Lonely Planet has named the United Kingdom as the seventh best value travel destination in the world for 2018.

Following the UK’s referendum on EU membership in June 2016, and the country’s decision to leave the EU ("Brexit"), the pound has weakened significantly against almost all major currencies, making a visit to Britain much better value than it has been for quite some time.

According to Lonely Planet, “While the UK government busies itself with Brexit, travellers can reap the rewards.”

The UK has perhaps not always been seen as a top destination for those looking for a more affordable holiday but, thanks to the weakness of sterling, international visitors to Britain can now see their money going much further. For example, the dollar has fallen almost 11% versus the pound over the past 16 months, helping to generate a 31% increase in visits from the US to the UK over the first six months of this year.

Lonely Planet recommends that visitors to the UK make the exchange rate work even harder by aiming for Devon, Cornwall and “big-ticket cities such as Bath, York and Edinburgh”.

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, said: “There hasn’t been such a good time to visit the UK for many years, with the pound at historic lows versus other currencies. Britain offers a wealth of first rate attractions, luxury hotels and top restaurants, which are now cheaper than ever for international visitors, so if you’re planning a holiday for 2018, you would be hard pressed to find a better destination than the UK.”

Lonely Planet advises prospective visitors to the UK to keep an eye on currency fluctuations, but that “the most likely scenario is that the UK stays affordable to international visitors – at least until a true picture of the post-Brexit landscape emerges”.

In further good news for the UK, Lonely Planet has chosen Belfast and the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland as the number one region in the world to visit in its prestigious Best in Travel 2018. Belfast and the Causeway Coast came ahead of places like Alaska, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France and the Aeolian islands in Italy.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of the UK, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team.