NORTHUMBERLAND has been named in the top 5 in a list of places to visit in the world this year.

The New York Times published their annual list of places for travellers to visit in 2022 this week, and our county came fourth.

This year their theme was '52 Places for a Changed World', and the publication said the list sought to highlight places around the globe where travellers can be "part of the solution" to problems like climate change.

Northumberland is credited for its "dark skies, pristine beaches and a 1,900-year anniversary on a coastline with newly opened trails".

The New York Times wrote: "Britain’s diverse coastline, from the cliffs of Dover to the boardwalks of Brighton, will soon have a unifying element: the 2,800-mile England Coast Path. Developed in part by the governmental organization Natural England, the path aims to increase public access to the coast while also restoring landscapes, improving community connection and promoting sustainable travel.

"Trail segments that have opened include a 44-mile stretch in the northeast, from the River Tyne to the Northumberland coast, which is the epitome of rugged England: misty dunes, rocky headlands, wild beaches.

"At night, look up. The Northumberland International Dark Sky Park has some of the lowest light pollution in the country and features one of the largest areas of protected night sky in Europe.

"Gaze at galaxies sprayed across the sky at Kielder Observatory, and then venture to the ancient past as Hadrian’s Wall is celebrating its 1,900th anniversary with a yearlong festival."

In first place in the list is Chioggia, Italy, followed by Chimanimani National Park in Mozambique. Queens in New York came third.