Shambles street with crooked buildings looks like something straight out of a Harry Potter film. It's also home to the Shambles Market, where you'll find dozens of stalls selling everything from fresh flowers to stylish accessories and plenty of artisan crafts.

(For those thinking of a festive getaway with Christmas markets, the York Christmas Festival is running until the 22nd December with plenty of stalls selling festive decorations, gifts and of course those classic mulled wines, hot chocolates and other wintery treats!).

People walking on the traditional streets of York in Northern England, past shops decorated for Christmas.
There's heaps to see and do in the tourist hotspot

The city also boasts an impressive number of attractions whether you're looking to explore the beautiful York Minster, indulge your sweet tooth at York's Chocolate Story, or get ready for a bit of a scare at the York Dungeons. History buffs may also want to bookmark the likes of York Castle and the Jorvik Viking Centre for a chance to step back in time.

York is also famous for its nightlife, with heaps of bars and clubs and pints that cost £3.63 on average, making it a great destination if you're after a night out that's cheap and cheerful. In fact, it's regularly named as one of the UK's cheapest nights out, especially for students as there are plenty of happy hours and other deals to be found.

People walking along a pedestrianised street in the historic centre of York on a clear spring day.
York has been named the UK's most walkable city

For those who are wanting to get their step count up, it's easy to explore the city on foot - and in fact, you can find some great self-guided walking tours on the Visit York website, not to mention there are also heaps of spooky Ghost Walks and tours so you can find out about some of the city's creepier tales. After all, there's a reason why York has previously been tipped as 'the most haunted city in Europe'.

UK's most walkable cities

  1. York
  2. Brighton
  3. Bath
  4. Bristol
  5. London
  6. Inverness
  7. Liverpool
  8. Cambridge
  9. Edinburgh
  10. Oxford
  11. Aberdeen
  12. Leeds
  13. Nottingham
  14. reading
  15. Birmingham
  16. Manchester
  17. Coventry
  18. Newcastle
  19. Cardiff
  20. Glasgow

You can find out more on laterooms.com.