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50 Of The Most Beautiful Places In The UK To Visit

Check out some of the most spectacular sites in the UK with our handy guide.

The UK is so full of beautiful and magical places that you’ll be spoilt for choice. From picture postcard scenery to stunning Italian architecture, from cozy villages to serene beaches, there are many beautiful places in the UK. One of the greatest pleasures of a UK vacation is that there is something for everyone here. There is much more beauty to behold in this diverse country, so here we are to help you find them. Make sure to head out of the cities and check out some of these incredible places during your visit.

Table of Contents

Here Are The Most Beautiful Places In The UK That Will Leave You Speechless

1. the dark hedges, northern ireland.

Bregagh Road in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is popularly known as the Dark Hedges thanks to its tunnel of beech trees. This passageway of beech trees looks quite spooky and dramatic, making it one of the most photographed scenic spots in the UK. Fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones may also recognize it as the show’s “Kings Road”.

2. Portmeirion, Wales

Modelled after an Italian setting, its naturally beautiful location is one of the most scenic places to visit in UK. This small yet vibrant Mediterranean-style village was built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975. It is Located near the River Dwyryd and has hotels, spa, restaurant, tea-room, beach, and numerous shops. Don’t miss out on this one as it is one of the most beautiful places in the UK to visit during spring or summertime.

3. Fingal’s Cave, Scotland

This cave is a sea cave on the island of Staffa which is full of unique angular basalt columns. They create an area with breathtaking natural acoustics, especially with the waves that crash inside. What makes this cave so special is its size and the fact that there is a natural walkway through which visitors can get right inside at low tide. It is similar to the nearby Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

4. The Old Man Of Storr, The Isle Of Skye

The dramatic and unusual rock towers that form the Old Man of Storr are located on the Trotternish Peninsula. It is also set atop an ancient landslide. The iconic and breath-taking 3.8km walk on the Isle of Skye will take you through some of the most beautiful places of UK.

5. Lake Windermere, Cumbria

Located in the idyllic Lake District National Park in northwest England, Lake Windermere is one of the most famous places of UK. It is surrounded by mountain peaks and villages, including Bowness-on-Windermere. It also holds the place for being the largest natural lake in England. Definitely a great place to explore with family and friends!

6. Stonehenge, Wiltshire

One of the most prehistoric structures in all of Europe, Stonehenge dates back to c. 3000 BC. The ring of stones has puzzled scientists and archaeologists, and no one still knows what it was used for. It is believed to have been erected as a place of worship, but today it is one of the best places in UK as it attracts a major chunk of tourists to this place. 

Also Read: History and Excitement in Wales

7. Durdle Door, Dorset

The Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset is home to the incredible Durdle Door. Its limestone arch is over 400 feet tall and is privately owned, though it’s still open to visitors. This natural wonder of the UK is breathtakingly beautiful, hence comes under the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Durdle Door, an iconic landmark of Dorset is one of the most photographed and top places to visit in UK.

8. Tresco Abbey Gardens, The Isle Of Scilly, Cornwall

The Isle of Scilly is located about 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall and has an almost tropical air. It is home to the privately owned Tresco Island and the Tresco Abbey Gardens, an oasis of palm trees and exotic plants. It has over 20,000 plants from 80 countries around the world.

9. Whiteless Pike, Lake District

The Lake District is a popular activity holiday destination, especially during the winter months, for skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities. Whiteless Pike is a hilly range (or fell) located in the Lake District. It sits over Lake Buttermere, and the small peaked summit also provides beautiful views of the lakes Crummock and Loweswater.

Also Read: Oldest Buildings On The Planet

10. The White Cliffs Of Dover

The iconic and striking white cliffs of Dover are located on the English coastline, facing the Strait of Dover and France. The chalky cliff face reaches heights of 350 feet. These beautiful places in the UK will leave you speechless.

11. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

On the north-eastern coast of Ireland are the massive hexagonal shaped black basalt columns known as the Giant’s Causeway. It was formed 50 to 60 million years ago by volcanic activity in the region. This stunningly beautiful natural feature is also listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

12. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

Located near Bath and the village of Cheddar is the magnificent natural setting of Cheddar Gorge. These limestone cliffs were created by Ice Age melt waters, and are the perfect spot for a long walk. You can also explore its fascinating prehistoric findings from the Stone Age occupation.

Also Read: Unforgettable Experiences In Cornwall

13. Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire, Wales

Though the roof has long disappeared from Tintern Abbey, this 12th-century church remains hauntingly beautiful. Located in the dramatic Wye Valleys, the Gothic ruins inspired the famous poem by William Wordsworth. Great poets and painters such as Wordsworth and Turner have visited this place two hundred years ago.

14. Micheldever Forest, Hampshire

From late April to early May, a multitude of dainty bluebells covers the floor of the Micheldever Forest in a “purple carpet.” It is just one of the numerous places across the country where these flowers bloom each spring. You can also find bluebells at the Blickling Estate in Norfolk, Buckland, Devon and Dunham Massey, Cheshire among other places.

Also Read: Places To See Flowers In Spring

15. Wistman’s Wood, Dartmoor

Said to be a legendary Druids’ grove, Wistman’s Wood is one of only three high-altitude oakwoods on Dartmoor in Devon. Its well-established ecosystem has oaks that are estimated to be around 200 to 400 years old. This unusual and atmospheric forest and the many boulders scattered around it are covered in moss, lichen and ferns. In Wistman’s Wood one can expect rapid weather changes, hence ensure that you have adequate footwear and clothing.

16. Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

Located on the northeast coast of England, Bamburgh Castle was once a Celtic fort. Built around 430 AD, it was later destroyed by the Vikings and rebuilt by the Normans and restored during Victorian times. With such a rich history and breathtaking views of the sea, it is one of the best places in the UK to visit. It’s one of the largest inhabited castles in the country and has stood guard over Northumberland for more than 1,400 years.

17. Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands

One of the most well-known lochs (or lakes) of the Scottish Highlands is Loch Ness. Located near the town of Inverness, the deep, freshwater loch is most famous for the mythical (and fictional) Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie,” who is said to live in it. You can also visit the remains of Urquhart Castle that lies on the shores. It is one of the best and most beautiful places in the UK to visit in December for the many activities that are provided like hiking, trekking and biking.

Also Read: Georgian Splendour At Bath

18. Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Gold Hill is a steep cobbled street with picturesque houses in the town of Shaftesbury in Dorset. The view of down Gold Hill is said to be “one of the most romantic sights in the UK.” Gold Hill is also referred to as ‘Hovis Hill’ as it was the location for the Hovis TV advert which is the most iconic advert of all time in England.

19. The Needles, The Isle Of Wight

The spectacular Needles is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the UK. What was once a tall and thin rock cliff that gave the group its name, collapsed in the late 1700s. Now, the row of three distinctive stacks of chalk rises to a height of 30 meters from the sea off the western coast of the Isle of Wight.

20. Llanberis Pass, Snowdonia

This rugged slate strewn mountain pass runs over 8 kilometers from Llanberis to Pen-y-Pass. It’s fine mountain scenery is home to numerous walks, including ones that will take you to Snowdon and the picturesque towns of Betws-y-Coed.

21. Norfolk Lavender, Norfolk

The village of Heacham in Norfolk is home to some of England’s loveliest lavender fields. You can also find similarly stunning fields at the Cotswolds, Kent, York, Hertfordshire, and Somerset.

22. The Royal Pavillion, Brighton

The Royal Pavilion, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, is an exotic palace in the center of Brighton . It was built as a seaside pleasure palace for King George IV in 1811 when he was still Prince Regent. It is a unique mix of Regency grandeur with stylistic elements from India and China.

23. Glen Nevis, Scottish Highlands

Glen Nevis is one of the most picturesque glens (or valleys) in Scotland. It is located at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest (and one of the most popular) mountains in the UK. To the other end of the glen is the town of Fort William.

24. Rye, East Sussex

This town near the coast in East Sussex is known for its cobbled lanes that are lined with medieval , half-timbered houses. You can visit the 14th-century Ypres Tower (now the Rye Castle Museum) and the Norman St. Mary’s Church to get stunning views of the town.

25. Llanthony Priory, Monmouthshire, Wales

Situated in the picturesque Vale of Ewyas, near the Black Mountains, is this ruined former Augustinian Priory. The Llanthony Priory dates back to the 1100s and fell to ruin (like Tintern Abbey) after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries .

26. Kynance Cove, Cornwall

The white sand and blue seas of Kynance Cove look like something in the Mediterranean. The stunning beach, with its secret caves and islands, is one of the most photographed and painted located in Cornwall. It was featured on BBC’s hit series Poldark.

Also Read: Cornish Food You Have To Try 

27. Lavender Fields, Banstead

Located just a few kilometers from central London, the lavender fields at Banstead cover over 25 acres. Located in Banstead, Surrey, the Mayfield Lavender Farm is the perfect picnic spot for a day out.

28. Pen-y-Fan, Brecon Beacons, Wales

Located in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Pen y Fan is the highest peak in South Wales. Located 886 meters above sea level, the impressive views from the peak and the neighboring Corn Du are truly magnificent.

Also Read: Delicious Welsh Food From Wales

29. Fairy Pools, The Isle of Skye

Situated in a hidden valley in the Isle of Skye is a series of crystal clear pools and waterfalls. They are surrounded by cone-shaped hills and bubbling streams. Located near Uig, they’re the perfect size for a quick (if freezing) dip.

30. Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

The ruin of the 15th-century Dunnottar Castle is located atop a natural peninsula. The rocky outcrop of land juts into the North Sea just off the northeast coast of Scotland.

Also Read: Traditional Scottish Food You Must Eat

31. Minack Theatre, Cornwall

This clifftop amphitheater is carved into a rocky granite outcrop overlooking the town of Porthcurno and the bright blue Atlantic. Built into the 1930s by Rowena Cade, it is now a popular open-air performance space.

32. Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

The stately Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is one of the most stunning country houses in England. Situated on the east bank of the River Derwent, it is set amongst expansive woods and landscaped parkland. It is the home of the Dukes of Devonshire and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. Chatsworth House has also been featured in numerous films, most famously as Pemberley, Mr Darcy’s home in Pride and Prejudice.

Also Read: 6 London Palaces You Have To See

33. Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Located near the village of Stackpole in Pembrokeshire, Barafundle Bay was once owned by the Cawdor family. Nestled between cliffs, and known for its sand dunes and pine trees, this scenic and secluded beach is said to be among the top beaches in the world.

34. Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria

Also known as the Roman Wall, this defensive fortification was built by the Romans, beginning in 122 AD, in the reign of the emperor Hadrian. It was meant to separate the Roman province of Britannia from the lands of the northern Ancient Britons, including the Picts. However, it doesn’t mark the modern boundary between England and Scotland.

35. Buachaille Etive Mor, Scottish Highlands

Also known simply as “The Buachaille,” this is perhaps the most recognizable mountain in Scotland. It is located at the head of Glen Etive in the Highlands and is encircled by the River Etive. Some of the most stunning and iconic views of the mountain are from Glen Coe.

36. Llyn Dinas, Snowdonia, Wales

This lake near Gwynedd in north Wales lies in a valley north of Beddgelert. Though the lake itself is quite shallow (with a maximum depth of only 10 meters) it covers a massive area of over 60 acres. The mountain lake offers some excellent walks with panoramic views. These are some of the most beautiful places in the UK, you shouldn’t miss.

37. High Force, Durham

The fast-flowing waterfalls and lush forest of High Force in County Durham make it one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in the UK. With a drop of 21 meters, the twin falls are surrounded by a diverse range of flora and fauna.

38. Smoo Cave, Scottish Highlands

The large Smoo Cave is a combined sea cave and an inner freshwater cave located in Durness. This mystical cave is riddled with caves and tunnels. However, the most stunning sight is the waterfall where the Smoo burn drops over 24 meters into a cavern below. These beautiful places in the UK are truly worth a visit.

39. Langmull Beach, The Isle Of Mull

Often called one of the best-kept secrets on the Isle of Mull, Langamull Beach looks like something out of the Caribbean. Though it is located 3 kilometers away from the nearest roads, this secluded beach offers spectacular views over to the Small Isles and Skye.

40. Dun Briste, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

Located near the town of Knockaun lies the colossal 50-meter-tall sea-stack called Dun Briste. Meaning “the Broken Fort,” the stack was separated by the mainland by corrosive waves in the late 1300s.

41. Sgwd Yr Eira, Brecon Beacons, Wales

Sgwd Yr Eira is one of several spectacular waterfalls found in Mellte Valley of the Brecon Beacons. Literally meaning “fall of snow,” you can still walk behind the falling sheet of water, on a pather carved by generations of sheep farmers. These beautiful places in the UK are so mesmerizing that you wouldn’t want to leave.

42. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scottish Highlands

This spectacular railway is perhaps the most instantly recognizable location in Scotland. Featured in four of the Harry Potter films on the journey the Hogwarts Express makes from King’s Cross Station to the school, it has become known as the Harry Potter Bridge.

43. Mealt Falls, The Isle Of Skye

Located near the magnificent Kilt Rock (which is said to look like a pleated kilt) is the stunning Mealt waterfall. Fed by the nearby Mealt Loch, this waterfall is so high that on windy days the water doesn’t even touch the ground.

44. St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

St Michaels Mount, located to the east of Penzance in Cornwall is one of the most photographed locations in the UK. This abbey is located on a small tidal island and was built by Benedictine monks (the same religious order that also constructed a sister abbey at Mont St-Michel in France) during the 12th century.

45. Big Ben, Westminster Abbey

Big Ben, a tower clock designed by Augustus Pugin is one of the most significant places to visit in the UK. This is so popular that artists all over the world use Big Ben to represent the country. The name refers to the largest of the six bells (13-ton bell) in Westminster Palace. Big Ben is known for its accuracy and for the massive sound of the hour bell. This place is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

46. London Eye, Lambeth

Located on the river Thames, London’s number one attraction is a giant wheel that stands at almost 140 meters tall. There are 32 capsules that will take you to the top to experience 360-degree views of the capital. The ride is quite exhilarating when you come face to face with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as you rise up. A trip to London is incomplete without a visit to Europe’s tallest observation wheel.

47. Tower Bridge, River Thames

Another iconic landmark of London is the Tower Bridge which is a suspension bridge. It was built somewhere between 1886 and 1894 by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry. It has two towers, in Victorian Gothic style, which hold machines that lift the bridge to allow passing of river traffic beneath it. One can get incredible views of London from the two high-level walkways which are 42 meters above the River Thames. This bridge is open to the general public 363 days a year.

48. Hyde Park, London

Hyde is the largest of the four Royal Parks in Westminster. In 1600’s it used to be a hunting ground but today it plays a significant role in the cultural scene of the city. Free speech, demonstrations and music concerts are held here. Hyde Park’s 350 acres of lush green English foliage is also home to some of London’s most important landmarks. It’s the best place to take a break from the hectic cityscape and enjoy the serene surroundings of Hyde Park. 

49. Windsor Castle, Berkshire

This 11th century castle built in the Gothic style is the place where the British royal family resides. Except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Windsor Castle is open to the public on all other days. As Windsor Castle is a working palace, opening arrangements may change at very short notice. Hence it’s advisable to check before planning a visit to avoid disappointments.

50. Old Town, Edinburgh

Old Town is so full of history and culture which will make you feel that you have stepped back in time. This place is dotted with buildings, forts, cathedrals and alleyways which dates back to hundreds of years. Apart from this various visitor attractions, walking tours, shops, galleries, cafes and pubs will keep you busy throughout the day. Old Town in Edinburgh is spellbindingly beautiful and one of the most perfect places to visit in UK.

Also Read: These 20 Destinations Are Straight Out Of A Fairytale

10 Handy Tips For A Stress Free Travel To The United Kingdom

The UK being one of the world’s biggest tourist destinations, it’s always important to plan ahead when visiting this wonderful country. With so many amazing places in the UK lined up for you, this checklist is sure to help you on your way.

1. Check for peak months and avoid travelling during these months to have the best experience at the UK beautiful places.

2. All four seasons can hit in one day, hence be prepared for all weather conditions.

3. Depending on your country of residence, do check all passport and visa requirements for hassle free travel.

4. Put together your travel itinerary well in advance and based on this prepare your packing checklist.

5. Book tickets in advance, not just the flight tickets but also your admission tickets to all of the UK’s top attractions. You will save a lot of time!

6. Public transports are easy and the best way to get around, hence make sure you have complete knowledge about it, so that you’re all sorted for your trip.

7. There are many attractions that one can see for free like, changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and the many museums and parks. 

8. If you are doing the trip on your own, it’s highly recommended that you get an Oyster card for the Tube and the double-decker bus ticket which are much cheaper than the single-ride tickets.

9. The electrical sockets in the UK are different, so pack a universal travel adaptor to charge all your electronic gadgets. 

10. The UK has a diverse range of accents, hence it’s always good to know the different accents. If not all, at least a few of them will help understanding things a little easier.

These beautiful places in the UK are sure to leave an indelible mark on you. Finding the holiday rentals for your holiday in the UK is also not tough because of Cozycozy now. Click to know more. The beauty of the landscape is something everyone must experience at least once in their lives! If we have missed out your favorite, please comment below. 

Eight new places that were awarded city status in May 2022 by the Cabinet Office are, Bangor (Northern Ireland), Wrexham (Wales), Colchester, Doncaster, Douglas (Isle of Man) and Dunfermline, Milton Keynes, Stanley (Falkland Islands).

The largest Indian community in the UK lives within the Ealing Southall constituency in western London. With all the major facilities, great neighborhood, safety and cooperation from the police, London is truly a blessing to live in.

London, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds are some of the main cities in the UK.

The UK has something to offer to every kind of traveler. Some of the most beautiful parts include The Old Man of Storr, the Isle of Skye, Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland and Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Some of the prettiest places in the UK include Portmeirion, Wales, Stonehenge, Wiltshire, Durdle Door, Dorset and Lake Windermere, Cumbria.

Cornwall, Yorkshire and Cumbria are some of the most breathtakingly beautiful counties in England that are sure to leave you spellbound.

The Tower Of London is the most visited place in the UK. It is a historic castle that stands on the north bank of the River Thames. This rare surviving royal building from the 11th to 16th century is also a symbol of royalty.

