13 August, 2013 - Nottingham offers the best value city break in the UK, according to an annual cost comparison study released  by TripAdvisor ahead of the August bank holiday.

An evening out and overnight stay in a four star hotel in Nottingham for two will knock you back £164.73*, nearly half the price of a break in the UK’s most expensive city Edinburgh, which costs £298.46. 

The results were taken from TripIndex UK Cities, which compares the cost of an evening out in each of the UK’s twenty most popular cities**, taking into account typical costs for two people to enjoy a pre-meal cocktail at a five star hotel, a meal out, taxis, and an overnight stay for two in a four star hotel during the month of August.

This year’s results show a stark north south divide, with Sheffield, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and York all coming in the top ten cities for best value. By contrast, five of the six most expensive cities are situated in the South of England – Cambridge, London, Brighton, Bath and Oxford – with only Edinburgh offering less value for money.

Perhaps surprisingly, London offers the best value for dinner, with a meal for two costing an average of just £54.47 – although the cost of drinks still make the capital an expensive option for a night out. For those looking to splash out, cocktails for two in a five star London hotel will set you back a staggering £32. Aberdeen, by comparison, is the best option for a five star cocktail, with drinks for two costing just £11.90.

When it comes to hotel prices across the 20 cities, Edinburgh has the most expensive average rate for a four-star hotel room, coming in at £207.51. For the price of one night in a hotel in Edinburgh, travellers can have nearly three nights in a Nottingham hotel.

For your taxi back to the hotel, Cardiff offers the best value, with the average two mile journey costing just £6.60 – around three times less than the same journey in London, which averages at £18.

This year’s results also revealed a sharp increase in prices across many cities in the UK when compared to the same period last year. As a result, this year’s best value break – £164.73 in Nottingham – is more than £25 more expensive than last year’s best value break, a £139.54 stay in Birmingham. 

“With the great summer we’ve been enjoying, staycations are sure to be a popular choice for UK travellers over the August bank holiday, but where you go will have a big impact on how much you’re likely to spend. Generally, the further north you go the less you’ll need to fork out for hotels and dinner, but there are some notable exceptions to that rule, so make sure you plan ahead,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson James Kay.  

Top 10 cities to save

*Change indicates the increase or decrease in TripIndex ranking when comparing the position of the destination in 2013 with the results in 2012

Top 10 cities to splurge

*Change indicates the increase or decrease in TripIndex ranking when comparing the position of the destination in 2013 with the results in 2012

TripIndex: The full TripIndex is available at http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/InfoCenter-a_ctr.TripIndex_Cities_2013_UK_Local  

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For more information contact Hayley Coleman: hcoleman@tripadvisor.com / 020 3194 2150

Notes to Editors

* Measured according to its value in the TripIndex UK Cities

**Based on the top 20 cities most searched on TripAdvisor.co.uk in 2012.

About TripIndex UK Cities

TripIndex prices out the following items in each destination:

·          Per night cost a four-star hotel (between 1 August and 31 August 2013)

·          Cost of two two mile taxi journeys

·          Cost of an alcoholic cocktail (dry martini) – for two 

·          Cost of a meal for two (starter and main – salad and steak and chips with a bottle of house wine)

Prices were collected through a variety of research methods as outlined below.  The ‘basket’ of items – one night’s accommodation, two two-mile taxi journeys; salad starter and steak and chips two course meal with a bottle of house wine and a dry martini – are representative of the items many travellers will purchase while on holiday. 

Hotels: Hotel prices shown specify the average cost of a four-star hotel found on TripAdvisor (via partner booking sites such as online travel agencies and direct hotel suppliers) in each destination for the period of 1 August – 31 August 2013). On average, 23 hotels were price-checked to identify the average cost of one night’s accommodation in each city.

Dry Martini: Dry Martini prices shown specify the cost of a traditional dry martini in the main/largest bar in a top-rated five-star hotel on TripAdvisor in each destination.   In the destinations where a five-star hotel was not listed on TripAdvisor, a top-rated four-star hotel was chosen.

Dinner for two: Dinner prices shown specify the cost of a two course meal of a salad and steak and chips with a house bottle of wine in a mid-range restaurant in each destination.  

Taxi: Taxi prices shown specify the cost of a two-mile taxi journey (return) in each destination.  Data was obtained from the local council or a large taxi company operating in the area.  Please note taxi prices will vary according to a number of factors, including number of passengers, pick-up/drop-off points, traffic, time of day, method of booking, luggage, etc.