TIME have revealed their World’s Greatest Places list for 2024 with an unusual entry in the UK.
Joining the likes of the Kamba African Rainforest and the Diyarbakir Express train in Turkey, the Aviva Studios at Factory International in Manchester also made the cut.
The list of 100 places, the sixth year it has run, is created by both an application process as well as using their international network of correspondents and contributors.
They said: “While last year’s list featured 50 cities, this year we decided to explore even more – and more specific – establishments that stand out in their field, and the world.
“The result: 100 extraordinary destinations to visit and stay this year.”
In no order, the Manchester attraction made the list, with the £186million venue even dubbed the Barbican of Manchester.
Aviva Studios is the home of Factory International, a culture space with live music and art shows and is the home to the Manchester International Festival.
For example, there is Sweet Dreams, a “visual feast for the senses” as well as adidas‘ Skateboarding event Build Manchester.
Art from David Hockney and music from Ben Howard are also some of the other events.
TIME said: “The long-anticipated performing arts campus on the grounds of the former Granada Studios had star power behind it long before its first show premiered last October.
“Aviva Studios at Factory International is the first cultural institution in the United Kingdom designed by , the powerhouse architecture firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), co-founded by Rem Koolhaas.
“This latest development, revitalizing an industrial tract along the River Irwell, serves as the new permanent home of the Manchester International Festival.
“Now Manchester is emerging as a cultural capital: new shows will debut under this one roof all year round.”
Here’s what one local thinks of living in Manchester.
The TIME list – split into Places to Stay and Places to Visit – also featured two UK hotels.
Raffles London at the OWO hotel featured, having opened in the former government office last year.
And Edinburgh’s 100 Princes Street was also named.
A different list naming the best cities to visit in 2024 also included two in the UK.
Both Liverpool and London made the top 10.
And ABTA has revealed the best destinations to visit this year – including little known Spanish towns and and cheap beach resorts.