Newtown Linford is named the poshest village in the UK. An average price of a house in this area is around £692,157.

13 COMMENTS

Thank you for such a lovely article. Reading your article made me encourage to travel england once again. Hope to see more of the related articles about UK.

You seem to have missed Yorkshire out. There are some stunning places to visit …Yorkshire dales…north Yorkshire Moors….!

very useful information and I hope one day I visit these places.

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Thank you so much for these information. We will spend our vacation in UK next month but there are some places that we are not familiar. Good thing I found this article.

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Explore the Beauty of the UK

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15 Absolute Best Cities to Visit in the UK (+Map & Travel Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: September 12, 2023

The United Kingdom’s rich and vibrant culture make its cities among the most fascinating to visit in the world. Whether you’re looking for stunning architecture, world-class museums, or the cool vibe of contemporary art and music, you’ll find it all in the best UK cities.

However, with so many great cities throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (the four countries of the UK) it can be difficult to decide which ones to visit in a limited amount of time.

So in this guide, we list the very best cities to visit in the UK that are worth your time the most . For each city, we include the main attractions that you simply must see. We also listed a few extras that are well worth visiting if you have enough time. For each town, we also indicate how much time you need for a visit.

Good to know: The great thing about visiting the UK is its small size and good transport links. This makes it quite easy to travel from one part of the country to another. Furthermore, quite a few of these cities can also be visited with organized tours from London (or other nearby towns). So if you plan well, you can visit several of these UK towns in one trip.

To help you plan your trip and see several of the nicest cities and towns in Great Britain, we asked our writer Christine, a UK local, to share the best places and tips for your visit. We also created a map indicating each town. That way, you have a better idea of where everything is and can plan your trip accordingly. Take a look!

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

These are the most beautiful cities in the UK that are worth a visit the most:

London really has to be number one on any list of the best places in the UK! And there are so many reasons to visit the nation’s capital. Located on the banks of the River Thames, London is the country’s financial center, the seat of the Government of the United Kingdom, and home to the Royal Family.

All of this is reflected in its magnificent and historic architecture and a huge variety of things to see and do.

The diversity of London’s population is evident in its wonderful food scene. From traditional British food in local pubs, the finest cuisine in world-famous restaurants, to the ethnic street food in its many markets, London has it all. London also offers some of the very best shopping in the world. You’ll find designer stores, vintage boutiques, eclectic craft fairs, and quirky markets all over the city.

If you want to escape the bustling streets, museums, and galleries, London has some very beautiful and tranquil green spaces too. Don’t miss the scenic Hyde Park! If you have more time, visit the lesser-known Kew Gardens, with its stunning collection of tropical flora and fauna. London is truly a city that offers something for everyone.

Must see: The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace (don’t miss the Changing of the Guard ), Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament), Tower Bridge, the London Eye , the British Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square (home to Nelson’s Column), and Piccadilly Circus. Thames Cruise is also a must.

Nice to see: Greenwich , Hyde Park, Covent Garden, Kew Gardens, Borough Market, Camden Town & Camden Lock Market , National Gallery, Harrods, and Oxford Street. If you are visiting London with kids , don’t miss Madame Tussauds , the Natural History Museum, Leicester Square stores, and the Royal Mews. Also, don’t miss at least some of the best views in London !

How much time do you need. You can quickly see the major sites with just one day in London . However, if you want to be able to visit a few places inside and get a good feeling of the city you really need two days in London . To fully appreciate all of London’s major sights, visit a few of them inside, and check out a few different neighborhoods, you will need at least 3 to 4 days.

If you want to experience the diversity of attractions across the city, discover some of London’s hidden gems , or take a day tour to Windsor Castle or a day trip to other popular places near London , you can easily spend a week or even more.

Where to stay: Best areas to stay in London for first time .

Travel tips: Please see London travel tips for more information for planning your trip.

LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in London (Must-See!)

2. Edinburgh

Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh is truly a tale of two cities! It has a New Town – packed with modern shops and trendy eateries – on one side, and a historic Old Town on the other.

The imposing Edinburgh Castle – one of Europe’s oldest fortified places – overlooks the entire city. Surrounding it are rolling green hills which often draw a comparison with Rome. Indeed Italy’s capital, like Edinburgh, was said to have been built on seven hills. Its neoclassical architecture, along with its reputation for philosophy and learning, have earned Edinburgh the nickname of the ‘Athens of the North’.

Edinburgh has a rich history, awesome views, incredible green spaces, and several world-class museums and galleries. In contrast, it also has an intriguingly dark past that you can learn more about by exploring its creepy kirkyards (churchyards) and a fascinating underground street that shows you just what life used to be like in the city.

Scotland’s capital is also known for its many festivals, including the world-famous Hogmanay at New Year.

Must see: Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill or Arthur’s Seat (for the views), the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, National Museum of Scotland, and Royal Yacht Britannia.

Nice to see: Royal Botanic Gardens, St Giles’ Cathedral, Princes Street Gardens, Camera Obscura & World of Illusions (nice views of the city), Scottish National Gallery, The Real Mary King’s Close.

How much time do you need. Given the city’s relatively small size, it’s possible to see the main sights of Edinburgh in 1 day , but it would be quite a rush. We recommend 2-3 days to take in and fully appreciate everything the city has to offer.

LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Edinburgh

3. Cambridge

Cambridge is probably best known for its University (the world’s 4th oldest surviving university). Which is home to more winners of the Nobel prize than any other university in the UK.

Cambridge is also a beautiful town, with lots of well-preserved historic buildings that are mostly centered around its 31 (!) colleges. Cambridge has some world-famous Alumni too. 14 British Prime Ministers studied here, world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking, and many others who have made a real impact on the world.

A must-do in Cambridge is taking a punt tour along the beautiful River Cam. Punt is a traditional flat bottomed boat and a very typical thing to do here. The river runs through the heart of the city offering great views of the ancient architecture of the city.

Being a student town, this medieval city still has a very modern vibe too. So there’s plenty of music, festivals, and a strong performing arts scene. There are several art galleries exhibiting everything from the classics to contemporary works. And you’ll find some lovely, quirky shops to buy souvenirs.

Must see: King’s College Chapel, Queen’s College and the Mathematical Bridge (built without nails), Trinity College (and other collages if you have more time), Fitzwilliam Museum, Great St Mary’s Church (climb to the top of the tower for incredible city views), the River Cam and punting tours .

Nice to see: The Botanic Garden, Angelsey Abbey, Wren Library (the Trinity College Library where you can see Newton’s “Principia Mathematica”; it’s only open between noon and 2 pm on weekdays, and Saturday morning), the Round Church, the Bridge of Sighs, The Backs (behind the colleges).

How much time do you need. You can see much of Cambridge within one full day, and it’s also possible to visit with a tour from the capital . But to give yourself time to browse the main museum and to go punting along the River Cam, it’s worth planning two days for your visit.

Of all the cities in the UK, the wonderful, walled city of York boasts the most attractions per square mile. Although it has all the modern shops and amenities you’d expect from a major UK city, the main appeal of York is in fascinating history.

As you wander the cobbled, medieval streets – some with beautifully preserved buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries – you can also see hints of its Roman roots and signs of Viking influence.

Among its many attractions, York has 30 museums, the UK’s best racecourse, and festivals on an almost monthly basis.

The city’s Cathedral – York Minster – is one of the largest in Europe. You can enjoy some incredible views of the city from the top. You can also view the city from the water by taking a boat trip along River Ouse or on Foss River. Another fun thing to do is learn about the history of chocolate-making at the place where the famous UK confectioners Terry’s and Rowntree were founded.

Must see: York Minster (formally known as the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York), the 14th century City Walls (you can walk along the top), National Railway Museum, the Shambles (one of the world’s best-preserved medieval streets), views along the River Ouse and river cruises .

Nice to see: York Maze, York Castle Museum, Castle Howard, York’s Chocolate Story, Clifford’s Tower (great views), York Racecourse.

How much time do you need. You can see the highlights of York in a day, but we recommend 2 full days to see things at a more leisurely pace. If you want to also explore the Yorkshire region, plan a few days extra. See the best suggestions for places to see via the link below.

READ ALSO: Best Day Trips from York

Whilst it may have an interesting history and plenty of period architecture to admire, Glasgow is hip and happening. So much so that it is sometimes referred to as ‘Scotland’s city of cool!’.

A mecca for creativity, Glasgow has a strong art scene. You’ll find unique and original products sold everywhere from the city center to its cobbled lanes. You’ll also see impressive murals on walls throughout the city, depicting various figures who have played a large part in Glasgow’s culture.

There are several excellent museums, an architecturally stunning Cathedral, and a full-size sailing ship to explore. Many of Glasgow’s attractions are free to visit, making a visit here much more affordable than in many other UK cities.

There are also some beautiful green spaces throughout Glasgow to sit and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. You’ll find that locals are more than happy to share stories with you of their beloved home. In fact, Time Out magazine once named Glasgow as ‘first for friendliness’. The warmth it extends to its visitors is the reason that Glasgow remains one of the UK’s most popular destinations.

Must see: Glasgow Cathedral and the adjacent Necropolis, Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Riverside Museum, and The Tall Ship.

Nice to see: George Square, Gallery of Modern Art, Scotland Street School Museum, Botanic Gardens, Celtic Park Stadium , the Science Museum, University of Glasgow, Hunterian Art Gallery & Museum.

How much time do you need. Glasgow is relatively compact and most attractions are within walking distance of each other. So you can see the very best of Glasgow in a day (see below for more information). But because there is so much to see and do in the city, we recommend planning 2-3 days here. If you have a day to spare, you can also make some really nice day trips to Loch Ness and see some of the Scottish Highlands.

READ ALSO: How to See the Best of Glasgow in One Day

Located in the county of Somerset in south-west England, Bath is famous for its Roman ruins. The city is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bath grew around its ancient Roman baths. Nowadays, you can still experience bathing in Britain’s only natural thermal hot springs at the modern Thermae Bath Spa.

In addition to museums and galleries, there is a great deal of beautiful architecture to enjoy in the city. From the individual honey-colored Georgian buildings to the neo-Classical style of many of its public buildings, Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in the UK!

Bath’s iconic sights, such as the Circus and the Royal Cresent, have become world-famous thanks to TV and film. Some of Jane Austen’s works discussing city life were based on the five years she spent here. Much of the architecture is still just as she described it. A visit to Bath truly feels like taking a step back into history.

Must see: The Roman Baths, Bath Abbey (take the Tower Tour and climb to the top for breathtaking views of the city), Royal Crescent park, The Circus, Pulteney Bridge.

Nice to see: River cruises , Thermae Bath Spa, the Jane Austen Centre , No. 1 Royal Crescent (museum), Fashion Museum, Royal Victoria Park, The Museum of Bath Architecture.

How much time do you need . It is possible to see all the main sights of Bath in half a day to a day. This makes Bath one of the most popular day trips from London , often in combination with Stonehenge and Windsor Castle . However, a lot of the city’s charm is to be found in the evening. So if you have the time, stay a little longer and include an overnight stay in your visit.

Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital and largest city, but it is still relatively small compared to the other capitals. Nevertheless, there is a lot to see and do here. The close proximity of all its attractions makes it easy to see Belfast’s main sights in a short amount of time.

The city where the Titanic was built, Belfast has several excellent museums that look back over its shipbuilding past. You’ll also find museums celebrating its connection to the linen industry. And – more recently – Belfast’s time of political upheaval (known as The Troubles).

Alternatively, you can head to the lively Cathedral quarter with its lovely Victorian architecture and cobbled streets. It’s a popular place with an ever-developing pub and restaurant scene.

Belfast’s historic market gives you the opportunity to buy some authentic arts, crafts, and souvenirs whilst enjoying some stirring live music. Throughout the city, you can see some incredible street art, with hundreds of murals depicting all sorts of key moments in Belfast’s past.

Must see: Titanic Belfast , St George’s Market (every Friday/Saturday/Sunday), Belfast City Hall, Crumlin Road Gaol, Ulster Museum.

Nice to see: Stormont (the home of Northern Ireland’s Parliament), Queens University, Botanic Gardens, C.S Lewis Square, St. Anne’s Cathedral, Cave Hill Country Park (for the excellent views).

How much time do you need. We recommend planning 2 days in order to see all of Belfast’s main attractions. In addition, you can take a day tour to Giant’s Causeway , which is not to be missed when visiting here!

8. Liverpool

Liverpool’s main claim to fame is as the birthplace of the Beatles. If you’re a fan, it’s a great place to visit the city where the band started and drew their inspiration. But there’s so much more to this city that makes it a fantastic place for anyone!

Liverpool is located on the River Mersey. One of the nicest things to do is walk around the docks, which are teeming with cool boutiques, fantastic eateries, and lively bars. The streets of the modern city center are filled with shoppers and street entertainers. But there is lots of history and culture to explore too, with more museums and galleries than you’ll find anywhere else outside London.

Liverpool really comes alive at night! So make sure to stay the night. Dine at one of the many fine restaurants, ending the evening with live music at the iconic Cavern Club. This is the venue at which the Beatles performed nearly 300 times.

READ ALSO: The Beatles in Liverpool (Best Places to See)

Must see: The Cavern Club, the Beatles Story , the Royal Albert Dock, World Museum, Liverpool Cathedral, Mersey River Cruises .

Nice to see: Tate Liverpool, Anfield Stadium , Sefton Park, Western Approaches WWII Museum , Liverpool Library, British Music Experience , Museum of Liverpool, Strawberry Field , and the views from Royal Liver Building 360 .

How much time do you need. You will need 1-2 days to see Liverpool’s main sights. If you are a Beatles fan and want to be sure to see all the Beatles-related exhibitions and tours, then you may even need 3 days in the city.

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Liverpool & How to visit Liverpool from London (travel info & 1-day itinerary)

Oxford is best known for its university which was established in the 12th century. It’s one of the oldest and most famous universities in the world, and so many of the city’s attractions are related to it.

There are 38 separate college buildings and their architecture is incredible! You should definitely see the Christ Church with its impressive Hall (Harry Potter fans will instantly recognize it!) and Cathedral. The gardens of this cathedral are said to have inspired Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

This beautiful English city was also used as a filming location for some scenes in the Harry Potter movies. While you can probably spot a few of them on your own, fans should really consider a walking tour of the filming locations .

Oxford also has a few interesting museums, a nice riverside ( sightseeing cruises are available), and even its own ‘Bridge of Sighs’, Hertford Bridge. It connects two parts of Hertford College allowing students and professors to quicker travel between different parts of the university.

Must see: Oxford University with the Bodleian Library and some of the oldest colleges (Christ Church College, All Souls College, Magdalen College, Keble College), Radcliffe Camera, Ashmolean Museum, and Hertford Bridge.

Nice to see: Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University Church, Sheldonian Theater, Oxford Castle and Prison, The Pett Rivers Museum. Boat trips are also nice to do, especially in the warmest months.

How much time do you need. You can see many of the main landmarks in Oxford in half a day to a day. With two days, you should be able to cover most of the best attractions in Oxford.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tips for Traveling to Europe

10. Cardiff

The Welsh capital, Cardiff is quite small in size. It only takes about 15 minutes to cycle from one side to the other. But it has a lot to offer its visitors! With a 2000-year-old castle and more green space per capita than any other UK city, it offers lots of opportunities for scenic strolls. Make sure to explore the banks of the River Taff which runs through its beautiful Bute Park.

Just outside the city center is Cardiff Bay. Here, you can visit the seat of the Welsh Government or enjoy everything from cultural attractions to boat trips. Cardiff is a quirky, vibrant, and creative city with numerous music and arts venues and an up and coming culinary scene.

Cardiff is also known to sports fans for its world-famous stadium, the home of Welsh rugby, and the venue for Britain’s Speedway Grand Prix. You can enjoy a meal and a drink at a sports bar and restaurant Elevens Bar And Grill, which is owned by professional footballer Gareth Bale.

Must see: Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay, Principality Stadium, St Fagans National Museum of History, National Museum, Wales Millenium Centre.

Nice to see: Bute Park, Roath Park, Castell Coch, Cardiff International White Water Centre, the Senedd (the main building for the National Assembly of Wales), Spillers Records (the oldest record shop in the world). Doctor Who tours (popular TV series filming locations) are also very popular.

How much time do you need. Because of Cardiff’s compact size, you can see the best of its attractions in 1-2 days. But there is much worth exploring on its outskirts. So you might want to give yourself an extra day to venture outside the city center.

11. Nottingham

Nottingham is another really nice city that’s worth your time when touring the UK! This city’s imposing, wide streets and scenic parks have earned it the nickname of the ‘Queen of the Midlands’. However, to most of us, Nottingham will always be the home of the legendary outlaw Robin Hood!

Boasting its own castle, a magnificent cathedral, a network of underground caves, and the vibrant Lace Market – teeming with independent cafes, restaurants, and bars – Nottingham is a city with something for everyone.

Yet just minutes away from its center you can enjoy the serenity and beauty of its green spaces. You can also venture a little further into the enormous Sherwood Forest, home to Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

Must see: Nottingham Castle , Wollaton Hall and Park, City of Caves, Old Market Square (Slab Square), Robin Hood Way & the Sherwood Forest.

Nice to see: National Justice Museum, the Arboretum, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (believed to be England’s oldest pub), Nottingham Contemporary Art Gallery, Highfields Park, D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum.

How much time do you need. You can see most of Nottingham’s main sights in one full day. For a more relaxed experience (especially if you plan to include a trip out to Sherwood Forest), plan two days for your visit.

12. Manchester

Probably best known for its Premier League football teams, Manchester has a lot more going on than football! Located in the northwest of England, the city has a rich industrial past, but nowadays, you’ll find a vibrant place where history and modern-day life go hand in hand.

Manchester is a lively city with a warm atmosphere and plenty to see and do to suit all interests. You’ll find some world-class museums, beautiful architecture, great dining and shopping, and lots of fun activities for young and old. 

Be sure to explore the city center and visit some of its historic landmarks! Manchester Cathedral is an absolute must-see, just as John Rylands Library. For contemporary architecture, head to the Quays, where you’ll find the impressive Imperial War Museum North and The Lowry cultural center. River cruises are a great way to explore this part of town as well!

It would be unthinkable to visit Manchester and not check out at least one of its major football stadiums – Old Trafford, home to Manchester United F.C. or Etihad Stadium, home to Manchester City F.C. In addition, the city is also home to the National Football Museum, the largest football museum in the world.

