Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, is bursting with attractions, art galleries and an exciting culinary scene, making it an appealing option for travellers looking to find some Texas charm mixed with a cosmopolitan vibe.
The UK is already Houston’s largest long-haul market and 2024 visitor numbers are expected to hit close to 105,000. And next year the eyes of football fans around the world will be on the city as it plays host to seven games during the FIFA World Cup.
Houston is served by direct flights from the UK with British Airways and United Airlines, and given it’s just 70 miles from the cruise port of Galveston, it makes for a great pre- or post-cruise stay.
So what attracts visitors to Houston? We have listed just a few reasons. Plus, there’s a chance to win a fam trip to this exciting city too…
Museum central
The Houston Museum District – which is served by the convenient METRORail system – is made up of 19 museums celebrating art, science, history, and diverse cultures. Highlights include the innovative Asia Society Texas Center, The Children’s Museum of Houston, the Holocaust Museum, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Others explore African American history, contemporary craft, health, photography, Czech heritage, and more.
World-class cuisine
In a city that is so culturally diverse, it’s no surprise that Houston has more than 13,000 restaurants with cuisine from more than 70 countries and American regions.
Billed as the ‘Culinary & Cultural Capital of the South’ Houston’s dining offering has everything from hole-in-the-wall venues to top-rated restaurants. Further cementing its place on the culinary scene, Houston restaurants were added to the Michelin guide last year with six restaurants receiving their first star.
Diverse and welcoming
Houston has a vibrant and welcoming LGBTQ+ scene. Montrose, a central neighbourhood, is known as the heart of LGBTQ+ life in Houston, with a mix of bars, clubs, coffee shops, art galleries, and inclusive restaurants.
The city also hosts major events such as Pride Houston, one of the largest pride parades in the US, and the QFest LGBTQ+ film festival.
Out-of-this-world experiences
You can’t visit the city without heading to Space Center Houston, the official visitor centre of NASA Johnson Space Center. It is one of Houston’s top attractions for international visitors and here guests can tour locations such as Mission Control and Rocket Park – home to the Saturn V rocket – as well as taken on their own astronaut training in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.
Shops aplenty
Given that Houston is the fourth largest city in America, there’s no question that there will be plenty of options for shopping from boutique shops to malls with stores galore.
One of the bonuses is that international visitors can take advantage of tax-free shopping too. The Galleria, which is located in the uptown area of the city, is home to more than 400 shops – from department stores such as Saks 5th Avenue to designer outlets including Chanel and Gucci – so travellers will have no trouble finding what they need at a great price.
Sports focus
Houston is a big sports city with teams in all major leagues, including the Major League Baseball team the Astros, whose stadium is in the Downtown’s beautiful Daikin Park.
For those who want to brush up on their American football, the Texans NFL team play at the 71,500-seater NRG Stadium, and for basketball fans, the NBA team Rockets take on their competitors at the Toyota Center.
How can you learn more and win a trip to Houston?
Agents can sign up to Houston Travel Pro training platform, which launched in the US last year, to gain insider knowledge on attractions, hotels, and entertainment offerings. There’s also access to images, videos, brochures, itineraries and top 10 lists.
Finally, there’s a chance to win a trip to Houston.
All you need to do is complete the Houston Travel Pro training by 6 August 2025 and you will automatically go into a draw to win a space on a five-night trip later in 2025.
There will also be three goodie bags up for grabs, which will include a NASA bomber jacket and other Houston-themed gifts.
