One of sport’s great tournaments, with a travel twist
We’re a lineout away from that time of year where the world goes rugby loopy – one part of it, anyway – yes, it’s the Guinness Six Nations! The Northern Hemisphere’s annual extravaganza is the envy of the rest of the globe, although sadly not for the weather.
But who cares about that when dramatic capital cities provide the backdrop? To celebrate, here’s a rundown and rankings for each one; a kind of Early Whistle-style Six Nations. Let’s see how it all pans out…
Cardiff
Cheap n’ cheerful is a phrase that often strikes a fear of dread into people, but not where Cardiff’s concerned. It’s so good that we decided to use its stadium as the main image, but if you’re looking for value in a capital city, there’s no way this friendly and compact place can be beaten.
Hospitality & Entertainment = 1, Affordability = 6
Getting Around = 6, Things to Do = 1
Dublin
Guinness, music and rugby – that’s the heart of the Fair City on a Six Nations weekend, which apparently it’s unbeatable for. It’s become notoriously pricey lately, but make your time in the Temple Bar area brief (it’s far from the be all and end all) and your bank balance won’t be in for that much of a shock.
H & E = 5, Affordability = 3, Getting Around = 4, Things to Do = 3
Edinburgh
There’s something undeniably magical about Scotland’s gorgeous green capital. Steeped in celebrations and traditions that date back hundreds of years, the Six Nations fits in nicely. Let the locals be thankful that the weather isn’t part of the criteria here.
H & E = 4, Affordability = 5, Getting Around = 5, Things to Do = 2
London
It was once said that when you’re tired of London, you’re tired of life. On the other hand, there was an article published last year asking when did London become so dull? Okay, it’s not the 24/7 party place it once was, but apart from that all the tourist boxes retain a massive tick.
H & E = 6, Affordability = 2, Getting Around = 3, Things to Do = 6
Paris
Overrated to some, beloved by many, this is a place which has, much like London, become rather marmite in recent years. Still, it’ll continue to draw crowds until the end of time, thanks in no small measure to its grand palaces, despite the French aristocracy disappearing a long time ago.
H & E = 3, Affordability = 1, Getting Around = 2, Things to Do = 4
Rome
Ah, the Eternal City – although many Italophiles will be quick to tell you that other places in the peninsula are a better bet. There’s no doubting Rome’s star quality, but it suffers by comparison in a couple of departments here. Still, if you fancy queueing for hours to see a piece of art…
H & E = 2, Affordability = 4, Getting Around = 1, Things to Do = 5
And so 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
1. London – 17
2. Edinburgh – 16
3. Dublin – 15
4. Cardiff – 14
5. Rome – 12
6. Paris – 10
So it’s a nightmare finish for the French, but the chances of the final table bearing a startling resemblance to the real thing are pretty slim (rest assured, Parisiens). Have stranger things happened? No, but let’s sit back and enjoy it anyway.
The Early Whistle 