Must see:  City center, Manchester Cathedral, one of the football stadiums , John Rylands Library, and Science and Industry Museum.

Nice to see:  National Football Museum , Imperial War Museum North, Salford Quays, river cruises , People’s History Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, and Castlefield conservation area.

How much time do you need.  It’s possible to see the main sights of Manchester in a day , but you won’t be able to explore much deeper. If you want to visit a few museums and do some shopping as well, you could easily spend 2-3 days here.

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Manchester

13. Norwich

Norwich is a historic city in the heart of rural East Anglia. It was medieval England’s largest walled town. Because of its isolated location, Norwich was virtually bypassed by the Industrial Revolution. So the town has retained many of its medieval Churches and Tudor architecture. All this makes it a truly fascinating place to visit!

A UNESCO City of Literature, Norwich is also the only city in England to be located in a national park (the Norfolk Broads). It boasts a beautiful nature reserve with a river running through the city and an impressive Romanesque cathedral with scenic, peaceful grounds.

Thatched buildings and brightly colored merchant’s houses are just some of the historic sights that give the city its unique and ancient character. You’ll also find cozy pubs dotted everywhere, serving the finest craft beers and ales.

Must see: Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Castle, Norwich Market. Norwich Quayside. Outside the city – Blickling Estate.

Nice to see: The Forum, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Plantation Garden, Strangers Hall, City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Norwich Guildhall.

How much time do you need. You can see the main sights of Norwich in one day.

14. Bristol

Bristol in the southwest of England is one of the country’s coolest cities. The home town of famed UK street artist Banksy has a strong reputation for creativity. Ultra-modern museums and trendy restaurants make it a fun and lively place to visit, particularly around the port and harbor area which is full of bars and cafes.

But the city has an interesting history, too, with stunning ancient churches, a cathedral, and galleries. Perhaps most fascinating of all is Bristol’s seafaring links. It was the birthplace of the notorious pirate Blackbeard and inspired parts of the famous maritime novels Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe.

There are some lovely green spaces to explore in the city. Or you can choose to get away from the crowds by taking a boat trip along the River Avon. from the water, you can admire the unusually brightly colored buildings and houses that overlook it.

Must see: Bristol Cathedral, Waterfront, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Clifton Suspension Bridge (looks great at night too), SS Great Britain, Brandon Hill Park & Cabot Tower (great views from the top).

Nice to see: St Mary Redcliffe church, Bristol Zoo Gardens (the 5th oldest zoo in the world), At-Bristol Science Centre, Queen Square. Also, Avon Valley Railway and Blaise Castle Estate (outside the city).

How much time do you need. Bristol is a relatively small city but has lots to see and do. You can cover the highlights in a day, but you need at least 2 days to enjoy it properly.

15. Brighton

The coastal city of Brighton is one of the UK’s most diverse places to visit. It offers everything from vintage seaside attractions to Bohemian markets and Victorian architecture. The city has Britain’s biggest gay scene and some of the best independent shops and boutiques, largely concentrated around the iconic Lanes.

Its pier – packed with rides and entertainment – is one of the biggest attractions in the southeast of England. Brighton even has an exotic palace, Royal Pavilion, that would look more at home in India or China than on the UK’s south coast!

Brighton is also a great UK city for foodies. You’ll find everything from traditional British fish & chips to the finest cuisine at gourmet restaurants. There are lots of bars and eateries lining the pebbled beach, which immediately gives you a vacation feel.

You are never far away from the raw beauty of nature either. Brighton is perfectly positioned to enjoy stunning walks along the England Coast Path. Be sure to visit the white cliffs of Seven Sisters and South Downs nearby!

Must see: Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton Royal Pavilion and Gardens, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, British Airways i360 Viewing Tower, The Lanes, North Laine.

Nice to see: Regency Square, Brighton Marina, Brighton Toy and Model Museum, Brighton Beach and Promenade, Old Steine Gardens, Brighton Festival (3 weeks every May).

How much time do you need. You will definitely need at least 3 days in Brighton. There is so much to do in Brighton that you could easily spend 5 days in the city, especially in summer.

So, this is our guide to the best, most beautiful cities in the UK.

As you can see, there’s so much more to the UK than just its cities! But even if you visit just a few of these, you’ll get to know a very different country than just by visiting London!

TIP: If you are looking for a more ‘local’ city/ beach holiday in the UK, check out Blackpool . It’s one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK! Here you can learn all about what there is to see and do in Blackpool . Check it out!

More travel tips and inspiration for all over the UK:

• Must-see in London:  Top London Attractions
• Different London :  Hidden Gems of London  &  Best Views in London
• Good to know:  London Travel Tips & Best Areas to Stay in London
• With kids:  London with Kids  &  Family Afternoon Tea in London
• Greenwich:  Best Things to Do in Greenwich
• Cornwall: Best Places to Visit in Cornwall & Where to Stay in Cornwall
• Yorkshire:  Yorkshire Day Trips
• Blackpool: Best Things to Do in Blackpool & Tips for Visiting Blackpool & Best Day Trips from Blackpool
• Scotland:   Isle of Skye  &  Scotland Whisky Tour
• Edinburgh:  Top Edinburgh Attractions  &  One Day in Edinburgh
• Glasgow:  One Day in Glasgow

READ ALSO: Traditional British Food & Where to Try It in the UK

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Photos: Personal collection and Depositphotos.com. Additional credits: Featured image: TTstudio/Shutterstock.com// Cardiff Bay – photo by phil_bird/Depositphotos.com// Belfast Titanic – photo by zhuzhu/Depositphotos.com// Beatles – gianliguori/Depositphotos.com// Cambridge Bridge of Sighs – chrisdorney/Depositphotos.com// Cambridge University – Umdash9/Depositphotos.com// Manchester Castlefield – cowardlion /Depositphotos.com//.

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Thursday 21st of September 2023

Go to Southampton if you want to see nice cruiseships and the New Forest is very close too.

Tuesday 1st of August 2023

Thank you for sharing useful information ...

Saturday 5th of August 2023

Glad to help. Have a great trip!

Saturday 11th of February 2023

I can't believe Birmingham is not on the list, it's the most underrated city in the UK, perhaps it's because once the heart of the Indudtrial Revolution the slums of back to back houses were there until the 1970's, and its maze of run down underground canals. Most canals have now been restored with many nice bars and restaurants on the side of the canals, in and outside the City. It's a compact City Centre that is easy to walk around. The Art Gallery is one of the best I have ever been in, and each time I'm in the City I can't resist going in there, and it is free to go around, unlike in Venice where you have to pay and is nowhere near as interesting as Brums Art Gallery. For those who like to shop it is a City Centre renown for its Bull Ring Shopping Centre. Eating and enjoying Asian food, there is no-where better in Europe. But go and see the City for yourself. The only thing is traveling into the City by train looks awful, but don't judge the book by its cover. Brum has everything, and is a multi cultural City. I live in Spain these days but my heart is in Birmingham, and it's surroundings Remember Stratford upon Avon is only 20 miles away. 👍👍

Sunday 12th of February 2023

Thanks for your suggestions and tips. I'm sure it can be helpful for some of our readers who are looking for even more cities to explore in the UK. Happy travels!

Jessica Fletcher

Sunday 22nd of January 2023

London does not belong on any list of good cities, end of story. Miserable people, ugly buildings, expensive, nothing worthwhile to see except contrived tourist fodder and obscene wealth. One of the worst cities I've ever been to and I've been to most of the major towns and cities in the UK. Otherwise a great list! Glasgow is one that surprised me a lot, considering its bad reputation but it was surprisingly beautiful and the people were very friendly and down to Earth.

@Jessica Fletcher, Jessica you need to use the underground and look around different parts of the City. London is steeped in history and has something for all tastes..Dont be put off by being expensive. There are a lot of reasonably priced places just be adventurous and seek them out. Including places to stay.

Friday 10th of February 2023

@Jurga, now you know second person 😅 as I just hate London, anytime I have to go there it is a nightmare for me.

Monday 23rd of January 2023

Wow, that's a strong opinion about London, Jessica. You are literally the first person I ever 'met' who doesn't like London. I guess that just proves that everyone is different and likes different things. And that's ok. We all have our experiences and our opinions. For us, London is one of the most interesting cities in the world. No matter how many times we go back, there's always something new and exciting to discover, and so many amazing places everywhere you look. Perhaps you should give London a second chance and look beyond the main tourist attractions... We have a 'hidden gems' guide with some suggestions ;). Happy travels!

Friday 13th of January 2023

cardiff and Oxford do not deserve to be in that list, no where near as good as the others!

Sunday 15th of January 2023

Ha ha, we literally just added Oxford to this list because quite a few people thought it deserved a mention. :) And many of our American readers absolutely love it as a day trip from London too. I guess everybody has their own opinion and I'm sure our readers can make their own decisions on which places look the most interesting to them. Happy travels!

Planning an England trip in 2024? Consider these 16 top places to visit

Feb 26, 2024 • 10 min read

Gracious Bath is an excellent place to immerse yourself in England’s history and beauty © gowithstock / Shutterstock

The story of  England  stretches back more than 5000 years (and likely many more). Which means its impossible to escape the past here.

As you wander its historic urban centers, mysterious monoliths, misty landscapes and rugged  coastlines  and national parks , you’ll discover a country filled with unparalleled places to visit that are are the more compelling thanks to all those who have visited them before.

As you plan a trip to England this year, here’s our list of 16 historic, exciting and all-around fabulous highlights to consider.

1. The Seven Sisters 

While  Dover ’s iconic white cliffs grab the most attention, the colossal chalky walls of the Seven Sisters are a more spectacular affair, a four-mile roller-coaster of sheer white rock stretching along the Sussex shore and overlooking the waters of the English Channel. It forms an impressive southern border to the South Downs National Park , and is most dramatic at the towering headland of Beachy Head . Hikes through the grassy clifftop fields provide wide sea views, breathtaking in every sense.

Local tip:  Stop for a breather at the tiny seaside hamlet of Birling Gap, where the secluded beach is a sun trap popular with locals and walkers.

Oxford  lets visitors feel close to the brilliant minds and august institutions that have made this city famous across the globe. This rarefied world comes to life in the cobbled lanes and ancient quads where cycling students and eccentric academics roam. The beautiful college buildings and stunning architecture have changed little over the centuries, coexisting with a lively, modern, working city. As befits a city of students and professors, Oxford is one of the last bastions of the great British pub, with irresistible old watering holes dotted all over its central lanes and alleyways. 

3. Cambridge

In England’s other great historic university city, Cambridge , you can tour a  college , and spend time marveling at the intricate vaulting of King’s College Chapel . But no trip to Cambridge is complete without an attempt to take a punt (flat-bottomed boat) along the River Cam by the picturesque Backs , the leafy, green lawns behind the city's finest colleges – an experience that offers the best views of the exquisite architecture. Polish off the day with a pint at one of Cambridge’s many rustic pubs. 

In a nation packed with pretty cities, Bath  stands out as the belle of the ball. Founded by the Romans, who established the spa resort of Aquae Sulis to take advantage of the area’s hot springs , Bath hit its stride in the 18th century, when the rich industrialist Ralph Allen and architects John Wood the Elder and John Wood the Younger oversaw the city’s transformation into a model of Georgian architecture at its most refined . Bath is awash with golden stone townhouses, sweeping green crescents and Palladian mansions, along with appealing pubs and restaurants, and you’ll take great pleasure in plunging in. 

5. Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall is one of the country's most dramatic Roman ruins, a 2000-year-old procession of abandoned forts, garrisons, towers and milecastles marching across the wild and lonely landscape of northern England. While the Romans built the fortification to defend and control its territory, this edge-of-empire barrier also symbolized the boundary of civilized order in the ancient world: to the north of the Roman settlement lay the unruly land of the marauding Celts. Near Newcastle  you can visit Segedunum , the wall’s last stronghold, for an insight into life during Roman times.

Planning tip:  Hiking the full 84-mile distance coast to coast along the national trail takes around a week. If you have less time and your own car, you may want to select from a few of the wall's  highlights .

With its Roman and Viking heritage, ancient city walls and maze of cobbled streets, York is a living record of English history. A magnificent circuit of 13th-century walls encloses a medieval spider’s web of “snickelways” (narrow alleys), each one the focus of a ghost story or historical character. At the city’s heart lies the immense, awe-inspiring York Minster , the biggest medieval cathedral in all of northern Europe, and one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. Admire feats of engineering of a more recent vintage at the National Railway Museum , the world’s largest collection of historic locomotives.

York’s long history and rich heritage are woven into virtually every brick and beam, and the modern, tourist-oriented city – with its myriad museums, restaurants, cafes and traditional pubs – is a carefully maintained showcase of that heritage.

Local tip: You’ll find some of the finest views of York from its old city walls, particularly the bucolic section behind the Minster. 

7. The Peak District

Curiously, you won’t find many peaks in the Peak District . You will find blissful miles of tumbling moorland, plunging valleys, eroded gritstone crags, lush farmland and ancient pocket-sized villages. This beautiful landscape attracts a veritable army of outdoor enthusiasts – cyclists, hikers, cavers and rock climbers – on summer weekends, while those seeking more relaxing enjoyment can admire the rural market and famous puddings of Bakewell, the Victorian pavilions of spa-town Buxton, and the architectural drama of Chatsworth House – the “Palace of the Peak.”

8. Brighton

Barely an hour’s train ride from the capital, the seaside city of Brighton has a quirky character that’s completely its own. Overlooking the English Channel on England’s pebbly south coast, this is a city that's long been known for its oddball, alternative character. The warren of streets known as the Lanes is a good place to soak up the vibe, with vegan cafes, espresso bars, chaotic pubs, record stores and bric-a-brac shops. (Browsers will be in heaven at local institution Snooper’s Paradise .) You'll also find the UK ’s biggest queer scene here, and the region’s best small clubs. The highlight for the sightseeing visitor is the Royal Pavilion , a 19th-century party palace built by the Prince Regent, who kicked off Brighton’s love of the outlandish.

9. Stonehenge

Mysterious and compelling, Stonehenge is England’s most famous ancient site . Even though people have been drawn to this myth-laden ring of boulders for more than 5000 years, we still don’t know quite why it was built. An ultramodern makeover at the ancient site has brought an impressive visitor center and the closure of an intrusive road (now restored to grassland). The result is a strong sense of historical context, with dignity and mystery returned to an archaeological gem.

Most visitors gaze at the approximately 25-ton stones from behind the perimeter fence, yet with enough planning, you can arrange an early-morning or evening tour and gain access to the inner ring itself. In the slanting sunlight, away from the crowds, it’s an ethereal place. This is an experience that stays with you.

10. Stratford-upon-Avon

The pretty town of Stratford-upon-Avon is where William Shakespeare was born and later shuffled off this mortal coil. Today, its tight knot of Tudor streets form a living map of Shakespeare’s life. Huge crowds of thespians and theater lovers come to take in a play at the famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre . Bard fans will love visiting the five historic houses owned by Shakespeare and his relatives and  the schoolroom where he was educated, before taking a respectful detour to the old stone church where he was laid to rest.

11. Liverpool

It’s hard not to be infected by Liverpudlians’ love for their hometown. The love endured despite decades of decay and all manner of social ills – finding its expression in a renowned gallows humor and an obsession with football. With some of the most passionate crowds in the country, taking in a game at either Liverpool FC or Everton FC is a rite of passage here.

Outside of the stadium, the rejuvenated waterfront is once again the heart of Liverpool . The focal point is Albert Dock, an iconic docklands flanked by protected buildings, including a batch of top museums. The Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum ensure the good and bad sides of Liverpool’s history are explored in equal measure, while the Tate Liverpool and the Beatles Story museum celebrate popular culture and the city’s most famous musical sons (still).

12. The Cotswolds

A tangle of impossibly quaint villages of rose-clad cottages and honey-colored stone, The Cotswolds  is a region that spreads over six English counties. It’s a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and its most wonderful quality is that no matter where you go or how lost you get, you’ll still end up in a spot with a charming village green, a pub with sloping floors and fine ales, and a view of the lush green hills. Crisscrossed by long-distance trails including the 102-mile Cotswold Way , these gentle yet dramatic hills are perfect for walking, cycling and horse-riding.

Local tip: It’s easy to leave the crowds behind and find your very own slice of medieval England here – and some of the best boutique hotels in the country.

A little weird, occasionally weather-beaten and all-around wonderful, the classic northern seaside town of Whitby has haunted lanes, fossil-hunting and arguably England’s finest fish-and-chips. The huddle of 18th-century fisher’s cottages along the East Cliff are testament to its longtime role as a busy commercial and fishing port: it was here that 18th-century explorer Captain James Cook earned his sea legs. Atop the West Cliff, a sandy beach, amusement arcades and promenading holidaymakers show Whitby’s beach-resort side.

Keeping a watchful eye over the town and the River Esk that divides it is an atmospheric ruined abbey , the inspiration and setting for part of Bram Stoker’s Gothic horror story Dracula . But tales of witchery and ghostly legends have haunted Whitby ever since Anglo-Saxon St Hilda landed here to found a monastic community in 657 CE.

Planning tip: The town embraces its pseudo-sinister reputation, which culminates in two hugely successful Goth Weekends each year.

14. The Lake District

William Wordsworth and his Romantic friends were the first to champion the charms of the Lake District  – and it's not hard to see what stirred them. Already the UK’s most popular national park, the Lake District also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, in recognition of its long history of hill-farming. But for most people it’s the chance to hike the humpbacked fells and drink in the gorgeous scenery that keeps them returning year after year.

The region is filled with outdoor pursuits, from lake cruises to mountain walks – excursions that help reveal why the region has such deep literary connections. In addition to Wordsworth, writers who found inspiration here include Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter.

15. The Eden Project

A cross between a lunar landing station and a James Bond villain’s lair, the gigantic hemispherical greenhouses of the Eden Project  have become a symbol of Cornwall ’s renaissance. Built in an abandoned clay pit near St Austell to mark the start of the new millennium, and now considered one of Britain’s modern architectural wonders, the Eden Project aims to explore issues of environment and conservation, and point the way to a cleaner, greener future for us all.

