Many Britons will be leaving the UK behind this year and jetting abroad for sun, sea and sand.
However, staycations - which became increasingly popular during the Covid pandemic - are also very popular.
For those looking to save money and avoid the chaos that often comes with air travel, Manchester and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) are two spots holidaymakers will not want to miss.
These two UK spots have been named by The New York Times as two of 52 places to go in 2024.
Brecon Beacons is ideal for nature lovers
GETTY IMAGES
Music lovers were recommended the bustling British city.
“Music has long been at the core of Manchester’s gritty soul, from Joy Division and the Stone Roses to Oasis and, now, Harry Styles, who is backing Britain’s largest new music arena, Co-op Live, set to open in April," the report said.
“Stars like Liam Gallagher, Eric Clapton and Barry Manilow are booked to inaugurate the 23,500-capacity space, which will complement the reopening of concert halls like the post-punk incubator Band on the Wall and New Century, where the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Tina Turner have all graced the stage.”
For music fans keen to discover something new, it recommended holidaymakers hit up two huge music conferences Worldwide Music Expo, complete with concerts, speakers, films and an awards ceremony, and Beyond the Music, buzzing with performances, parties and workshops.
Comedy fans should keep their diaries free for November, when Laurie Anderson will headline the Factory International Arts Centre with “ARK,”, described as a multimedia “dark comedy for the end of the world.”
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) is another must-see in 2024, for those who are keen to explore nature, according to the report.
It pointed to a big cultural moment in Wales that visitors can be part of in 2024.
It said: “Reclaiming the name Bannau Brycheiniog for a beloved national park in Wales last year was more than a linguistic change to Welsh from English; it was a shift to spotlight the Welsh culture of the 520-square-mile park, formerly known as Brecon Beacons.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Visit Manchester in 2024 for the ultimate staycation
GETTY IMAGES
“The park’s emphasis on the relationship between nature and local culture is also shown in a new logo.
“Instead of the burning brazier of Brecon Beacons, the logo now has an ancient Welsh crown set within a green forest under stars, a reflection of the park’s commitment to a future where planting native trees restores temperate rainforest, the revegetation of peatland captures carbon and the dark sky is protected from light pollution.”
Visitors are urged to make use of the park’s public transport and bike rentals. They can also use the Explore Wales Pass for trains and buses.
Adventurers and exercise fans can enjoy a scenic hike through waterfall country from Pontneddfechan.
Top 20 must see locations for 2024
1. The Path of Totality, North America
2. Paris, France
3. Yamaguchi, Japan
4. New Zealand by train
5. Maui, Hawaii
6. Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, Arizona
7. Singapore
8. O'Higgins, Chile
9. Ladakh, India
10. Geneva, Switzerland
11. Dominica, The Caribbean
12. Manchester, England
13. Craters of the Moon, Idaho
14. Baltimore, Maryland
15. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
16. Negombo, Sri Lanka
17. Massa-Carrara, Italy
18. Bannau Brycheiniog, Wales
19. Morocco
20. Valencia, Spain
