Boston regal: the city with brains

Indeed, cities in general have always been hubs for high-class intellectualism. From the 18th century coffeehouses of London, where academics and philosophers gathered to discuss and debate, to the bohemian, politicised neighbourhoods of 1960s Greenwich Village in New York, cities are where the best brains always seem to congregate.

Although technically a city in its own right, Cambridge forms part of the Greater Boston area and is home to two of the world's most revered universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University. With nine higher education institutions in total, Cambridge is affiliated with at least 129 of the world's 780 Nobel Prize winners. Moreover, business heavyweights such as Bill Gates also studied in Cambridge before taking the global corporate world by storm.

Naturally, tourists won't be arriving in Boston in their hordes because of the city's fantastic educational heritage. But those seeking a young, vibrant city scene won't be disappointed in this splendid east-coast conurbation.

Boston is top of the country's 'jobs per square mile' list, ahead of the metropolis New York and the capital Washington DC. Moreover, the city has undergone a significant amount of gentrification in recent years, making it among the highest cost of living cities in the whole of the USA. The upshot of this, however, is that Boston is now one of the most liveable cities in the world, featuring in Mercer's top forty, ahead of London, Barcelona, Milan, New York and Seattle.

Although the Greater Boston region is home to 4.5 million people and has the tenth largest metropolitan area in the US, the city of Boston itself has a little over half a million people living there, meaning it doesn't quite have the 'bright lights, big city' buzz of the neighbouring New York. This is the appeal for many people though, with the laid-back atmosphere making it a great place so to simply wander around, taking in the many fantastic bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops that are to be found across the city.

Indeed, Boston has come to be known as 'the walking city', given its wealth of small, safe neighbourhoods. It also has a fantastic public transport system for those seeking a fast and efficient route between the various areas. Moreover, there's no need to hop on tour buses or trams, a simple amble along the Freedom Trail takes visitors past most of the city's major tourist sites.

It goes without saying that in a city that is so pleasant to visit, hotels in Boston are always in great demand - so always plan ahead to secure accommodation in the best areas.