Exhibits cover everything from global warming to rubber production and chocolate-making. The glass-domed “biomes” recreate major world climate systems in microcosm, from the lush jungles of the Amazon rainforest (complete with treetop walkway winding through the canopy) to the olive trees, citrus groves and colorful flowers of the Mediterranean, South Africa and California. It’s incredibly impressive – not to mention educational, and inspiring, too.

Shoulder-deep in history, London ’s rich seams of eye-opening antiquity appear at every turn. The city’s architecture pens a beguiling biography, and a multitude of buildings – the Tower of London , Westminster Abbey , Big Ben – are internationally recognizable landmarks. It’s also a tireless innovator of art and culture, a city of ideas and imagination. This legacy is enshrined at world-class institutions such as the British Museum , Natural History Museum  and the Science Museum , as well as such world-leading art galleries as the  Tate Modern , Tate Britain , the National Gallery  and the recently reopened National Portrait Gallery , all of which are free to visit. 

Local tip:  However you budget your time and money in London, make sure you take in a show. Big names perform on  the West End (London’s equivalent of Broadway), and on the South Bank at the National Theatre  and  the Old Vic . Smaller theaters from the Almeida to the Lyric Hammersmith are places to discover up-an-coming talent.

This article was first published April 2021 and updated February 2024

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A Lady in London

And Traveling the World

Lady’s 25 Best Cities in England

Today I want to share my guide to the best cities in England with you. From the capital to the smaller urban centers, they’re some of the top places to visit in the UK .

Best Cities in England

These English cities have all won my heart with their beauty, history, or unique charm. From stunning cathedrals to secret passageways, universities to beaches, every one of the places on this list has something special about it.

I’ve visited all of these cities, so can personally attest to how much they have going for them. If you get a chance to go, I hope you’ll agree.

I couldn’t write about the best cities in England without starting with London . The UK capital is one of the most exciting and diverse cities in the world.

With a great mix of historic and contemporary, big attractions and secret places , London has something for everyone. Add to that great restaurants, markets, and nightlife, and it’s hard to beat.

When it comes to history and aesthetics, Chester is one of the best cities in England. With Roman walls, medieval churches, and a half-timbered high street, every inch of Chester is picture pretty.

Add to that charming side streets, colorful doors, and an amazing cathedral, and Chester is one of the most beautiful places in England .

Next on my list of the best cities in England is Bath . With beautiful Georgian architecture and golden Cotswold stone buildings, it’s one of the prettiest places in the UK.

The city also has ancient Roman baths, Jane Austen sites , and great independent shops and restaurants. Bath is hard to beat when it comes to English cities.

4. Cambridge

As far as university cities go, Cambridge tops my list. The heritage buildings and bucolic river scenery make Cambridge one of the best cities in England.

I can’t get enough of the Gothic chapel interiors, riverside pubs, and colleges in Cambridge. Being here is like stepping into a painting.

Up north, Durham is another university city that deserves a place on my list of the best cities in England.

Durham is worth a trip for its cobblestone streets, impressive cathedral, and historic castle. Rich in history, the side streets around the university are great places to get a glimpse into Britain’s past.

Back down south, Oxford is another university city in England that deserves a place on my list. The colleges in Oxford have gorgeous heritage architecture and the city is rife with historic pubs, museums, and markets.

Oxford is famous for its Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland connections, too. It’s fun to visit and discover the filming locations from the former and the places that inspired the latter.

7. Canterbury

When it comes to cathedral cities, Canterbury is hard to beat. It’s one of the best cities in England for its mix of religious importance and charming atmosphere.

Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most important Christian buildings in England, and has layers of history and beauty to discover.

Canterbury also has an abundance of historic streets with chocolate-box atmosphere. There are narrow lanes with shops dotted throughout the city center, and they’re worth taking the time to explore.

8. Winchester

Speaking of cathedral cities, Winchester is another of my favorites. Winchester Cathedral is not only stunning to see, but also the burial place of Jane Austen.

But it’s not just the cathedral in Winchester. This city in Hampshire is home to a peaceful river walk, secret gardens, and heritage architecture galore.

The Round Table of King Arthur fame is here, as are a stunning medieval almshouse and the haunting ruins of an old bishop’s palace.

Up north, York is another city with an important cathedral. But there’s a lot more this place than York Minster. It’s one of the best cities in England for its old-world charm.

From the medieval city walls to the passages and Snickelways, there’s something beautiful around every corner in York.

Add to that a river, a lot of great shops, and a castle, and York is a real treat. The annual York Christmas markets are worth a special trip, too.

10. Newcastle

Not far from York, Newcastle is another of the best cities in England. From Grey Street, which was once voted the finest street in Britain by BBC Radio 4 listeners, to contemporary art museums like BALTIC, Newcastle has a good mix of historic and contemporary.

And that’s to say nothing of the bridges, which span both the River Tyne and the centuries. Then come Newcastle’s pubs, many of which have stunning historic interiors and lively atmospheres. The nightlife is legendary, too.

11. Birmingham

In the Midlands, Birmingham has everything from centuries-old pubs to colorful creative districts.

Its contemporary library gets my inner architecture (and book) lover excited every time, and I love the pre-Raphaelite masterpieces in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

The city first won me over when I visited for the famous Birmingham Christmas markets . Since then, it’s lured me back to see its beautiful historic buildings, shopping arcades, canals, and streets.

12. Brighton

On the south coast in East Sussex, Brighton is one of the best cities in England when it comes to seaside appeal.

With its pebble shoreline and pleasure pier, it’s the quintessential British beach city. But there’s more than just sun and fun here (and this being England, “sun” can be a relative term).

The Royal Pavilion is a whimsical 18th-century pleasure palace with opulent interiors, and the shops in The Lanes and North Laine are great for retail therapy. Brighton’s nightlife scene is one of the best in the UK, too.

Out in Somerset, Wells often gets overlooked, but this tiny gem deserves a place on my list of the best cities in England. This is not least because Wells is home to a huge cathedral and lots of charming streets.

Wandering along the high street in Wells and taking in the little lanes is fun. Vicars’ Close is one of the most beautiful streets in England, what with its stunning rows of original 14th-century residential buildings.

Back up north in Yorkshire, Leeds is another of the most exciting cities in England. From Victorian shopping arcades like the County Arcade to art galleries and museums like the Henry Moore Institute, there’s a lot to see and do here.

I could spend ages exploring the streets, ducking down alleys, and taking in the cultural treasures at the Leeds Art Gallery. But this city is really known for its shopping, and institutions like Harvey Nichols attest to it.

15. Norwich

Over in Norfolk, Norwich is one of the best cities in England for its mix of cathedral, market square, hilltop castle, and pretty streets. They all combine to make it easy on the eyes and alluring to the camera.

Norwich Cathedral is the most complete Norman cathedral in England and one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe.

Elm Hill is replete with Tudor buildings, and Norwich Market is one of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in Britain. Add to that bright pink and orange houses, and there’s a lot to love about this city.

16. Nottingham

When it comes to legendary places, Nottingham is one of my favorite cities in Britain. From castles to pubs, old English streets to secret lanes, Nottingham has everything I look for in one urban center.

With the Robin Hood legend, great shopping, and one of the oldest pubs in England—you have to see the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem— it’s hard to find a more exciting city to discover in England.

17. Leicester

Nobody ever believes me when I say Leicester is one of the best cities in England. But this is one of the most underrated cities in Britain , and my first visit impressed me so much that I went back for a second.

Leicester has ancient Roman ruins, a 900-year-old cathedral built on the site of a Roman temple, and a Richard III museum that follows the miraculous story of the discovery of the king’s remains.

As if that’s not enough, it has a museum with a world-class Arts and Crafts Movement collection and a city center bursting with beautiful historic buildings. It’s worth a visit.

18. Liverpool

Liverpool is another underrated city that deserves a special trip. A historic maritime center where the River Mersey meets the Irish Sea, Liverpool has reinvented itself in recent years.

The home of The Beatles, it’s one of the best cities in England for its cultural heritage and attractions. It has great museums like Tate Liverpool, which sits in the historic-meets-contemporary Albert Dock area.

Bars like The Cavern Club, the birthplace of The Beatles, are great for live music, too.

19. Manchester

Not far from Liverpool, Manchester is another of the best cities in England. There are great restaurants, shops, and nightlife venues in Manchester, and beautiful streets to explore.

The Castlefield neighborhood’s 18th-century canal system is a great place to take in Manchester’s textile history.

The Salford Quays dockyards are home to the Daniel Libeskind-designed Imperial War Museum North and The Lowry arts center, too.

20. Bristol

Back down south, Bristol is one of the best cities in England for its independent spirit and riverside attractions.

The Harbourside area is home to the contemporary M Shed museum, which explores the city’s social and industrial heritage.

Converted 19th-century waterfront warehouses shelter lively restaurants, shops, and art galleries, and Clifton is rife with Georgian townhouses, beautiful crescents, and the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Back to cathedral cities , under-the-radar Ely is one of my favorite cities in England for its magnificent cathedral, bucolic riverfront, and rich history.

Ely Cathedral traces its origins back to 672. Its historic interiors are stunning, and its exterior can be seen from all over the surrounding area in Cambridgeshire.

Outside the cathedral, Ely is brimming with pretty streets, great shops, and bustling markets.

Out in Devon, Exeter is another cathedral number that deserves a place on my list of the best cities in England. Exeter Cathedral dates back nearly 1,000 years and is one of the oldest and most beautiful of its kind in the UK.

Beyond the cathedral, Exeter is home to ancient Roman walls, pretty Georgian streets, a castle, and a system of vaulted medieval subterranean passageways visitors can explore.

23. St Albans

So close to London it’s practically in walking distance, St Albans is one of the best cities in England for its ancient Roman history and historic cathedral.

St Albans has an impressive array of Roman ruins, from a wall to a theater. The Verulamium Museum is a great place to explore the remains of the ancient Roman town in Verulamium Park, too.

There are a lot of other things to do in St Albans , too. The city has bustling street markets and farmers’ markets. Timing a day trip to coincide with them is a good way to take in the local scene.

24. Lincoln

Also home to a stunning cathedral, Lincoln is replete with chocolate-box streets, a Norman castle, and lots of shops and cafes.

This is one of the best cities in England for history lovers. From streets dripping with heritage details to a medieval cathedral and a castle with an original 1215 Magna Carta, Lincoln has a lot to take in.

25. City of London

I’ll end my list of the best cities in England where I started. I’ve always loved the UK capital’s history, and the fact that the historic heart of London is its own city has always fascinated me.

The City of London is not only home to big London landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral, but also little passageways and historic pubs with warrens of wood-paneled rooms. It offers a great mix of everything I love about the city I call home.

Cities in England

My list could go on, but I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these cities and that you get a chance to visit them all someday. They’re really some of the best cities in England. And the world, for that matter.

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6 Comments on Lady’s 25 Best Cities in England

Hoping to visit England, Wales and Scotland in the next couple of years, so this information is excellent. Thank you.

You’re welcome!

Definitely some of the best cities of England to travel to. But Oxford is my favorite. Which of these cities is your favorite?

I couldn’t possibly choose! There are so many great cities in England.

I´m from Brazil, and i´m dreamming with the idea to finally know England. I hope use this post to guide me when it happens. Thank you for sharing all this experiences. 🙂

You’re welcome! I’m so glad to hear that.

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15 most beautiful places in England for your next staycation

From meandering rivers and canals with motionless herons and barely moving barges to cathedral cities with ancient colleges and professors on bicycles, england is a country that delights at every turn.

T he quintessential English landscape comes in many different forms. Inland, it’s a confection of church spires and misty meadows, of crenellated manor houses with gorgeous gardens, and handsome Georgian villages trellised with roses. This is a landscape threaded by bucolic rivers lined with oak and willow, where rollercoaster dales are stitched with drystone walls. Along the coast, it’s lined by a mix of snaggle-toothed headlands and golden beaches, with creeks and estuaries that harbour old-fashioned resorts and fishing villages. And sitting offshore is a selection of islands, each of them distinctively different. Yet all of this is England — a place that has something for everyone. So here is our selection of the country’s most beautiful places to visit.

Main photo: Romney Marsh (Alamy)

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This ancient Roman city, encircled by its original walls, has a history that stretches back nearly 2,000 years. Its magnificent cathedral (aka “Minster”) has a fascinating story of restoration from a huge fire way back in 1984. Downtown, the city’s almost traffic-free centre is a lacework of cobbled medieval alleyways — the Shambles — where overhanging ancient mansions seem to whisper sweet nothings to each other. Wonky beams and sloping floors characterise most interiors, with tea and cake around every corner, particularly at the much-loved Bettys Café Tea Rooms. York is the home of Rowntree’s, the chocolate manufacturer, so there’s a chocolate museum and independent chocolatiers all over town.

• Best hotels in York • Best boutique hotels in York • Bets things to do in York

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2. holy island, northumberland.

The Northumberland coastline is a string of blemish-free sandy beaches interrupted by dramatic castles and old fishing villages. Sitting just offshore is the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, a mystical place reachable by a causeway that is only driveable (or walkable) at certain stages of the tide. On the island there’s a ruined priory, a 16th-century castle on a rock, and a real sense of peace among birdsong and woodsmoke. The island’s name dates back to the time when this was an early outpost of Christianity, and whether you’re a believer or not, it remains a place of serenity and contemplation, which puts daily life into perspective.

3. South Downs and the Seven Sisters

The grass-topped wave of hills of the Sussex Weald form the backbone of the South Downs, Britain’s newest national park. Up here are rollercoaster, sheep-grazed grasslands mixed with oak coppice and wildlife-rich heathland. These are chalk hills, although they only really show their colours where the downlands meet the sea, at the searingly white Seven Sisters cliffs. Striding along the cliff edge here, from Eastbourne to Seaford via Beachy Head and the beach at Cuckmere Haven, is one of England’s favourite coastal walks.

• The White Horse, Graffam, hotel review • The Pig in the South Downs hotel review

4. The North York Moors, Yorkshire

This national park with a coastline comes with all the credentials: Yorkshire ’s wild and wonderful rolling hills, infiltrated by pastoral valleys such as that at Rosedale, complete with old mine workings on the valley sides. A heritage steam railway clambers over the hills from Pickering to Grosmont, wheezing and blowing as it goes. Whitby is a lively coastal resort, renowned for its fish and chips, Dracula connections and ruined abbey. And then there’s the coastal path that struggles from sheltered bays to wild headlands, with spectacular views.

• Best hotels in Yorkshire

5. Grasmere and Ambleside, Cumbria

These two towns encapsulate so much that is great about the Lake District . Grasmere, with its bijou spangle of water, is all genteel sumptuousness, with boutique shopping, elegant eating and literary visits to Wordsworth’s cottage. More businesslike Ambleside, with its adventure outfitters, sits at the north end of boat-rich Windermere, the busiest and biggest of the English lakes. A short, steep climb up from here through rocky knolls to Loughrigg Fell grants an eyeful of everything, with stunning views of the serpentine length of Windermere and the Langdale Pikes.

• Best spa hotels in the Lake District • Best dog-friendly hotels in the Lake District • Best things to do in the Lake District • Best hotels in the Lake District

6. Chatsworth and Haddon, Derbyshire

England’s aristocratic country houses range across a kaleidoscope of styles and periods. The Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth House, for example, dominating its own river valley within the Peak District , is a sumptuous, family-owned property making the most of its mainly 18th-century assets with tours, trails and events. Meanwhile, a couple of valleys away, you can step back a few centuries into 13th-century Haddon Hall, one of the most perfectly preserved medieval properties in the UK, with its banqueting hall, Tudor painted ceilings and Elizabethan walled gardens.

• Best hotels in the Peak District

7. Bath, Somerset

A place of Roman baths and Georgian crescents, Bath sits cupped in hills in its own little world, one redolent of ball gowns and gossiping aristocracy, as observed by Jane Austen. The creamy-gold Bath stone and honeycomb of Palladian-influenced terracing, rising in curving ripples up the hillsides, are what makes the city so visually appealing. Somehow a river and a canal thread through, and at the heart of the city is the original thermal bath built by the Romans around AD75, with steam still rising from the hot spring.

• Best things to do in Bath • Best hotels in Bath

8. Cotswold villages, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire

Manor houses, babbling brooks and hamlets of honey-coloured stone. Tea-rooms galore, artisan delicatessens, ancient churches and Bibury, the village that the artist William Morris described as “the most beautiful in England”. This is the Cotswolds . Mind you, Bourton-on-the-Water must be a challenger for the “most beautiful” title, too. Here the River Windrush flows across a generous green, spanned by footbridges and surrounded by handsome inns. Weeping willows trail their tresses in the water, ducks wait for chips and there’s a toasted teacake around every corner.

• Best hotels in the Cotswolds • Best spa hotels in the Cotswolds • Best dog-friendly hotels in the Cotswolds

9. Jurassic Coast, Dorset and Devon

This Unesco-recognised stretch of southern coastline starts at the eastern end, at the quirky resort of Swanage in Dorset , where the pillars of Old Harry Rocks overlook Poole Harbour. From here it reaches westwards, rounding wild St Aldhelms Head, stomping through fossil-rich Kimmeridge, to the almost perfect circle that is Lulworth Cove and the arch of Durdle Door. Then, from Weymouth , the Chesil shingle scythes westwards towards the cliffs of Charmouth and West Bay, so famous for their crumbliness and their fossil dinosaurs. The Regency resort of Lyme Regis, beyond, is where The French Lieutenant’s Woman was filmed.

• Best hotels in Dorset • Best beach hotels in the UK • Best hotels in Devon

10. Helford and Roseland, Cornwall

You don’t travel to Cornwall for the towns — unless they’re wedged up a creek or spilling into a bay. It’s the coast that counts, either the north for the wild and dramatic, or the south for the creeks and headlands. Both sides have beaches to be proud of, but for shelter and history seek out the south’s Helford River, the setting for Daphne du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek . East of Helford, the Roseland Peninsula begins at the posh fishing village of St Mawes. In this part of Cornwall, the spring gardens of Trelissick and Caerhays are ablaze with magnolias and camellias well before the rest of the country.

• Best beaches in Cornwall • Cornwall versus Devon: which is better? • Best hotels in Cornwall

11. Norfolk coast, Norfolk

North Norfolk is like a watercolour painting, where land, sea and sky seem to merge seamlessly into one another. Migrating wildfowl add their stitch to the skies overhead and seal colonies loll around on sandbanks like rolls of discarded carpet. Towns such as Burnham Market, with its art galleries and fine dining, are surprisingly posh — but then maybe that shouldn’t be a surprise, given that Holkham Hall, the residence of the Earl of Leicester, and Sandringham, the royal country retreat, are just inland.

