Jonathan Thompson, a British travel journalist who has lived and worked in the United States for a decade and says he has visited all 50 states, has published a list of 15 towns and cities he believes British visitors should consider for transatlantic trips — and identified one place he advises avoiding.
Thompson’s piece for the Daily Mail aims to steer readers beyond the familiar draws of New York, Los Angeles and Orlando, arguing that many of the United States’ most memorable experiences are found in smaller cities and towns. He frames his selections around a mix of relaxed beach retreats, cultural centres, gateway towns for road trips and destinations that exemplify regional character.
The recommendations span geographic regions and travel styles rather than a single theme, with Thompson emphasising authenticity, local food and music scenes, walkable historic centres, and access to natural landscapes as recurring selection criteria. He tells readers that, having worked across the country for a decade, he sought places that offer a distinctive sense of place rather than the predictable attractions of major tourist hubs.
The article also includes a brief cautionary note: Thompson identifies one location as the "absolute worst place in the US" and urges travellers to avoid it. His assessment is stark in tone, reflecting concerns he raises about safety, infrastructure and the visitor experience in that particular place.
Thompson’s column places his list in a broader context about the sheer scale and variety of the United States. He notes that the country’s size produces dramatic contrasts — from Alaska’s remoteness to Florida’s subtropical coastline — and that many visitors who follow the conventional itinerary miss the diversity available beyond the handful of internationally familiar cities. He highlights the potential for varied itineraries: short cultural breaks in smaller cities, extended coastal retreats, and long road trips that stitch together small towns and national parks.
The piece also invokes historical ties between the United States and British travellers, pointing out that leisure travel between the two nations stretches back more than a century to the cruise culture of the 1920s. Thompson suggests that British visitors often seek a blend of nostalgia and novelty — familiar cultural touchstones alongside experiences that feel distinctly American — and that many of his chosen towns deliver that mix.
Practical considerations appear throughout the feature. Thompson emphasises that many off-the-beaten-path destinations can offer better value, shorter queues at attractions and a more localised hospitality experience. He also warns that services and amenities can vary widely in smaller places, and he encourages planning for transportation limitations and seasonal shifts in opening times for restaurants and museums.
The Daily Mail piece is presented as a travel guide rather than a formal ranking. Thompson frames his choices as personal recommendations shaped by a decade of reporting and travel across the country, and he invites readers to consider alternatives to the routine city-centre itinerary. He positions the list as a starting point for British travellers seeking to expand familiar American itineraries.
Readers interested in Thompson’s full list of towns and his rationale can find the complete feature on the Daily Mail website. The article underscores a simple travel premise: the United States’ geographic and cultural breadth means that memorable experiences often wait beyond the headline cities, but visitors should research individual destinations to match expectations with on-the-ground realities.