EDGE's Places to Go in 2017: London & Manchester

This feature is part of EDGE's third annual 7 Gay Wonders of the World. This year's edition is "luxury" so be sure to check out our other decadent picks for the year!

We love London, and it isn't just because Ben is big. From Gothicly gorgeous Westminster Abbey to the masterful musicals of the West End, the U.K.'s glorious capital offers culture, history and more - including those spiffy Queen's guardsmen in their delightfully erect furry hats.

The coming year is a great time to visit England: the once-pricey pound has plummeted since Brexit, making luxury in London more affordable than ever.

"What one man can invent the other can discover." (Sherlock Holmes)
Set to take its place alongside the city's poshest five-star properties, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel will open early next year. Located in the historic original Scotland Yard headquarters, it will offer two bars, a library and sumptuous rooms costing up to �10,000 a night. No word on whether the famous detective will be prowling the premises.

Big Thing in a Small Package
Take a spin around town with Small Car Big City in a classic Mini Cooper, the quintessential Brit vehicle. Your private tour and personal driver will keep you on the right side of the road for quintessential sites such as Notting Hill, local markets and ancient pubs.

Bubbles and Biscuits
Don't forget champagne at Shard, the 95-floor high-rise that transformed London's skyline and offers stellar views, or mix high tea with high fashion at the Berkeley Hotel. Styles and shades of haute couture inspire their legendary afternoon Pr�t-�-Portea.

Manchester Road Trip
Be sure to leave a few days to hit up Manchester to the north. The industrial city has been reborn as a gleaming, vibrant showstopper.

Consider planning your U.K. trip around the Manchester International Festival (June 29 - July 16). Just-announced events include "What is the City but the People," a fashion show reimagined as an epic ode to Manchester, and "What if Women Ruled the World?"-a wildly inventive piece where each evening 10 women and one man will try to solve a different global crisis. Next year's Manchester Pride (a.k.a. "The Big Weekend, August 25-28) also promises to be a blowout affair.

In between culture or people watching, lay your head at the new Kings Street Town House, which features upscale details like handmade South African linens and a rooftop infinity pool.