• Best dog-friendly hotels in Norfolk • The Manor Coastal Hotel & Inn, Norfolk, review

12. Wye Valley, Herefordshire

Some say British tourism started back in 1745 on the languid, calm river at Ross-on-Wye, when the local rector took paying guests out for boat trips. Today a lot of the waterborne activity has dropped southwards to Symonds Yat, a mecca for kayakers and for walking its steep forested banks. Meanwhile in Ross, the venerable half-timbered frontages of the town stand back slightly uphill of the river, and it is mostly cyclists who follow the water, particularly its loveliest stretch up past Hole-in-the-Wall, burrowing through back roads towards Hereford.

• Best luxury places to stay in Herefordshire • Best Airbnbs in the UK

13. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The flat fens of Cambridgeshire seem an unlikely setting for a seat of learning, but the colleges and chapels of Cambridge inhabit their own mystical world, clustered along the banks of the somnolent River Cam. Unlike Oxford, which can be brash and busy, Cambridge is a place of robed figures emerging from ancient doorways and bumping away over cobbles on bicycles. To hire a punt and to float gently down the so-called Backs (the backs of many colleges) is to get a glimpse into a refined, timeless world.

• Best hotels in Cambridge • Best things to do in Cambridge

14. Rye and Romney Marshes, Kent and East Sussex

The medieval town of Rye was once one of the Cinque Ports — five defensive ports in Kent , Sussex and Essex mentioned in Magna Carta — and it seems to have barely changed, although the sea has since retreated. The town is a lacework of galleries, patisseries, wisteria and leaded windows. It stands proud above Romney’s former marshlands, now drained and striped with wheatfields. Beyond are the glorious beaches of Camber Sands and the surreal shingle shore of Dungeness, with its unique fishing fleet.

• Best spa hotels in Sussex • Best hotels in Sussex • Best luxury hotels in Sussex

15. Test Valley, Hampshire

A maze of intersecting country lanes and the gurgling gin-clear waters of some of the most expensive fishing river in England makes this an intoxicating slice of English countryside. Stretching roughly from the village of Hurstbourne Priors down to Romsey, this is a place to spot lazy trout and idyllic waterside mansions. A place to fossick out iconic pubs like the Mayfly or the Peat Spade, and historical buildings such as the National Trust’s Mottisfont Abbey, with its celebrated rose garden. Even Waitrose is here with its Leckford Estate, with 4,000 acres of farming, fishing and water gardens.

• Best hotels in Hampshire • Best UK destinations to visit • Best beaches in England • Places in the UK that look just like France

Take me there

Inspired to visit England but yet to book your trip? Here are the best places to stay from Cottages.com and Mr and Mrs Smith .

Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here .

15 UK market towns you’ll want to discover

These lovely and lively towns – for a day trip or spring getaway – also make great bases for exploring the nearby countryside

Ludlow, Shropshire

As one of the country’s celebrated foodie hubs, Ludlow will become a battle zone for outdoor table slots now that lockdown has relaxed.

In a region famed for its wealth of local produce though, even low-key venues pack a flavour into every dish. Opt for takeaway salad boxes or cook-at-home three-course-meal kits from The Green Cafe , grab a box of nibbles go from Cicchetti Bar Ludlow or fine fare from Harp Lane Deli , where ingredients such as Amalfi lemons, n’duja and cognac are used as commonly as salt and butter by most of us.

Along with the medieval streets of black- and-white buildings, this town is particularly ogle-able thanks to the sight of Ludlow Castle (adult £8, child £3.50) rising above the River Teme in the centre. It’s just reopened for tours.

Like many of the country’s small museums, the pandemic left the Land of Lost Content (adult £8, child £4, book ahead ) in nearby market town Craven Arms, desperate for visitors. This one’s as quirky as they come, a trove of the nostalgic ephemera of everyday life. Accommodation options left with Sykes for the next month include the black-and-white half-timbered Stone House (sleeps four, £555 for seven nights in May) in the village of Caynham three miles away, which has its own bronze and iron age earthworks.

Glossop, Peak District

Name the key towns around the fringes of the Peak District national park and you’re likely to think of Bakewell, Buxton and Matlock first, but Glossop, to the north-west of the park not far from Manchester, has plenty going for it. Its oldest parts date from the 12th century, cotton mills have been transformed into shops and pubs, and pre-pandemic there was a growing creative community of musicians, artists, makers and founders of independent stores and venues.

Pick up healthy picnic stuff from zero waste-focused Glossop Wholefoods and head out on the many walking and cycling trails into the Dark Peak region – that’s the wilder, higher moorland and gritstone area of the Peak District (as opposed to the lower White Peak limestone plateau).

Options include the seven-mile Longdendale Trail cycle route along an old railway trackbed to five reservoirs, the Pennine Way or the Pennine Bridleway National Trail. Drivers or cyclists could follow the A57 Snake Pass across the park to Ladybower Reservoir, Edale and the Hope valley for more outdoorsy shenanigans. Polish off your day with a superior pint from Glossop’s Howard Town Brewery , whose tap beer garden has just reopened.

If you fancy staying over, cottages.com offers the smart Kinder Apartment (sleeps two, from £435 in May). Gorgeous options with availability later in the year include rustic Allmans Heath Cottage Byre (sleeps two, from £80 a night) and Woodcock Farm , a design-led barn conversion with two cottages each sleeping two (from £110 a night).

Wetherby, West Yorkshire

On the banks of the River Wharfe, within easy reach of Leeds, York and Harrogate, the market town of Wetherby is a reet nice spot. The compact centre looks like Elton John’s dressing table in spring and summer, when this “floral town” is bedecked in blooms. Wetherby’s old-school cinema won’t reopen until mid- May, but outdoor attractions include the Jubilee Gardens and Grade II-listed Georgian Bath House , the attractive Church Street and Shambles – with shops under the arches – and a farmers’ market on the second Sunday of the month.

Passing through Wetherby, the easy Harland Way cycle track follows a disused railway line to 14th-century Spofforth Castle, and a local team of mountain-biking volunteers have been busy creating a series of tracks for Wetherby Bike Trails , including a new section of berms and banks cheekily named Lateral Flow.

“Very generous portions” are served in the beer garden of The Windmill Inn in Linton. And just outside in Clifford, Westwood Cottage (sleeps four, from £415 for six nights in May) is one of a few round these parts from Yorkshire Cottages .

Alresford, Hampshire

Quiet, a little chichi, with a gorgeous Georgian high street of colourful buildings housing independent shops and cafes, the market town of Alresford, 7½ miles from Winchester, is perfect for a relaxed escape. You’re not going to be winkling out edgy neighbourhoods here, just wandering beside the river on the Alre Valley Trail , tackling the Pilgrims Way, Watercress Way or Itchen Way , eating picnics supplied by Heidi’s Patisserie or Long Barn Cafe , which has a garden shop. Make sure you ask for watercress with that.

The town and surrounding area are famed for growing and trading the highly nutritious leafy green. It is with regret I write that this year’s Watercress festival (usually in May) has been cancelled, but – exhale – it’s going to hold the “first ever” virtual Watercress festival instead (nothing says “I’ve exhausted Netflix” like signing up for this one).

The Watercress Line (single tickets £16 adult, £8 child, book ahead), a heritage steam railway that once connected to London, is now open again, with spring events set to go ahead including a Day Out With Thomas for kids (£65 for four people, from 29 May), complete with live Fat Controller.

For a quirky accommodation option, Watercress Lodges and Campsite overlooks the railway, with six lodges styled to look like railway cottages (sleep six, from £100 a night, campsite and tipis open later in May).

Good pubs include the Bush Inn in neighbouring Ovington, with a waterside garden by the River Itchen. And Hattingley Valley Wines in the nearby village of Lower Wield is an eco-friendly vineyard specialising in sparkling whites, where tours (£17.50, book ahead) with tastings have resumed.

Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester

On the edge of the West Pennine Moors to the north of Manchester, this market town is fast becoming one of the trendier and desirable parts of the city’s outer reaches thanks to its music scene, independent shops and restaurants. Get back into the swing of raising pint glass to lips at great pubs such as the Eagle + Child , with a huge beer garden set among the pots and vegetable patches of the pub’s allotment, and try to bag an outdoor table at pintxo bar Baratxuri and/or its sister restaurant Levanter .

Hopefully the weather will play ball for walks into the Irwell valley to the Irwell Sculpture Trail , or for exploring the Forest of Bowland or Peak District national park, each a 30 minute drive away. The East Lancashire Steam Train (adult £13 round-trip, child £8.50, book ahead) reopens on 1 May.

Move fast to bag Springfield (sleeps six, £339 for two nights in May or June), a gorgeous white Victorian house with rooms painted grey and blue, near paths into the National Trust’s Stubbins Estate , where the tall Peel Tower tops the wooded hillsides and moorland overlooking the town.

Saffron Walden, Essex

Colourful half-timbered buildings overhang sloping medieval streets in this genteel hub in the Essex countryside. Until indoor life resumes, spend time in the wealth of fancy gardens nearby, not least Capability Brown’s at Audley End (£19 adult, £11.40 child, English Heritage members free, book ahead), the grandest of grand country mansions. Quirkier plantings include the humpy bumpy Turf Maze on the town common, the largest example of its type in the world. At the end of May, the free Fry Art Gallery should reopen, showing work by Eric Ravilious, John Aldridge, Grayson Perry and more.

Embrace reopening at The Cricketers , Jamie Oliver’s parents’ 16th-century pub, in the nearby village of Clavering, for cask ales and seasonal fare in the fairy-lit “spring garden tipi”.

A smattering of places to stay in or near the town remain for April/May on cottages.com , including Ivy Todd Barn (sleeps six, from £785 for seven nights in April or May), a converted barn with exposed beams.

Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

Fancy a beach break? Turn your eyes from booked-up Cornwall to the other end of the country, where a visit to the old shipbuilding border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed can be combined with the wide-open sands of the Northumberland coast.

Start by walking round Berwick on its mile-long Elizabethan town walls, then cross the River Tweed to Spittal beach, a typical Victorian seaside resort with promenade, lighthouse and children’s splash park. From here the Northumberland Coastal Path leads south towards Holy Island, or you can join the Sandstone Way , a new long-distance mountain biking route. Four miles south, the vast beach at Cocklawburn has rock pools and grassy dunes.

Back in town, many pubs and restaurants have embraced the slow food movement, including Foxton’s Wine Bar , serving moules- frîtes and roasts again in its garden marquees.

Self-catering options include Bankhill Cottage (sleeps four, from £982 a week in May), and “ secret cottage ” (sleeping two from £117 a night in April and May), both on Airbnb.

Wareham, Dorset

Threaded through by the rivers Frome and Piddle, pretty Wareham has all of classic Dorset within reach while remaining far less touristy than many places in the county. Most of the action is outdoors- focused, from Ammonite-inspired fossil-finding fun on the Jurassic Coast and walking in the Purbeck Hills to taking towels to the enormous sandy beach at Studland Bay.

Worth a trip, too, is the Blue Pool nature reserve , around a deep rain-filled clay pit that is turned a vibrant shade by suspended clay particles. The surrounding heathland is home to rare green sand lizards, buzzards and sika deer. It also has a super tearoom.

If it’s real ale, curry, pies and squid rings you’ve been missing, go to the garden of the Horse and Groom . Also open again are the independent homeware stores, delis and zero-plastic food shops that line South Street down to the Quay, where boat trips run up the River Frome and to Poole Harbour – you can also hire your own boats and kayaks.

Attractions-wise there’s Corfe Castle (£10 adult, £5 child, National Trust members free, book ahead), from where you could walk the stunning Purbeck Ridgeway to the coast, returning aboard the Swanage Railway steam train (single ticket £9 adult and £5.50 child, book ahead); and the blossom-filled gardens of Venetian-style-swank-palace Kingston Lacey (£13 adult, £6.50 child, NT members free, book ahead).

Dream Cottages has a few Wareham pads left including the Old Post Office (sleeps eight, from £887 a week in April), and light, bright Elm Villa (sleeps six, from £1,342 a week in June).

Midhurst, West Sussex

In the centre of the South Downs national park and home to its official visitor centre, Midhurst combines gorgeously buxom countryside with a wealth of cutesy stores. While neighbouring Petworth is tumbling with antiques shops, Midhurst is all posh-boho independents, for all your bunting and billowing-cotton-dress needs.

The Crafty Pint shop will do you for unusual bottles of beer to take on picnics by the River Rother, which runs through town and through the nearby Woolbeding Estate, with accompanying footpaths . Or order a picnic hamper or wood-fired pizza from the farm shop of the Cowdray Estate.

From here it’s easy to make trips to Chichester, Arundel Castle (garden entry £12 adult, £6 child, book ahead) for its spectacular flowers, or the Weald and Downland Museum (adult £15.50, child £7.50, book ahead), an outdoor heritage site collating rescued rural buildings spanning 1,000 years of history.

Like everywhere, self-catering accommodation is heavily booked for the coming months, but Airbnb has a few flats available in April and May from around £100-160 a night for two people.

Monmouth, Monmouthshire

As a busy market town in the ridiculously picturesque lower part of the Wye valley and at the confluence of the rivers Wye and Monnow, Monmouth is a gorgeous base for canoeing (try Monmouth Canoe for hires) and walking the Offa’s Dyke Path.

Even closer points of interest worth wandering to are the ruins of Monmouth Castle (free and open to wander into) and, a little way upriver, the triple-arched Monnow Bridge, the last remaining medieval fortified bridge in the UK, with its gate tower still intact. Atop the hillside Kymin nearby is a white tower built in 1794 for a group of local gentlemen to dine in – like a prototype man shed for nobles. Also look out for the blue plaques of the Monmouth Heritage Trail, indicating 24 of the town’s most interesting historic sites.

Now shops are open again, you can browse the many independents here, and 10 minutes’ walk from the centre is the Secret Walled Garden, a Tudor garden with a perfume workshop, Monmouth Botanicals , and two glamping cabins , including Apple Tree, which has a hot tub (sleeps two, from £200 a night in May).

If you don’t fancy cooking over fire, procure some fragrant Thai takeaway from the raved-about Whole Earth Cafe and Bistro .

Machynlleth, Powys

A little bit arty, a little bit eco, pretty outdoorsy and very quaint, Machynlleth is a mid-Wales market town with everything going for it. Surrounded by glorious countryside and with southern Snowdonia to the north, it’s well-placed for hikes along the Glyndwr Way long-distance trail and mountain biking on well-kept trails through the nearby Dyfi Forest . Investigate vintage shops and book stores, pick up bara brith bread and local cheese from Cletwr and, when it reopens, pop into the Museum of Modern Art to check out its strong collection.

Sustainable living is rife here, not just a fad – after all it’s where the Centre for Alternative Technology was established in the 1970s, in an old slate quarry. Hopefully its courses and exhibitions will resume shortly. Nature lovers will want to visit the RSPB Ynys-hir nature reserve and get the binocs out to spy migrating ospreys returning to the Cors Dyfi nature reserve.

Near Machynlleth, Under The Thatch offers an off-grid, pink walled converted barn, Ysgubor Dyfi (sleeps eight, £694 for four nights in April, but from £469 if there’s only two of you) in an isolated position in the Dyfi valley. Or there’s Llwydiarth Hall (sleeps 14, £1,710 for seven nights in May), a huge period house surrounded by mountains.

Chepstow, Monmouthshire

It’s not only the racecourse that brings folk to Chepstow in south Wales. Walking in the Lower Wye valley and a glut of historic attractions mean there’s loads to do, even if the wide variety of music festivals usually held here don’t go ahead this year.

Focusing on outdoors attractions, Chepstow Castle ( currently free but book ahead) is most visitors’ first port of call, but don’t miss the Dewstow Gardens and Grottoes (adult £7.50, child from £2.50, book ahead), a moss-dripping, fern-wafting verdant wonderland of tunnels and caves and tropical planting, or the graceful Gothic ruin of Tintern Abbey (free, book ahead).

Castle House Apartment 1 (sleeps two, from £635 for seven nights in April) is one of several here with cottages.com , or hire a yurt on a farm at Hidden Valley Yurts (each sleeping seven from £839 for three nights in April).

Linlithgow, West Lothian

Less than 30 minutes by rail from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, the small and picturesque town of Linlithgow is a winsome spot for exploring a side of Scotland away from the Highlands. Here hikes follow the Linlithgow Canal, the river Avon and circumnavigate the town loch, which only takes an hour.

The most famous attraction is Linlithgow Royal Palace (adult £7.20, child £4.30, reopens 30 April), birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots and home to many other Scottish kings and queens, now a dramatic shell of a building that overlooks the loch. The town’s history as a Royal Burgh is told in the free Linlithgow Museum .

The high street is lined with 17th-century pubs and independent shops; locally grown produce and organic groceries come from Grow Wild ; and places to hire bikes and electric bikes include Easygo and Elevation Cycles . You could take them up to Beescraigs Country Park , a free, 369-hectare space in the Bathgate Hills.

You’ve missed the Linlithgow Distillery ’s special Easter gin, but other unusual flavours can be ordered ahead for collection, for nightcaps in your bolthole. Perhaps a kooky triangular wooden cabin with veranda at Craigs Lodges (sleeps five, from £173 for three nights in May).

Forres, Moray

One of Scotland’s oldest towns, Forres, 25 miles north-east of Inverness and almost on the Moray Firth, is as lovely and off-radar as they come. A creative streak runs through it, with galleries and craft shops adding interest to the centre, and a little way north you can walk around the bay of Findhorn to the splendid fishing village of the same name for seafood, a long sandy beach and handmade ceramics at the Findhorn Pottery .

A few miles away is rose-coloured Brodie Castle (£5 for garden, NTS members free) where bloom-filled gardens feature great swathes of daffodils – 400 species of them– in spring; the evocative ruins of Elgin Cathedral (reopens 30 April, adult £9, child £5.40); and along the coast is Nairn, with opportunities for spotting dolphins and minke whales. That’s without even mentioning all the wonders of the nearby Highlands.

