London’s top travel experience only happens once a year

It’s official – the world’s best travel experiences have been unveiled, and one world-famous event in London has made the list.

The UK capital attracts around 30 million tourists each year, many of whom flock to experience some of the city’s most famous attractions – from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace.

And, as tourism is increasingly shaped by travel experiences as well as attractions, the famous Chelsea Flower Show has been rated one of the best for both visitors and locals to investigate.

Formally known as the Great Spring Show, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is held for five days in May at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in West London.

Often frequented by members of the Royal Family, it’s been hosted in Chelsea since 1912 but held its first event in 1862 in Kensington.

The show was named the world’s fifth most popular ‘must-see’ travel experience, receiving approximately 613,530 Google searches each year.

Interested? This year’s show is taking place between May 21-25, and tickets are on sale now. And why not add these alternative things to do that aren’t the same old tourist traps to your list, too?

The top three in the overall rankings, however, are taken by US, Italy and Brazil.

Topping the list, compiled by Kuoni, was ‘Manhattanhenge’ in New York City, receiving a total of 1,305,760 annual global searches.

Also known as the Manhattan Solstice, this event happens twice a year as the setting sun or the rising sun aligns with the east-west streets of the city’s street grid system.

The term references Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK, which was constructed to allow the rising sun to align with the outer ‘heel stone’ during summer solstice, the two moments of the year when the path of the sun is the farthest north in the Northern Hemisphere.

Elsewhere, the famous Venice Carnival, in Italy, came in second place.

With origins in the Middle Ages, the event is famous for its ornate costumes and masks.

Though it was abolished in 1797, it was later revived in 1979, and now attracts approximately three million visitors each year.

In the same spirit, February’s Rio Carnival in Brazil came in third position. The biggest carnival in the world, this five-day event sees two million people flock to the streets of one of Brazil’s largest cities each day for extravagant parties and parades.

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