After a whirlwind tour around the world, the Mirror’s Liam Gilliver stumbled across a quaint UK city overshadowed by its nearby tourist hotspot – and fell quickly in love
At the beginning of 2025, I ticked the 40th country off my bucket list.
Like many other Brits, I was so enchanted by the sugar-like beaches of Thailand, the palm-tree studded streets of LA, and every 7/11 convenience store in Japan – that I never really spent much time exploring the UK. The idea of a staycation tasted like disappointment, but since returning home I’ve made it my mission to appreciate Britain a little more.
In the last couple of months, I travelled down to the UK’s ‘worst’ seaside town to see if it really was that bad, and found solace on one of the best beaches I’ve ever visited in Wales. I quickly realised the grey reputation the UK was not always deserved, and that you don’t need to jet off to the other side of the world to find beauty.
I had found myself up in Glasgow on a cold, crisp day in winter – with no itinerary for the day. It was only when I was browsing the stand of tourist leaflets in the hotel lobby when a receptionist approached me and advised: “Go to Stirling. It’s equally as pretty as Edinburgh but not swarmed with tourists. Trust me.”
It was all I needed to hear. I jumped on a train and watched the city’s skyscrapers fade away – replaced with rolling countryside, countless sheep, and rugged mountains that still had snow on their peak. It felt like I’d been transported back to New Zealand, or Iceland, or some other untouched, ethereal land I had failed to find on TikTok.
After disembarking at Stirling, I headed straight up to HBW Coffee for a caffeine fix – stopping off at a few charity shops on the way. This tiny eatery – easily identifiable with its bright red door – focuses on specialty coffee and mouth-watering food. If it were located in Edinburgh, there’d be queues snaking down the street for a table, but it was pretty much empty when I visited.
After downing a dirty chai latte, I meandered up to Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most historically important castles in the country. It sits atop a crag, and getting there on foot is a bit of a trek – but there’s a huge on-site car park if you’re driving.
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I must have spent at least three hours roaming through this grand structure, which was once the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots. I opted for the audio guide, exploring the lavish palace interiors, the Chapel Royal, Queen Anne Gardens, and the Palace Vault.
Last year, around 584,983 visitors visited the castle, meaning it’s far from a hidden gem. However, if you compare it to the almost two million tourists that visited Edinburgh Castle in the same period – you realise just how overlooked the city is.
I didn’t have time to visit the Church of the Holy Rude, or the Stirling Smith Art Gallery, but headed back into the centre for food. Now, parts of Stirling’s high street could do with a little makeover – there’s the classic British collection of vape stores, charity shops, and fast-food outlets which don’t exactly exude charm.
However, Made In Stirling is a must-visit shop that has really brightened up the area. This cute arts hub hosts an array of workshops, including earring making and copperfoil courses – and is a great place to pick up a locally-sourced souvenir. SRTD Vintage, run by 24-year-old Sophie Corbett, is also a great option for thrifting – especially if you’re into Y2K fashion.
I left Stirling in a bit of a rush, but you could easily spend the night and extend your itinerary to the next day. Plus, with direct trains from London to Stirling slated to launch next year – getting to this overlooked city is about to get a whole lot easier.
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