As to where to stay, Easter Wood (sleeping two from £50 a night in May and June) is a simple studio annexe attached to an eco-house. Holiday Lettings and Eco Holiday Shop have a few properties in the town; and if you happen to have a huge household and bubble, there’s Dalvey House (sleeps 18, from £2,647 a week in May), a grand mansion with vast grounds – though perhaps this is a better option for a big party once the rules are fully relaxed.

Coleraine, County Derry

As a base for exploring the Causeway Coast, making trips to the amazing wide sandy Atlantic beaches a few miles to the north, and visiting Bushmills , with its famous distillery and inn (pubs in Northern Ireland are still closed and the region’s roadmap does not have specific dates), you could do worse than Coleraine. This small but affluent town on the River Bann has a few interesting sites of its own, too, particularly the Mountsandel Fort (free), a Mesolithic site dating to 7000BC, now mainly grassy lumps and bumps, in the Mountsandel Forest. Also close is the medieval Dunluce Castle (adult £4.50, child £4), dramatically poised on an outcrop above the sea, sure to be a victim of coastal erosion before too many more centuries pass by.

You’re spoiled for choice of beaches, with Portrush, Portstewart and Benone nearby. When it reopens, the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway (return £6 adult, £4 child) is a charming way to tour the coast, in vintage red carriages on a narrow-gauge track.

Kings Country Cottages (from £440 a week for a cottage sleeping six) is a collection of properties of various sizes attached to a farm with goats, lambs and llamas.

Or if that’s full on your dates, Holiday Lettings has a supply of – it has to be said – fairly basic self-catering places in the town, of which Quiet Waters Cottage (sleeping six from £112 a night) is the sweetest-looking. Opening details, accommodation availability and prices correct at the time of going to press

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12 pretty towns and villages in England (+ map & travel tips)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: August 31, 2022

From the rugged beauty of Northumberland in the north east to the picturesque fishing villages of Cornwall in the south west England has an abundance of beautiful villages and towns to explore.

If visiting a quintessentially English village with historic buildings, cosy tea houses, antique shops and chocolate box cottages is on your bucket list we have you covered. In this article we will explore 12 of the most beautiful towns and villages in England .

At the end of the article, there is a map showing the locations of the towns and villages.

Whitby in North Yorkshire

Bakewell in the peak district, st ives in cornwall, alnwick in northumberland, ambleside in the lake district, warwick in shakespeare country, burford in the cotswolds, windsor in berkshire, bourton-on-the-water in the cotswolds, polperro in cornwall, bibury in the cotswolds, rye in east sussex, map – pretty towns and villages in england, more travel inspiration for england.

12 pretty English villages and towns

This popular coastal town is located on the North Yorkshire coast of England. 

Don’t miss visiting the ruined Whitby Abbey to enjoy great views of the town and harbour.

This Gothic building dates back to the 7th century and was a Christian abbey and later Benedictine monastery. Whitby Abbey was famously also the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula .  

Whitby was the home of famous explorer Captain Cook. If you would like to learn more about his life you can take a tour around the house in which he once lived and which now houses the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.  

If you enjoy traditional English fish and chips Whitby arguably has the best in England. Head to the Magpie Cafe but do expect a queue as it is very famous for its beautiful food. No visit to Whitby is complete without a fish and chip lunch or dinner and I highly recommend it. Take your bucket and spade too as the sandy beaches are spectacular here too.

Whitby is just one of many places to visit in Yorkshire. If you are based in the county popular Yorkshire day trip destinations include Saltaire , York , Harrogate, and Fountains Abbey.

LEARN MORE – Ultimate guide to visiting Whitby

The market town of Bakewell in the Peak District of Derbyshire is a popular destination for visitors from all over the UK. As well as the attractions of the town itself the Peak District in England’s East Midlands is a beautiful area to explore with picturesque walks, stately homes and more to offer visitors.  

In the small town of Bakewell do not miss the opportunity to try a famous Bakewell Pudding which can be purchased at the Old Original Bakewell Pudding shop in the town. It is delicious and much tastier than the mass-produced versions of Bakewell Tart you may be familiar with.  

Another must-visit in the Bakewell area is Chatsworth House , the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. It is one of the grandest stately homes in England and there are always lots of activities and events happening throughout the year.

Christmas at Chatsworth is particularly beautiful and worth visiting if you are in the area during the festive period. Chatsworth’s Farm Shop is also a favourite and stocks local produce.    

Read more – Guide to visiting Bakewell

Located on the Cornish coast St Ives is one of the prettiest seaside towns in England and a must-visit destination in Cornwall. Famous for its links to artists such as Barbara Hepworth a trip to the Tate St Ives is a must for art lovers.  

There are lots of lovely cafes, galleries and shops to enjoy. Take a stroll around the harbour and the harbour beach or a boat trip to nearby Seal Island. 

Indulge in an afternoon tea with scones, jam and Cornish clotted cream (just remember you are in Cornwall so the jam is added to the scone before the cream).

Read more – Cornwall Travel Guide & 10 Best things to do in St Ives

Take a drive along the Northumberland Coast and visit the pretty town of Alnwick in Northumberland and take a tour of its famous castle.  Featured in many movies including the first two Harry Potter films Alnwick Castle is open daily from the end of March to October.

If you enjoy visiting castles and learning more about English history you may be interested to know that Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. In addition to Alnwick Castle other popular castles in the county include Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne Castle.  

Also worth visiting in the town is the wonderful second hand bookshop of Barter Books which is located in the old train station building. Have lunch at the book shop and enjoy perusing the largest selection of second hand books in the UK.

LEARN MORE – Northumberland Travel Guide

With so many beautiful towns and villages in the Lake District choosing my favourite is not easy. However if I have to pick one then Ambleside located in the heart of Windermere is the winner.

Take a boat trip across Windermere from Ambleside to Bowness and Lakeside and enjoy stunning views of the area. Or why not explore on foot on one of the scenic walks or hikes in the Lake District.

I recommend spending at least a day in the Lake District as there is so much to see and do.  If you can stay for a few days why not book a cosy log cabin or lodge and base yourself there whilst exploring the beautiful North West .

Read more – Lake District Travel Guide

Warwick Castle dominates the market town of Warwick and is the highlight of any visit to the area. If you have an interest in history this is one of the best castles to visit in the UK .

With lots of fun activities during the summer months including jousting, birds of prey and the trebuchet it is fantastic for all the family.

Take the free walking trail and spot the medieval buildings as you stroll through the market town. Warwick is also close to Stratford-upon-Avon the home of William Shakespeare and easily reached by car or train.   

 Read more – 10 Places to visit in the West Midlands

The Cotswolds is famed for its beautiful villages and towns. Burford is often described as the gateway to the Cotswolds and is situated west of Oxford.

Its beautiful medieval buildings and cottages make this a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.  

Explore the side streets filled with antique shops and tea rooms and don’t forget your camera for some of those iconic chocolate box shots of this pretty English village.    

Read more – 10 Cotswold Villages to add to your itinerary

Windsor Castle is the Queen’s favourite weekend retreat from the hustle and bustle of the capital. If the Royal Standard is flying above the castle the Queen is in residence.

Windsor is located in South East England and is the perfect destination for a day trip from London by train .

Good to know – Check the times of the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the castle. The times and days do change and it is weather dependent so check before you go. Find out more information by clicking this link to the official changing of the Guard website.

Read more – 10 things to do in the South East of England

Bourton-on-the-Water is known as Venice of the Cotswolds because of the many bridges that span the River Windrush and is the second Cotswolds village to be included on this list.

Don’t miss the miniature model of the village which is 1/9 scale of the original or stop by at some of the shops and tea houses for an afternoon refreshment break.    

Read more – Things to do in the Cotswolds

I love Polperro and first visited this Cornish seaside village as a child nearly 50 years ago.

Explore the cobbled stoned streets and harbour views and enjoy locally caught seafood in one of the excellent restaurants, cafes or pubs in the village.  

Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty if you are an experienced walker why not take the south west coast path from Polperro to Polruan a strenuous but beautiful 7 mile walk.  

Alternatively base yourself in Polperro and take day trips to Bodmin Moor, Looe and Liskeard or even to the Eden Project in St Astell which is a 45 minute drive away.    

Read more – Best places to stay in Cornwall

Yes, a third village from the Cotswolds makes it into this list! If you haven’t considered including the Cotswolds in your UK itinerary or live in the UK and haven’t yet explored this beautiful region hopefully the inclusion of 3 Cotswold villages will inspire you to visit. (Though villages such as Castle Combe were worthy of inclusion too!)

Bibury is situated in the county of Gloucestershire on the River Coln and is only 9 km from Burford. Arlington Row is a line of ancient cottages which feature in all pictures of the village.

Built in the 16th century these cottages have appeared in many films including Bridget Jones Diary . Henry Ford even attempted to buy the entire row to ship back to America but luckily was thwarted in his attempt.  

Read more – Cotswolds Travel Guide

Rye is consistently described as one of the prettiest towns in South East England. Medieval half-timbered houses can be seen in cobblestone streets in the centre of town.

Explore the passages and winding street and soak in the atmosphere of this historic town. There are lots of tea rooms, pubs and cafes as well as quirky shops to visit along the way.  

Don’t miss the 14th century Ypres Tower which was built to defend the town. And if you want to spend the night in Rye why not stay in a windmill? Rye Windmill really is a bed and breakfast with a difference!    

As you can see from the map these pretty English towns and villages are spread across the country from the Lake District and Northumberland in the north down to St Cornwall in the south.

Click on the arrow below for the menu or on the camera icon for more information about each place.

Find more travel inspiration for your travels in England in the article below.

• 12 very best cities to visit in England
• How to get around the UK (Complete Guide to Transportation in the UK)
• Bath Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)
• Top 10 places to visit in South West England
• England Travel Guide

If you have specific questions about a destination in England why not join my UK and London Travel Planning Group on Facebook where you can chat to others planning their trip.

Join my UK and London travel planning group on Facebook for more tips, inspiration and help from other travelers planning future travel to London and the UK.

15 Most Beautiful Cities to Visit in the UK

By: Author Dale Johnson

Posted on Last updated: February 7, 2024

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When many people think about visiting the UK, they instantly look at London. But there are so many other beautiful cities to visit in the UK, stretching far and wide.

From cozy seaside ports to grand, medieval settlements, British cities have charm, beauty, and awe by the bucket load. There really is something for everything.

Buckle up for an enlightening adventure across these glorious isles, as we stop by fifteen of the UK’s most beautiful cities, in no particular order. London is just the tip of the iceberg!

We start our tour north of London, in the idyllic city of Cambridge. World-famous for its prestigious university, Cambridge is a city with a rich history, dating back millennia.

Marvel at the grand architecture. Visit the campus of the world-famous university, whose alumni include Oliver Cromwell and Prince Charles. Discover so much about wartime Britain at the Imperial War Museum.

Or have a picnic in one of the city’s many green gardens, and watch students and curious folk jog, cycle, and amble by in this historic university town.

Tours & Activities

Cambridge is such a lovely city to explore just by walking around, so a guided tour like this one is ideal for soaking up the atmosphere and seeing some of the iconic spots.

However, if you want to go a step further and really get a sense of what it is like to study at the world-famous university, this guided walking tour also gives you the chance to explore the historic King’s College Chapel with a university student. That way, you experience the awe yourself and ask someone who studies there what it’s like.

For a truly authentic experience, do as the students do and take a guided punting tour along the River Cam. Not only is this a great way to see the city, but you also get to try one of the city’s oldest activities.

Places to Stay

To really immerse yourself in the aura and surround yourself with historic architecture, the University Arms has amazing views of some of the city’s best spots, such as Parker’s Piece. Or take a look at this gorgeous townhouse , which has a box office view of Jesus Green, right in the heart of the city.

Northwest of London lies a charming, cozy city, home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Oxford is an eclectic, cosmopolitan mix of tweed jackets, curious travelers, and students from all over the world, casting intrigued eyes over the various cultural attractions and modern art Oxford has to offer.

Go punting along one of Oxford’s many tranquil canals. Explore thatched-roof pubs, grand museums, and diverse art galleries. And visit its many medieval buildings, including the university and the Church of St. Mary.

You should definitely look to explore both the city and the university, and this walking tour is a great way to do so with a student who can give you access to parts of the university. You’ll even get to see one of the Harry Potter film locations.

If you want to discover some of the city’s hidden gems and lesser-known spots, this photo walk with a local is a great way to do it. You’ll even get some tips on how to pose for photos!

And is there anything more British than seeing the city by boat with afternoon tea? Nope, there isn’t! This river cruise hits plenty of Oxford’s classic landmarks, and you can sit back, relax with tea and scones, and take as many photos as you like.

Converting a Victorian-era prison into a boutique hotel is a very Oxford thing to do, so if that sounds right up your street, definitely take a look at Malmaison here.

For a luxurious trip back in time to stay like society’s upper classes used to, consider Old Bank Hotel , with its marble bathrooms and countless paintings.

And, for pure convenience, this gorgeous apartment is right in the city center, giving you amazing access to all the bars, restaurants, and historic landmarks.

A former industrial city, Manchester has evolved through the years into one of the UK’s most vibrant, exciting cities.

The city has a rich, deep history when it comes to music. That has continued through to today, with a wide range of galleries and music venues hosting acts and musicians from all over the world.

Marvel within the fascinating museums. Stroll through tranquility alongside the canals. And enjoy plenty of arts, in the likes of the Manchester Art Gallery, and history across the UK’s third-largest major city, ideal for both a city break and a longer stay.

Manchester is a city steeped in so much history, and this Travel Through Time tour is such a great way to learn about its industrial roots, its deep connection to music, movements like the Suffragettes, and so much more.

And if you’re a football fan, there’s no way you can be in Manchester and not take either a museum and stadium tour of Old Trafford or of the Manchester City Stadium . If you don’t support one or the other and love your football, why not do both?

After all that walking and exploring, you’re going to want a little calm and relaxation. The Edwardian is in a great central location and has a spa, restaurant, and bar, so you can enjoy a well-earned massage and drink after spending a day in the city.

In the north of England proudly stands the grandiose cathedral city of York. Cobbled streets, scenic gardens, and glorious architecture define this beautiful place.

Awe at the Gothic Medieval buildings, and explore the likes of York Dungeon and York Minster. Have a drink in cozy, charming pubs.

Or soak up the energy and bustle of the unique shops and the wonderful people. York is a UK city steeped in history and soaked in charm.

If you have a little more time to spare, really immerse yourself in the gruesome history of York Dungeon with this pass and learn about some of the city’s darkest stories. Then you can hit the streets with a private walking tour like this one , and a tour guide can tell you more about the fascinating history of York at a leisurely pace.

Want to take some great photographs of the city? A photowalk like this one with a local is a great way to spend the afternoon, and you can finish the day relaxing on the water with a one-hour long river cruise along the Ouse, allowing you to see even more of this beautiful city.

Scotland’s beloved capital city is a breathtaking mix of Gothic buildings with a modernist twist. There’s so much art, beauty, and scenery to take in.

Uncover dainty stores and bustling markets as you wander through winding streets. Marvel and enjoy jaw-dropping landmarks, like Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

And if possible, visit in the British summer, when Edinburgh hosts the largest arts festival in the world: Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Edinburgh has so much to see and do, so definitely spend your first day or two seeing the city sights. Edinburgh Castle is a must, and a skip-the-line guided tour like this one is a great way to do it and be informed. Also, consider a 24 or 48-hour hop-on-hop-off bus pass so that you can easily get around Edinburgh and see all of the top sights with a beautiful top deck view.

A whisky tour like this one is perfect for seeing the city through the eyes of a local whilst getting to try some of the best whiskies in the region. At the end of your trip, keep a day free for a day tour like this to see a lot more of Scotland, like the Highlands and the famous Loch Ness.

Deep into the Scottish Highlands, you’ll find the idyllic cathedral city of Inverness. This delightful, green place is one of Scotland’s gems.

Take a boat out on the river, and sail through scenic spots like the Ness Islands. Awe at grand buildings like Inverness Castle and St Andrew’s Cathedral.

If you’re really feeling adventurous, take a guided tour out onto Loch Ness, and see if you can spot the fabled Loch Ness Monster lurking beneath the surface!

Beautiful Inverness is just so scenic that a bike tour like this one is an amazing way to see the city and learn a thing or two from a local guide. Finish off a day of exploring with some whiskey tasting and traditional music with this highly-rated experience , and you’ve got an amazing day in Inverness lined up.

Because Inverness is so far north into Scotland, you simply have to spend some time in the surrounding areas. Definitely take a day tour to see Loch Ness because it’s so close to Inverness, and keep at least another day or two free to take a tour to the Isle of Skye . I would also recommend renting a car and having a day or two driving through the magic of the Highlands to see what gems you can unearth.

Across the Irish Sea lies Northern Ireland’s vibrant, energetic, and beautiful capital city of Northern Ireland, Belfast.

Standing proudly on the River Lagon’s sweeping banks, Belfast has green parks, plenty of bars and restaurants, and a glorious mix of Georgian architecture and modernist buildings, with the likes of Belfast City Hall being one of the must-see landmarks.

Splendor at the beauty of Belfast Castle. Learn about Irish history to the Titanic in one of the city’s many museums. Or see the sights from a boat on the shimmering waters of the Lagon.

The political taxi tour is such a great and respectful way to learn about the troubled history of Belfast from a taxi driver and visit the likes of the Peace Wall. From there, you can keep things history-themed by visiting the site where the Titanic was constructed and learning all about the infamous ship and her ultimately fateful voyage across the Atlantic.

Outside of Belfast, the UNESCO site Giant’s Causeway is a must-see, and this Game of Thrones full-day tour that will show you some of the filming spots along with Giant’s Causeway is a great way to do it.

Finally, to cap off a memorable trip, there aren’t too many things more Irish than this Irish bread-making class in an 18th-century Irish farmhouse!

Amid the rolling hills of West Wales is the UK’s smallest city, only granted such a title due to the presence of its grand cathedral: St David’s.

This tiny little place of charm and beauty is defined by its stone walls and buildings, lively markets, and decadent greenery.

Awe at the magnificent cathedral. Enjoy afternoon tea in the green gardens of the pubs. And look out over the mesmeric landscape of Wales from atop the hills.

