Florence Pugh has given travel fans a new reason to revisit their bucket lists after describing one of her favourite destinations in the kind of language usually reserved for the world’s most famous landmarks. In a recent conversation with Conde Nast Traveler, the British actor called an edenic destination the eighth wonder of the world, a compliment that quickly caught attention far beyond her film audience.
The remark came as Pugh shared some of her favourite travel memories, the places she returns to in her mind when work allows her a break, and the small details that make a trip memorable for her. Rather than simply naming fashionable hotels or familiar capitals, she talked about atmosphere, food, landscape and the feeling of arriving somewhere that immediately slows you down.
A Compliment That Travel Fans Noticed
Calling somewhere the eighth wonder of the world is not a phrase actors use lightly in interviews, and it helps explain why the story travelled so quickly online. The expression is usually associated with extraordinary natural or historic places, so hearing it applied to a personal favourite gives readers a sense of just how strong an impression the destination made on her.
For Pugh, travel appears to be less about collecting landmarks and more about finding places with character. In the same conversation she spoke warmly about time spent in Greece and exploring New Zealand, two destinations that could hardly be more different in landscape but which share a reputation for dramatic scenery, good food and a relaxed pace once you leave the busiest tourist routes.
She also named Auckland and Tokyo among her favourite cities, a pairing that underlines the range of her tastes. Auckland offers harbours, volcanic hills and easy access to beaches and wine regions, while Tokyo delivers energy, design, food culture and neighbourhoods that can feel completely different from one street to the next.
From Greece to New Zealand
Greece has long been a favourite escape for British travellers, and Pugh’s enthusiasm for Greek food and island life will sound familiar to many readers. Whether it is a long lunch in a taverna, a swim in clear water or an evening walk through a whitewashed village, the appeal is often in simple pleasures done exceptionally well rather than in grand, expensive plans.
New Zealand sits at the other end of the travel map, and at the other end of the flight time from London, but it rewards the effort. Its appeal for actors is also practical: major productions have filmed there for decades, giving cast members extended time to explore beyond a hotel room. Mountains, fjords, vineyards and quiet coastal towns make it a country where a work trip can easily turn into a lasting affection.
Closer to home, Edinburgh also featured in her travel memories, including its famous hilltop views. The Scottish capital is a regular reminder that a memorable trip does not always require a long flight. Historic streets, festivals, independent shops and walks with sweeping views can deliver the same sense of discovery in a weekend.
Why Celebrity Travel Picks Matter
Celebrity travel interviews may look like light entertainment, but they can shape real bookings. When a well-known actor speaks personally about a place, rather than appearing in a formal tourism campaign, readers tend to trust the recommendation more. It feels like advice from a fellow traveller instead of an advertisement, even when the person giving it travels in very different circumstances.
Tourism businesses have seen this effect before with film and television locations. A single enthusiastic interview can renew interest in a destination, especially when it highlights experiences beyond the obvious postcard sights. For lesser-known places, that attention can bring welcome visitors, although it also raises familiar questions about crowding and keeping a place special once the secret is out.
Pugh’s comments also arrive in the middle of a busy professional period, with audiences following her latest screen work, including the Netflix series East of Eden. You can read more coverage on Verified Weekly as her next projects are announced.
A Traveller, Not Just a Tourist
What makes the interview engaging is that Pugh sounds like a traveller rather than a tourist checking off sights. She talks about favourite cities, holiday memories and even the small frustrations that can spoil a trip, the kind of relatable details that rarely appear in polished promotional features.
That honesty is part of her wider public appeal. Whether she is discussing food, family or filming on location, Pugh tends to answer in a direct, unscripted way, and her travel choices reflect the same personality: curious, enthusiastic and drawn to places with a strong sense of identity.
Whether her eighth wonder lives up to that billing is, of course, for each visitor to decide. But her description has already done what the best travel writing aims to do: made readers picture themselves there, start checking maps and wonder whether their next trip should be a little more adventurous.
