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That title of UK’s smallest city goes to St Davids, which is tucked away in the picturesque landscape of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is officially the smallest city in the United Kingdom, covering just 0.23 square miles

A city that’s smaller than most villages packs well above its weight class when it comes to visitor numbers.

There are a few places in the UK that have won their place in the hearts of pub quiz question setters due to their smallness. The country’s smallest county? Rutland. The country’s smallest town? Fordwich. The country’s smallest city?

That honour goes to St Davids, which is tucked away in the picturesque landscape of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is officially the smallest city in the United Kingdom, covering just 0.23 square miles (0.6 km²) and with a population of just over 1,600 people. It comes after images show the cheapest seaside spot in England is full of abandoned £40k homes ‘nobody wants’.

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It feels more like a charming village than a bustling city. Yet, because of its historic cathedral, St Davids has held city status since the 12th century. Mickledore, a travel company specializing in self-guided walking tours, notes that “St Davids is one of those places that surprises first-time visitors. Many expect a city to mean rows of shops and busy streets, yet here, the atmosphere is peaceful, the pace is slow, and the main tourist area can be fully explored in around half a day. It’s the kind of place where you can explore every corner without feeling rushed.”

The definition of a “city” in the UK is not always based on population size. Instead, it often depends on historical or ceremonial importance. St Davids was granted its city status because of its cathedral, which has been a major site of pilgrimage for centuries.

Pilgrims travelled here from across Europe during the Middle Ages to pay homage to St David, the patron saint of Wales. The site became so important that two pilgrimages to St Davids were once said to equal one to Rome, and three equalled a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Not a bad trade off if you don’t fancy leaving the country or making the 3,000 mile walk to the Middle Easte holy city.

Although St Davids briefly lost its official recognition as a city in 1886, Queen Elizabeth II formally restored its city status in 1995, ensuring its place on the map as the UK’s smallest city.

One of the delights of St Davids is its walkability. The core area — including the cathedral, Bishop’s Palace, shops, and cafés — can be explored at a relaxed pace in roughly half a day. The compact scale makes it an ideal destination for travellers who want a leisurely visit without the stress of navigating a sprawling urban space.

Instead of traffic and high-rises, visitors find narrow streets, independent shops, small galleries, and cafés where local produce takes centre stage. The city’s scale allows tourists to take their time, wander slowly, and really absorb the atmosphere.

For those who want more, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, part of the 186-mile-long trail that skirts the county, is just minutes away. Walkers are rewarded with dramatic sea cliffs, golden beaches, and opportunities for wildlife spotting, from grey seals basking on the rocks to rare seabirds nesting in the cliffs. Note: While the main city area can be explored in half a day, venturing along the coastal paths can take several hours or a full day, depending on the chosen route.

At the heart of St Davids is its cathedral, founded in the 12th century and still a place of worship today. Built in a hollow to protect it from Viking raiders, it remains far larger and more imposing than most visitors expect for such a tiny city. The cathedral houses centuries-old treasures, carved oak stalls, and an organ that fills the space with music during regular concerts.

Nearby, the Bishop’s Palace — now a dramatic ruin — tells the story of the city’s medieval importance. Its crumbling arches and towers give a glimpse into the grandeur of St Davids when it was at the centre of Welsh religious life.

Unlike larger cities where historic buildings are often hidden between modern developments, St Davids preserves a sense of history in almost every street. Stone cottages, medieval ruins, and chapels stand alongside art galleries and modern craft shops, creating a seamless blend of past and present.

Though remote, St Davids is accessible via Haverfordwest (about 16 miles away), which has rail links to Swansea, Cardiff, and beyond. Buses connect Haverfordwest with St Davids, making it reachable even for those without a car. Tourism is a vital part of the local economy, with thousands of visitors each year drawn by the city’s cathedral, coast, and charm.

For travellers seeking something unique, St Davids offers the novelty of being in a city that doesn’t feel like one. There are no skyscrapers, no traffic jams, and no endless suburbs — just a cathedral, a few streets, and a stunning coastal backdrop.