While St David’s is a charming little place in its own right, it’s so small you can visit it in an afternoon. So why not sign up for this epic 5-day tour of Wales and the South West and see St David’s along with so many other amazing places, including Snowdonia and the Cotswolds?

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales. Once a humble port, delivering coal to fuel the Industrial Revolution all over the world, it’s now a wonderful city with energy and vibrance.

There are plenty of things to do in Cardiff . Enjoy delights and boutiques in Victorian-era arcades. Visit the grand Cardiff Castle, located in the middle of the city.

And for plenty of live music, shows, and arts, take a trip to Cardiff Bay. This dockland of years gone by is now a hub of sleek, modernist architecture, and beautiful views of the water.

I’d definitely recommend the 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus tour , which takes you all around the city to see the top sights, and can get you from Cardiff Castle in the north to Cardiff Bay in the south in no time at all.

While the city center has the history, Cardiff Bay definitely has the energy and allure of a more recently renovated area. A walking tour is a great way to experience the nature and beautiful buildings of the Bay and learn a thing or two about its history.

As with St Davids (above), Wales itself has so much to offer when it comes to history, nature, and experiences. That’s why it’s a great idea to clear one day in your itinerary and book a tour like this , that will leave from Cardiff and visit some of the surrounding areas, taking you to places like the Wye Valley and Chepstow Castle, all of which are more than worth a visit.

Read more: Best Things to do in Cardiff

Bristol is a beautiful British city that has transformed into one of the country’s most eccentric and exciting places and is very much the connecting hub of South West England.

Formerly a busy port, Bristol is draped in charm and wonder. Awe at the views over the Avon Gorge from the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Take a canal boat out onto the river.

And enjoy plenty of charming pubs, quirky music venues, and fun festivals in a city where arts, music, and innovation continue to thrive.

One of the best ways to see Bristol is by walking around because there’s just so much street art, interesting buildings, and history. Sign up for a walking tour like this one , especially if they visit the Banksy artwork, and let a local tell you all about Bristol and how unique the place is.

The city also has a very special relationship with hot air balloons, so if time and budget allow for it, a hot air balloon ride, complete with champagne , can make for a truly memorable morning or evening. Oh, and on the subject of all things airborne, make sure you visit the Aerospace museum to see some awesome aircraft and tech, including the last-ever Concorde to fly.

Read more: Best Things to do in Bristol & Beautiful Photos of Bristol

A stone’s throw from Bristol, Bath is a stunningly beautiful city with rich, Georgian architecture, sweeping green gardens, and a unique connection to the Roman Empire.

Bath’s iconic white color comes from a law that states all new buildings must be built with Bath stone, a local limestone.

Visit the famous Roman baths, where Roman soldiers would relax and unwind. Explore cobbled alleys and dainty shops. And gaze out at the Weir, and its mesmeric waters.

The 24-hour hop-on-hop-off bus is a great way to get your bearings on your first day and will give you a glorious bird’s eye view of the likes of Pulteney weir. Plus, you can use the bus to get around.

You can’t visit Bath without seeing the Roman Baths the city is famous for, so book a city walking tour and let a local show you where they are and tell you all about the history. And if you love your history a little more fictional, this Bridgerton-themed walking tour takes you around many of the filming locations of Shonda Rimes’ popular Netflix series.

Finish your trip with a Prosecco boat trip along the River Avon, and you really will have spent your time in Bath living like a Roman Emperor!

Amid the vast, green landscape of Somerset sits Wells, another of the UK’s smallest cities. This dainty place has stunning Gothic architecture and plenty of natural beauty.

Explore the grand cathedral and its centuries-old clock. Enjoy the sights in the idyllic Bishop’s Palace Gardens.

And find plenty of quirky shops and boutiques amongst the winding alleys and streets. Wells has been the setting for several blockbuster films, including Hot Fuzz.

Wells is full of green spaces, grand architecture, and quirky shops, but taking a look inside its iconic cathedral truly is a must when you visit. Be sure you give yourself a good 30-60 minutes to explore inside because the interior architecture truly takes your breath away.

No trip to the UK is complete without visiting the beach. Brighton is a lively, fun, and vibrant city, built amid the vast, rugged coastline of South East England.

Enjoy the sun, sea, and sand of Brighton’s historic, lively seafront. Eat fish and drinks on the iconic Brighton Pier.

And take a trip along the coast to see some of Britain’s jaw-dropping coves, headlands, and bays. Brighton is a UK city that has so much to offer.

There are two pretty amazing ways to see Brighton from above. The first is the British Airways i360 , which gives you gorgeous panoramic views of the city. The second, if you’re a thrill-seeker, is from the longest zip line on the English south coast – definitely not for the faint-hearted!

The hop-on-hop-off city sightseeing bus is also a good idea, as you can also use it to get around the city and get off at anywhere that looks interesting.

Southeast of London, you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the cathedral city Canterbury and remnants of its incredible history.

Between Canterbury’s walls, enjoy scenic walks along the banks of the River Great Stour. Marvel at grand structures, like Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey.

And when it’s time to take a break, lie out on the green grass of the river banks, and watch the ducks, people, and the world go by.

Honestly, the architecture alone in Canterbury is enough to entrance you for an entire day, or even longer. So book yourself on a guided walking tour , and let a passionate local show you all the sights and tell you plenty of stories and secrets about the city.

Our fifteenth and final stop takes us to the world-famous British metropolis of fashion, culture, music, and business: London.

Wander the snaking banks of the River Thames, encountering some of London’s iconic landmarks. Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Big Ben are just three of many that await.

Awe at the towering modern buildings. Soak up the bustle and energy of the markets. And stand outside the decadent gates of Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard.

There are so many things to do in London that a lifetime there simply is not enough! And as beautiful cities go, London is right up there.

Let’s be honest, it can be hard to know where to even start with London because there is just so much to do! This is why we recommend getting a London Pass from GoCity , as you can select 2-7 attractions (depending on the ticket you purchase) from most top tourist activities, such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, London Zoo, a 1-day hop-on hop-off bus tour, and even a 24-hour cruise ticket.

That way, whether you’re visiting for 24 hours or a full week, or even longer, you can build your time in London around its classic tourist attractions and then venture off in-between or after to find the hidden gems and other things to do a little further out from the city centre.

When you’re in the heart of the city in Westminster, a river cruise like this one , which takes you east along the river to Greenwich, can be a lovely way to escape the bustle of the city and do something a little more relaxed.

Finally, before you leave London, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you simply have to do the Warner Bros Studio Tour . It’s in Watford and, with the travel, is very much a full-day experience, so schedule a free day in your itinerary and get this booked because so many people rave about how amazing the studio tour is.

Read more: Fun Things to do in London

As I mentioned at the beginning, the UK is far more than the awe and innovation of London.

Britain’s cities have incredible histories, several dating back millennia. The decadent, striking architecture of various ages is diverse and gorgeous, while heavy investment is breathing life into areas in desperate need of renovation.

From the rugged landscape of the Scottish Highlands to the white-cliff coastline of southern England, there are so many beautiful places to see.

Via plane, bus, train, and car, you can see so much of what the UK has to offer. From thrill-seekers to history buffs, families to couples, UK cities have something for everyone.

Make your next trip to Great Britain magical, and add some of these wonderful cities to your itinerary.

So, one last time, here’s a reminder of the 15 most beautiful cities in the UK you should definitely try to visit:

• Brighton and Hove

You Might Also Like to Read

• Things to do in London
• Things to do in Bristol
• Things to do in Cardiff

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Keep these beautiful UK cities in a safe place by pinning them to one of your Pinterest boards. That way, when you’re ready to plan your trip to the UK, you’ll be able to easily find these cities.

Author: Dale Johnson is a content creator and digital nomad from the United Kingdom. He enjoys traveling the country by train and has visited a host of UK cities through work, intrigue, and his love of triathlon and running.

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18 of the coolest, prettiest and quirkiest seaside towns in the UK

After a good dose of sun, sand and sea air? Here’s our pick of the best seaside towns in the UK

One of the most glorious things about the UK being an island is that there’s certainly no shortage of coastline. No siree. Fully exploring this nation’s towering cliffs, brilliant beaches , sweeping bays and dramatic headlands would fill several lifetimes. And along those coastlines are an equally vast number of marvellous villages and towns – plenty of which are enjoying a bit of a renaissance right now.

From arty enclaves in Cornwall and characterful Welsh fishing towns to picture-perfect Scottish coves, the UK’s seaside communities are as diverse and uncategorisable as they are naturally spectacular. You can leave your clichés of miserable weatehr and greasy chippies inland – here you’ll find cutting-edge museums, destination restaurants and plenty of sun, sand and fresh sea air. Here are the best (and most beautiful) seaside towns in the UK according to us.

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Best seaside towns in the UK

1.  Deal, Kent

What’s the vibe? Proper seaside town with a creative community and really great food. 

Why go? It’s smaller and less well known than its ever-popular Kentish neighbours Margate and Whitstable , but overlooking little Deal would be a mistake. Stretching along the seafront and an enormous pebble beach, Deal is a gem. It’s dotted with delicious places to eat, buzzy places to drink and gorgeous places to look at or buy beautiful things. Try 81 Beach Street , wine bar Le Pinardier and Smugglers Records for starters. 

Don’t miss A slap-up Sunday lunch in The Rose ’s seriously stylish dining room. 

2.  Hunstanton, Norfolk

What’s the vibe? Striped cliffs and stonking sunsets.  

Why go? With the unusual stripy cliffs behind and The Wash in front, visitors to Hunstanton are in the unique position of being in the only spot in east England from where you can see the sun both rise and set. While away the hours in between by admiring Hunstanton’s Heritage Gardens – in the summer months you can follow a self-guided Horticultural Trail, look out for markets and events on the green, pick up a souvenir from Britain’s largest joke shop, explore Old Hunstanton’s stone cottages and refuel at The Neptune , a brilliant local pub.

Don’t miss Follow the Norfolk Coast Path, a trail from Hunstanton to Sea Palling that hugs the shoreline, to take in the dramatic beauty of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

3.  St Ives, Cornwall

What's the vibe? A fishing town with serious artistic clout.

Why go? Three reasons: seafood, art and surfing. St Ives was and is a working fishing village, and even though most of its whitewashed cottages are now holiday rentals, the seafood here is still the good stuff – especially when served about as close to the sea as you can get while staying dry, at the swish cafés on Porthminster and Porthmeor beaches. In the ’20s and ’30s, the fishermen were joined by artists and potters like Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach and even colourful-squares guy Piet Mondrian. There are still plenty of artists here, and loads of places to chin-stroke, including Tate St Ives , Hepworth’s house and sculpture garden and tucked-away gallery-shop St Ives Ceramics . And more recently, St Ives has become a surf town, with rad dudes of all genders getting salty all year round in its many piratical-looking coves.

Don't miss The atmospheric fishermen’s graveyard on Barnoon Hill, including the tomb of salty sea dog and self-taught artist Alfred Wallis.

4.  Nefyn, Gwynedd

What’s the vibe?  Extreme isolation. Surprisingly blue waters.

Why go?   The Llŷn Peninsula is where you go in Wales if you really want to get away from it all. But if you don’t want to do away with human company altogether, we’d suggest staying in Nefyn: a small town and community that stretches out to nearby Edern and Morfa Nefyn. The main draw here is the Morfa beach – a sandy stretch complete with pretty pub and whitewashed cottages. The town itself is a brilliant base for hikers with their sights set on nearby Snowdonia.

Don’t miss   A trek up to the Tre’r Ceiri hillfort, which looms 450 metres above sea level on the Yr Eifl hills. It’s one of the best-preserved Iron Age settlements in the UK.

5.  Dartmouth, Devon

What’s the vibe?  Exquisite seafood and excellent walking opps.

Why go?   Okay, so it’s technically not actually a seaside town – rather a town on the banks of the River Dart, a couple of miles from the sea. But Dartmouth comes with everything you could want in a trip to the coast. There are historic pubs, and there are walking trails straight out to the sea. There are boat trips galore, and there are crabbers crabbing away in the harbour daily. In Mitch Tonks, the town also has a veritable super-chef whose restaurants here serve some of the country’s finest seafood. It’s a taste of the Med, in a thoroughly British setting.   Don’t miss The Seahorse , Tonks’s snazziest restaurant, right on the waterfront. One day you might get cuttlefish risotto, another fritto misto with aioli. It’s all ridiculously delicious.

6.  Whitby, Yorkshire

What’s the vibe? A trad Yorkshire fishing town that exudes more gothic splendour than David Bowie in The Hunger .

Why go? Whitby  is not your average seaside spot. While it has a dramatic coastline, soft stretches of caramel sand, top-notch fish and chips and a quaint harbour, it’s all overlooked by a cliff-top graveyard and Whitby Abbey , a 1,360-year-old ruin that inspired Bram Stoker’s vampire-filled novel ‘ Dracula’ . It has even more goth credentials as the site of the bi-annual Whitby Goth Weekend festival , when the place is descended on by black-clad music fans, and as the home of Whitby Jet: a gemstone made from fossilised wood known for the intensity of its blackness. If you’re after an eccentric day out, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into here. Don’t miss Ask any local where you’ll find the best fish and chips and they’ll say Magpie Café : queues snake down the pavement.

7.  Lymington, Hampshire

What’s the vibe? A Georgian sailing town with proper salty pubs.

Why go? Lymington’s a refined seaside town with postcard-perfect high streets – but the boat-filled harbour is the main attraction. Get out on the water with one of the town’s sailing experiences, join a chartered fishing excursion or just watch the world go by with a pint from one of the wonky-fronted old pubs. 

Don’t miss The annual Lymington Seafood Festival in August, when jazz and blues meet fresh seafood cooked up by top chefs.

8.  Dungeness, Kent

What’s the vibe? Shingle strolls, bird-watching and otherworldly desert surroundings.

Why go? There’s a vague apocalyptic feel about Dungeness, a little fishing town at the southernmost point of Kent . Its wild landscape of stark, shingle desert headland is overlooked by the imposing Dungeness Nuclear Power Station. But, thanks to this, there is something uniquely beautiful about the place, with its lighthouses, abandoned fishing boats, wooden cabins and thriving wildlife. Follow the two-mile trail around RSPB Dungeness to spot rare seabirds. Refuel at the famous Snack Shack : they’ll serve you their catch of the day in a warm bun. 

Don’t miss Get a look at the iconic coal-black Prospect Cottage, former home to film director Derek Jarman, and its magical shingle garden.

9.  Lyme Regis, Dorset

What’s the vibe?  Old stuff and  really  old stuff.

Why go?  Lyme has all the cute fisherman’s cottages, sandy beaches, antiques emporiums and pasty shops that you could want in a West Country seaside escape. But it’s also got something a little more unusual: gajillions of years’ worth of fossil history. If you’ve seen the movie Ammonite , you’ll know that this was once the hunting ground of teenage Regency fossil-finder extraordinaire, Mary Anning. Accordingly, there’s not just history but  pre history on display around town, extending from the abundant fossil shops to the nifty ammonite-shaped street lamps along the seafront. Fossils still turn up here on the beaches every day, and although you probably won’t find a whole ichthyosaur skeleton while out for a paddle, there’s no harm in trying.

Don’t miss  A stroll along The Cobb, Lyme’s historic harbour wall – it had a starring role in novels by Jane Austen and John Fowles, and there’s even a little aquarium at the end. 

10.  Tobermory, Isle of Mull

What’s the vibe? A Hebridean fishing village in Farrow & Ball colours.

Why go? Anyone who happened to watch a lot of British kids’ TV in the early noughties will recognise Tobermory’s harbourfront as the setting of CBeebies hit ‘Balamory’. Aside from its pre-school legacy, this tiny town has huge charm, a local puffin population and a rich history of producing magical malt whiskies. Once you’ve got an eyeful of the famous rainbow cottages by the harbour, stroll out to the pretty lighthouse at Rubha nan Gall, the megalithic Standing Stones at Baliscate or head out on a boat trip from the harbour to spot minke whales and basking sharks. When it comes to trad Scottish music, Tobar – Mull’s art centre – puts on good knees-up. Be sure to pick up a fish supper beforehand from the famous van on the pier.

Don’t miss A chance to sip the proper stuff on a tour of the Tobermory Distillery .

11.  Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear

What’s the vibe? Britain’s coolest seaside town? Could be.

Why go? Eight miles outside of Newcastle , Tynemouth manages to perfectly merge artisan city cool and wholesome coastal pursuits into the perfect salty, seaside package. Its three white sandy beaches are overlooked by a ruined priory and castle; a working lighthouse stands at the tip of its craggy headland; and it has a period high street crammed with traditional pubs and fish and chip shops. Alongside all this, however, you’ll find tooth-achingly cool small-batch artisan roasteries like Tynemouth Coffee Company , forward-thinking restaurants, quirky bars and craft beer spots, a thriving surfing community and designer-maker emporiums like Land of Green Ginger : a converted church full of boutiques and artisan cafés. 

Don’t miss Riley’s Fish Shack : a shipping container restaurant that cooks up Michelin star-worthy seafood right next to the beach.

12.  Crosby, Merseyside

What’s the vibe? Vast sands and sculptural surprises. 

Why go? Near   Liverpool in the suburbs of Merseyside, Crosby might look like just another English market town – apart from the fact it’s bordered by rolling sand dunes and fast-changing tides that draw out to reveal a boundless stretch of sandy beach. Carry on up the coast to find Hightown and its prehistoric submerged forest, and Formby National Trust coastal reserve , home to red squirrels and preserved neolithic footprints. 

Don’t miss The main draw here is ‘Another Place’:  artist Antony Gormley’s ambitious sculpture project of 100 lifesize cast-iron figures dotted over a two-mile stretch of the beach. Grab a sandwich and watch the figures as they’re revealed and submerged by the tides.

13.  Falmouth, Cornwall

What’s the vibe? A cosmopolitan university town with Blue Flag beaches and plenty of Cornish charm.

Why go? While Cornish seaside towns usually tend towards old-fashioned bucket-and-spade charm or cutesy  chic, Falmouth has a more youthful, cosmopolitan air, partly thanks to University College Falmouth, which specialises in arts, design and media. The hip bars and cafés, independent shops along the charismatic old high street, charming restaurants and award-winning Falmouth Art Gallery are dotted around the picture-postcard harbour beside ancient castles and sandy beaches. 

