This coastal resort town is a pocket-sized shot of California two hours by train from London. A rare microclimate means more sunshine, warmer weather and (for the surfers and swimmers who play on its eponymous beach, often lauded as one of the U.K.’s best) warmer seas. The area’s golden beaches, it should be noted, are Blue Flag-certified. With its seafront promenade, Ferris wheel and piers, the city has embraced its unique beach-town vibe for decades, readily drawing families with one-of-a-kind, Instagrammable attractions—like the only pier-to-shore zipline on the planet. A new £20 million investment will further restore and improve facilities along Bournemouth’s and neighbouring Poole’s coastline. Aside from its robust hospitality industry, Bournemouth is also a financial industry hub, recently boosted by newly arrived tech firms and remote workers who prefer a morning surf to a tube commute. The result is a #64 spot in our overall Prosperity index and the 10th-lowest poverty rate in Europe. Two local universities favoured by international students help the town rank Top 25 for Educational Attainment. This year brings big changes to the city’s skyline with the 29-storey Oxford Garden rental tower (and its 487 homes) under construction.