What matters most to travellers in 2026? For many, it’s food – the simple joy of trying new cuisines, discovering new ingredients, following scents wafting around corners until we stumble upon roadside stalls or blink-and-you’ll-miss-it eateries. For others, it’s the scenery, or the ability to hop on a plane and broaden your horizons, literally and metaphorically, soaking up brand-new vistas, seeing the world from new heights or trekking to places you’d never otherwise experience. There’s seeing breathtaking wildlife firsthand, experiencing sub-zero temperatures or blistering heat for the first time, witnessing ancient history and learning about the people and stories that came before us. There’s the pleasure of meeting new people, making new friends, trying new activities, and going on adventures.
But finding a destination that caters to all of these whims and desires can be tricky. So each year, TripAdvisor asks travellers for their opinion – which destinations are truly the best of the best? This year, one particular entry pricked the ears of editors at Condé Nast Traveller.
London was voted the second-best tourist destination in the world for 2026. We may be biased, but we’ve long been obsessed with the city we call home. The big-hitting attractions are obvious, from Big Ben to the British Museum, but we believe the true joy of London as a travel destination lies in the lesser-known. Delve beyond the city’s tourist trails and you’ll find neighbourhoods that reveal themselves slowly, through hole-in-the-wall restaurants, pockets of calm in the midst of the buzzing commotion, overlooked boroughs or neighbourhoods that reward those who dedicate time to getting under their skin.