This makes it especially popular with those looking for a short but memorable trip. Families, walkers, and history enthusiasts all find something to enjoy, whether it’s wandering the cathedral grounds, sampling Welsh cakes in a café, or setting off on a clifftop walk.

Walking holidays don’t need to involve remote landscapes and hiking boots – there’s one beautiful European city that you’ll want on the radar as it’s been named the most walkable

Europe is full of incredible cities packed with heaps of history, culture and amazing food. However there’s one particular tourist hotspot that’s been hailed as a must-visit for those who love to get their steps in on holiday.

Rome has been declared as Europe’s ‘most walkable city’ by experts at GuruWalk. They explained: “The Eternal City remains a key destination for travellers fascinated by ancient history. The Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Baroque squares make Rome an open-air museum that deserves to be explored thoroughly, step by step.”

Of course the Italian capital is already a firm favourite with tourists, attracting millions of visitors every year. The Colosseum is one of its most popular landmarks; the largest amphitheatre ever built, in its heyday it could hold up to 80,000 spectators who came for the gladiators, plays and other entertainment.

Meanwhile you can easily achieve your 10,000 daily steps goal with a stroll along to the iconic Spanish Steps. There are 135 steps and if you can handle it, you’ll be rewarded with unrivalled views of the city.

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Next on the itinerary should be a trip to Trevi Fountain. The 26.3 metre high fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the world, and an estimated €3000 are thrown in every day (the money is given to charity each year). Legend has it that if you throw one coin over your shoulder it guarantees you’ll return to Rome, throwing in a second will ensure a new romance and, finally, a third coin thrown in will lead to marriage.

Currently the Trevi Fountain is free to visit as it’s a public attraction, but be warned that it can get very crowded especially during the summer months. In fact, local authorities are considering implementing a form of ticketing to try and manage the large numbers of tourists which it attracts.

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From the fountain, it’s possible to walk across to the Pantheon, one of the city’s best preserved Ancient Roman buildings. The former temple has been in continuous use, and nowadays you can learn plenty about Roman culture and design.

Other must-see sights include Vatican City – home of the Pope – which is host to world-famous artwork including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, as well as the breathtaking St Peter’s Square.

For those who love a dose of culture, then a trip to Castel Sant’Angelo should be on the cards. Once Rome’s tallest building, now it’s a museum that hosts heaps of art, sculptures and Roman artefacts.

Oh, and if you’re one of those people who does think about the Roman Empire almost every day, you’ll need to leave space on the itinerary for a visit to the Roman Forum which plays home to ruins of ancient buildings, monuments, shrines and temples.

Rome wasn’t the only city to impress in the rankings of Europe’s most walkable cities. The top 10 cities were:

1. Rome, Italy
2. Budapest, Hungary
3. Madrid, Spain
4. Prague, Czech Republic
5. Barcelona, Spain
6. Lisbon, Portugal
7. London, UK
8. Florence, Italy
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
10. Berlin, Germany

You can check out the full rankings on blog.guruwalk.com.

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Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s superbly reported “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” reads like a Shakespearean drama on steroids. During his latter years as No. 46, Biden is portrayed as a lion in winter — shockingly frail and forgetful with a ferocious pride that blinds him to the fact that it’s time to exit the stage. He was assisted in that delusion, the authors claim, by the mythology his family erected around him — that he was indestructible — and by his zealously protective inner circle, dubbed “the Politburo.”

Though Tapper and Thompson’s mostly anonymous sources (it’s jarring that so few went on the record) suggest that the first disturbing signs of Biden’s diminished capacities emerged as early as 2015, many around him chalked them up to the “Bidenness” of it all: “He was known on the Hill for being congenitally prone to long stories, gaffes, and inappropriate comments,” the authors observe. “Even in tightly choreographed Zoom calls with friendly audiences, Biden could step on a rake.”

That propensity appeared to morph into something more worrisome even before Biden was elected president. An unnamed Democrat who witnessed candidate Biden being prepped for a taping prior to the 2020 convention in Milwaukee was startled by his incoherence, commenting that it “was like watching Grandpa who shouldn’t be driving.” Once in office, the White House staff “treated him as very delicate,” and the pandemic gave aides an excuse to build “barriers” around him so few could gain access. The news media and public were kept at arm’s length, as were many members of the Cabinet and Congress, which led to a “uniquely small and loyal inner circle.” “I’ve never seen a situation like this before, with so few people having so much power,” said one unidentified top official.

