6. London
Why now: With the craziness of last year’s Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee now behind it, London’s supercrowds are gone, and hotel and flight deals to the always-hot British capital are far easier to come by.
Where to stay: Industrial-chic East End dynamo The Hoxton
Where to eat: Soho’s stylish but straightforward 10 Greek Street
Side trip: The eternally musical and ridiculously gay-friendly Manchester
Image by atomicpuppy68