That elite quintet consisted of domestic policy advisor Bruce Reed, chief strategist Mike Donilon, legislative affairs guru Steve Ricchetti and chief of staff Ron Klain, each of whom had deep ties to Biden. “Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,” offered one person familiar with the dynamic. As time went on and more grew concerned about Biden’s behavior, those who inquired were routinely told that everything was okay. One staffer who didn’t have regular access to Biden during this period said that when they did see him in person, they were “shocked, but the other people around him didn’t seem to be, so I didn’t say anything.”

It wasn’t until around the time Biden broke his one-term pledge to be a “bridge” president and made clear he intended to run again that some began to feel a sense of alarm. For example, in 2023, Congressman Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) was with Biden when he visited Ireland. Biden seemed to gain strength from the crowds that greeted him, but then appeared “sapped and not quite there.” The authors write that Quigley “realized why this all felt so familiar to him … This was how his father, Bill, had been before he died.” Similarly, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips was so disturbed by Biden’s reduced “speaking and walking skills” that he pressed Democratic officials as to whether the president was up to the job. Even those who admitted to having concerns offered the “yes, but,” as in, “Yes, Biden is in decline but can you imagine Trump winning?” Phillips could imagine such a scenario, “especially if Biden were the Democratic nominee.” Failing to get anyone to take his worries seriously, he declared his own candidacy. But “the whale who spouts gets harpooned,” Phillips later noted after the “Democratic machine” set out to quash his chances. He reluctantly pulled out of the race and “watched his party sleepwalk toward disaster.”

Alex Thompson, left, and Jake Tapper argue that there was a conspiracy to conceal President Biden’s “cognitive diminishment” from the press, public and top Democrats.

(Elliott O’Donovan)

Though some top Democratic supporters such as Hollywood mogul Ari Emanuel refused to support Biden’s bid for reelection — even shouting at Klain during a “power-player retreat” that, “Joe Biden cannot run for reelection! He needs to drop out!” — most remained in the president’s corner until his disastrous debate performance in late June 2024. Following that, the slow drip of Biden allies calling for him to withdraw became a downpour, with even loyalists like George Clooney remarking publicly in an op-ed that while he “loved” Joe Biden, “the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.”

Was there a conspiracy to conceal Biden’s symptoms from the press, public and top Democrats? The authors conclude there was. “The original sin of Election 2024,” they write, “was Biden’s decision to run for reelection — followed by aggressive efforts to hide his cognitive diminishment.” The course Biden’s family and inner circle chose was tantamount to “gaslighting the American people.” Many other key Democratic officials and donors simply felt that even a weakened Biden was the best bet against the “existential threat” posed by Trump, until the debate shattered that rationalization. In any case, Biden allies “who voiced fears were flicked away like lint.”

In the end, I’m not convinced there was a coordinated campaign to hide the truth about Biden’s “condition,” but maybe that doesn’t matter. In the book’s final chapter, the authors quote former Watergate special prosecutor and law professor Archibald Cox on what lessons Americans should take away from the Watergate scandal. He observes that “we should be reminded of the corrupt influence of great power. … Perhaps it is inescapable that modern government vests extraordinary power in the President and puts around him a large circle of men and women whose personal status and satisfaction depends entirely on pleasing one man.”

But Biden isn’t Nixon. He is a man who generated intense love and loyalty, whose life has been filled with tragedy as well as opportunity; who adeptly and passionately served his country for decades. “Original Sin” is not a compassionate account of Biden’s last campaign — at times it’s even a painful, if necessary, piece of journalism. A great takeaway from 2024, according to political strategist David Plouffe, is that “never again can we as a party suggest to people that what they’re seeing is not true.” We don’t know if Trump could have been defeated had Biden opted not to run. But in the future, we can’t afford to be in denial.

Haber is a writer, editor and publishing strategist. She was director of Oprah’s Book Club and books editor for O, the Oprah Magazine.