Don’t miss Get out on the water and take the ferry from Falmouth to Truro. The journey takes in all the best bits of the Fal River, including waterside villages like Malpas and the Tudor castles of Pendennis and St Mawes.

14.  Aberaeron, Ceredigion

What’s the vibe?   Foodie central, with a weird thing for honey.

Why go?   Three reasons: the buildings, the ice cream and the dolphins. Roughly halfway between Aberystwyth and Cardigan, on Wales’s west coast, Aberaeron’s harbourside is ringed with beautiful Georgian houses – like especially radiant gems on a fairly everyday necklace. The town is perhaps best known for its honey ice cream, the most delicious of which you’ll find at restaurant The Hive , but it’s also a prime spot for seafood and afternoon tea and cake – making it the ideal pitstop on your way up the Wales Coast Path.

Don’t miss   Cardigan Bay is one of the best places in Europe to spot dolphins. Head out on a boat trip from nearby New Quay and look out for the bottlenose pods that like to linger off the coast.

15.  Cromarty, Highlands

What’s the vibe? A Highland f ishing village with a fairytale feel. 

Why go? Sticking out like a witch’s hat into Cromarty Firth, this tiny, old-time fishing town is straight out of a fairy tale. Perched on the tip of the Black Isle – a sea-scuffed Highland peninsula – it’s surrounded by pink-tinged beaches, waterfalls with names like Fairy Glen and mysterious Clootie Wells, where people hang up rags as part of an ancient Celtic tradition. Cromarty’s section of the bay is lined with eighteenth-century fisherman’s cottages and clusters of historic buildings in the traditional Highland vernacular, all  whitewashed walls and black window frames. Look out for East Church, with its elegant clear-glazed windows, and Hugh Miller’s Cottage , a quaint thatched museum dedicated to a local geologist. Then pick up a wheel of locally-produced Truckle Cheddar from The Cheese Shop  and head to Burnside Place ’s converted eighteenth-century brewery, where the Cromarty Brewing Company serves up suds and Cromarty Arts Trust holds spoken-word nights.

Don’t miss Hop on a boat tour from the harbour to see if you can spot the world’s most northerly pod of bottlenose dolphins. 

16.  Bardsea, Cumbria

What’s the vibe? Quiet, moody and utterly atmospheric.

Why go? While hordes of holidaymakers descend on the nearby  Lake District , Bardsea village and its vast expanse of marshy sand remains totally serene. This is retreat country: marshy grasses lead out into Morecambe Bay, which is overlooked by  Conishead Priory, a former abbey that’s now a Buddhist Centre with eye-popping Tibetan  architecture. The centre couldn’t have found a more beautiful location: this is the perfect spot for doing a bit of soul-searching.

Don’t miss Venture out to Chapel Island, a small outcrop off the coast, which was once the site of an ancient chapel built by the monks of Conishead. You can only visit when the tide is out and you’ll need to go with an experienced guide who’ll help you avoid the quicksand.

17.  Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire

What’s the vibe? A Victorian seaside town that remains charmingly untouched. 

Why go? The North Yorkshire coast has its fair share of picturesque seaside towns, but Saltburn-by-the-Sea really is a looker. It’s all thanks to Henry Pease, a Victorian industrialist who created Saltburn in 1858 after having a celestial vision of a pleasure grounds on a cliff edge. It still has its original funicular, the Saltburn Cliff Lift, which takes visitors down to a huge sandy beach, and its original Victorian pier, which (unlike neighbouring Scarborough) has avoided the usual gaudy amusements. Despite the antiquated surroundings, there’s an arty, contemporary undercurrent running through the place. Look out for its vibrant independent businesses, burgeoning surfing scene, crafty farmer markets, and jazz nights.

Don’t miss A pint in the Ship Inn , a legit sixteenth-century smugglers’ tavern.

18.  Salcombe, Devon

What’s the vibe? Secluded Devon splendour meets extreme toffness.

Why go? It’s legit beautiful, surrounded by majestic hills and quiet tidal beaches. It might be on the glitzier, pricer side – come summer it caters to the upmarket tourism market with its clusters of posh boutiques and chic restaurants – but, you’ll also find plenty of natural splendour here too. East Portlemouth Beach’s secluded sandy coves are perfect wild-swimming spots and coastal trail the South West Coast Path takes you past hidden beaches, rugged pinnacles and undulating sea views. 

Don’t miss The stunning National Trust garden (and view) at Overbeck House , followed by a seafood platter at beach-side restaurant The Winking Prawn . 

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If you are looking for useful information on traveling around Europe, then we have plenty! Here you’ll find posts on how to discover various countries on this continent. For example, you can read more about Girona or Tarragona, two of the less touristy cities in Spain just waiting to be discovered.

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17 Beautiful Towns In The UK To Visit

Okay, just putting it out there, us Brits have some great totally epic places to visit; with some of the most beautiful towns in the UK dotted all across the country. 

You see, what’s best about the UK is that we have a whole heap of diverse little towns and pretty villages spread across the country; each with their own charm.

I mean, where else can you explore bits of Scotland , England , Wales and Northern Ireland on one epic trip.

With any trip to the UK, I always say it best to explore the big-hitting places such as; London , Edinburgh or York . Then, afterwards, take a trip to some of the more regional and totally beautiful towns in the UK, too.

Take a look at these beautiful towns in the UK to visit this year. Have the best trip. 

1.) Portmeirion

I know I bang on about Portmeirion lots, but honestly, it’s a really special place.

Perched on the Welsh coastline, this gorgeous Italian-esque place is easily one of the most beautiful towns in the UK.

I promise you’ll literally feel like you’ve found a slice of Italy nestled within the hills of Wales.

It really is a special place.

Visiting Wales? Check out the top places to see

Resting within the beautiful Cotswolds , Bibury is a lovely little town that’s possibly home to (arguably) the most quaint street in the UK, Arlington Row .

Think, crooked little cottages, smoking chimneys and cosy little pubs.

Pop over to the nearby town of Cirencester for a tasty bite at The Falcon. The prices are pretty good and the food is one of the best in the region.

Read more: How to visit Bibury, Cotswold

3.) Aberaeron

Aberaeron is one little town that sits on the ancient West Wales coastline.

This historic, Welsh, fishing town is a great little spot and sees all the colourful seaside houses, gorge on some good-old fish and chips or head to the award-winning Harbourmaster.

They serve some of the tastiest locally-sourced food in West Wales .

It really is one of the beautiful towns in the UK to explore. Just make sure to explore some of that gorgeous Cambrian coastline, too. 

Read more: Best places in Wales to visit

4.) Applecross

Applecross is a tiny little place that is so gorgeous. We spent a whole day exploring the area and I just know you’ll love it.

The best thing about this Scottish Highlands fishing town is it’s great food and amazing views, especially on the drive where you’ll get to see Bealach na Ba Viewpoint and some of the prettiest, white-sandy beaches in Scotland.

Read more on visiting Applecross

5.) Knaresborough

Not too far from Harrogate is the gorgeous Yorkshire town of Knaresborough.

Every Wednesday, the town is crammed with lots of little stalls and vendors that sell the tastiest local treats.

Don’t forget to visit Knaresborough Castle, too. It really is one of the beautiful towns in the UK to explore when in the north of England .

Read more: Best places in the north of England

Situated in Wiltshire , Lacock is a village that’s a total throwback to times gone by.

Make sure to visit Lacock Abbey, pop into St Cyriac’s Church and shop for antiques in one of the many cute stores.

Best of all, stop at one of the tea rooms for some freshly baked scones, lashings of butter, jam and clotted cream. They’re so dreamy and these alone make it one of the most beautiful towns in the UK for an old-English town. 

Read more on visiting Lacock

7.) Cullen Bay

On the banks of Moray Firth, Cullen is a sleepy little place with a stunning beach. Findlater Castle is one highlight to see when you’re here.

Make sure to try Cullen Skink (a potato and salmon soup). It’s delicious.

Read more: Best day trips in England

8.) Robin Hood’s Bay

Possibly one of the prettiest little villages in all of Yorkshire, Robin Hood’s Bay is an old, smugglers town where time seems to have stood still.

Wander through the tiny cobbled streets, stop off at the Old Post Office for some grub and learn more about the tunnels that are hidden under the villages.

The townsfolk used to smuggle in all their brandy, whisky and contraband through these.

Read more: Visiting Robin Hood’s Bay, here

9.) Shaftesbury

Nestled within the Dorset countryside, Shaftesbury is s tannin place to visit.

About 30 Km (22 miles) from Salisbury, this market-town is perfect for a day trip in England to see one of the most beautiful towns in the UK. 

Make sure to visit the Gold Hill Museum, go up to Castle Hill and head for food at The Salt Cellar.

They serve some proper meaty pies and homemade soups. Perfect for a chilly day.

10.) Malton

Another Yorkshire gem is the market town of Malton .

If you’ve ever been to Yorkshire, you’ll know there’s a real emphasis on good, local food… and we’re not just talking pork pies of Yorkshire puds.

Over the last 10 years, or so, Malton has become a proper foody capital of Yorkshire.

After you arrive, make sure to wander the many market stalls and local traders that have everything from homemade gelato, pastries, micro-breweries and cakes galore.

It’s only about 30 minutes from the city of York and a must-visit if you’re a total foodie.

Read more on visiting Malton

11.) Portree Isle of Skye

Technically, the largest of the towns on the Isle of Skye – this Scottish gem is a lovely find. It’s the perfect place to base yourself for a bigger exploration of Skye.

Make sure you see the Old Man of Storr, the stunning beauty of Quaraing and Kilt Rock – all of which are located on the island.

For some tasty Scottish grub, head over to Sea Breezes who serve hand-picked scallops right from the shore.

Read more: Best things to do on the Isle of Skye

Imagine such a small town having such a grand castle, possibly one of the Grandest castles in Wales .

Well, Conwy has just that. Make sure to head inside Conwy Castle for a little (or big) slice of history, visit Plas Mawr and gorge on the best brunch at Amelies Restaurant.

It’s one of the beautiful towns in the UK, especially for its history.

Read more: Best castles in Wales

13.) Hathersage

Deep within the Peak District is the gorgeous little village of Hathersage. Around a 25 minute drive from Sheffield, it’s a great little spot to see.

Make sure to hop over to the nearby Stanage Edge, see Little John’s Grave and grab a local brew at The Scotsman’s Pack Bar.

14.) Brixham

A little gem of a village, Brixham is becoming even more popular in recent years. 

Head for a stroll around the historic harbour, on the English Rivera,   pop over to Berry Head and drink up at The Lusty Wench who sources seafood right from the harbour.

15.) Mevagissey

The Cornish beauty of Mevagissey was once a thriving fishing village. Nowadays, fishing still happens, just on a smaller scale.   The town itself has a huge seafaring history and they still make smaller boats in the town today.

Pop on the Fowey to Mevagissey Ferry, too. You might even spot the local pods of dolphins. It’s one of the beautiful towns in the UK you cant miss when in the region.

Read more: Best things to do in Cornwall

16.) Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island is one of Northern Ireland’s gorgeous places to visit. It’s around 5-6 miles off the coastline of Ireland and a stunning spot to visit.

Make sure to visit between April-July, when the puffins come here. The ferry runs from Ballycastle and is perfect on a summers day.

Read more: Best things to see in Northern Ireland

17.) Glenarm Village

Perched in County Antrim, Glenarm is a lovely spot to visit in Northern Ireland .

You’ve got to head into Glenarm Castle which dates back centuries. Also, make sure to wander the hiking and walking routes that surround the area. You’ll love it.

It’s one of the most beautiful towns in the UK to explore.

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10 Beautiful Towns and Villages You Must Visit in Britain

Senior Commercial Content Editor

Away from the main tourist trails, Britain’s picturesque towns and villages offer a unique insight into its astonishing history, culture and landscapes.

Britain’s most charming spots are within easy reach of major cities, but provide an escape from the hustle and bustle. Many remain relatively untouched, and as such offer up stories of the past in their perfectly preserved castles, ancient monuments and dramatic ruins. Here are some of the most stunning hidden gems in Britain.

Broadway, Worcestershire

Not too far from Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon , Broadway is the ultimate chocolate-box Cotswolds village, packed with traditional pubs and tearooms. King Charles I fought the English Civil War from here – you can still sleep in his room in the Lygon Arms – while Oliver Cromwell later stayed at the hotel before the Battle of Worcester. Climb Broadway Tower to try and glimpse 16 counties from the top.

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Upmarket spa town Harrogate has attracted visitors since Georgian times, when well-heeled types flocked to try its health-giving natural mineral water. Now its chic boutiques, Turkish baths, pristine parkland and the famous Bettys tearoom make it a great base from which to explore the hidden waterfalls, windswept hills and ancient castles of the Yorkshire Dales.

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Woodbridge, Suffolk

Nine miles from bustling Ipswich, picture-perfect Woodbridge is a paradise for devoted shoppers and foodies thanks to its independent boutiques, thriving markets and charming riverside cafés. Try a cruise down the River Deben (watch for passing seals), step back in time at the Tide Mill Living Museum or visit the extraordinary Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo.

Hambledon, Hampshire

Cricket fans, wine lovers and history buffs should make a beeline for Hambledon, home to both the UK’s oldest commercial vineyard and one of the world’s oldest cricket clubs. Easily reached from Portsmouth, the idyllic countryside village in the heart of the South Downs dates back 3,000 years and still features Roman remains, a Saxon church and Norman buildings.

Inveraray, Argyll

Renowned for its handsome Georgian streets, world-class seafood and romantic loch-side views, Inveraray is the gateway to the Highlands near Argyll on the shores of Loch Fyne. Tour the magnificent Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, then follow the steep trail up Dun na Cuaiche watchtower for breathtaking views back over the town and the loch beyond.

Wycoller, Lancashire

With its rushing river, stone bridges and car-free streets, Wycoller is a tranquil hamlet where it is believed people have settled since the Stone Age. One 1,000-year old bridge is even officially listed as an Ancient Monument. Often visited by the Brontës, Wycoller Hall – now an eerie ruin – is considered to have been the inspiration for the manor house in Jane Eyre.

Beddgelert, Snowdonia

Outdoor types heading to the towering mountains of Snowdonia should not miss pretty Beddgelert, a tiny stone village dating back to the 12th century. Visit the Victorian copper mine and superb ice-cream parlour, then walk the easy riverside path to the rumoured grave of Gelert, the faithful dog of medieval Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great.

Melrose, Scottish Borders

Surrounded by ruggedly beautiful hills, Melrose is famous for its walled gardens, Abbotsford – the art-filled home of writer Sir Walter Scott – and its imposing Gothic abbey ruins where Scottish national hero Robert the Bruce’s heart is buried. Once the site of a Roman fort called Trimontium, this tiny town later became the birthplace of rugby sevens when a local butcher invented the game in 1883.

Lacock, Wiltshire

Travel back in time in this unspoilt Wiltshire village, which is owned by the National Trust. The village’s narrow streets and traditional stone cottages look exactly as they would have 200 years ago when the town thrived in the wool trade, while the abbey dates back to the 13th century. Eagle-eyed Harry Potter and Downton Abbey fans may also recognise it as a filming location.

Higher Bockhampton, Dorset

Literary lovers will be enchanted by this blissful rural hamlet in Dorset where author Thomas Hardy was born and raised. Visit the thatched cottage where Hardy lived then wander through the ancient Thorncombe Woods that inspired several of his novels. Pass an original Roman road, wild heathlands and the serene Rushy Pond, where you might spot resident Dartmoor ponies grazing.

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The 20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland

By Madeleine Silver

The UK is known for its lush countryside with endless rolling hills, misty mornings and picturesque villages. Criss-cross your way around the UK and you will stumble upon the most coveted of villages - those places that strike the perfect balance between impossibly pretty yet somehow not-too-chocolate-boxy. Among them are hidden jewels that each offer up something unique, setting them apart from the next village .

These slices of heaven are perfect for hunkering down for a day or even a weekend - with a pint of prawns of local brew in hand. From wandering the streets of Southrop’s quintessential yellow stone homes to watching the sun go down with a takeaway fish platter in Solva, these are the 20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland .

1. South Pool, Devon

Salcombe’s streets, teeming with the sailing brigade, smart shops and ice-cream parlours, seem another world on the other side of the Kingsbridge Estuary in South Pool, where the changing tides of the creek are the most noteworthy activity. Savvy canoeists who’ve checked the tide charts arrive by boat and tie up to the pontoon. But others on foot can just as happily wander the water’s edge before climbing the steep steps to the pretty 14th-century St Nicholas and St Cyriac Church with its views out across the patchwork fields.

Where to stay nearby: One of the  best hotels in Devon ,  Gara Rock , is a 15-minute drive away. Perched high on a jagged peninsula along Devon’s historic South West Coast Path, the hotel-meets-private-hamlet is home to spectacular seaside views, an outdoor pool and an al fresco restaurant.

2. Cartmel, Cumbria

The village shop ’s sticky toffee pudding alone would be a good enough reason to mark this medieval village on your map. But there are also the narrow, winding streets to explore, and the 12th-century Cartmel Priory with its ancient choir stalls, as well as the Lake District ’s foodie stalwart L’Enclume , where chef Simon Rogan’s tasting menu throws the spotlight on the Cumbrian countryside. For an adrenalin kick, try horse racing at Cartmel Racecourse against a backdrop of the Lakeland fells, a tradition started by the monks from Cartmel Priory in the 15th century.

Where to stay nearby: One of our favourite Airbnbs in the Lake District , The Nest , is in Cartmel. Found in the quaint and cosy Maggie Puddle Cottage, the Airbnb stay is dotted with smart details such as retro club chairs, iron bed frames, and antique apothecary bottles, plus there are piles of logs for the fires. Families are well catered for too with baskets of toys, highchairs and travel cots.

3. Portloe, Cornwall

Clustered on the slopes of a steep-sided valley, with a piercingly turquoise sea below, Portloe is considered the jewel of the Roseland Peninsula. Only a handful of fishing boats now work from the cove, delivering lobster and crab, but it’s easy to imagine a time at the beginning of the 20th century when it was a heaving port. Pick up supplies from the Veryan and Portloe village store a five-minute drive inland, and set off down the coast to find a spot on a sandy stretch, making a beeline for The Hidden Hut on Porthcurnick Beach where the menu of hearty stews, chowder and flatbread is scribbled on a chalkboard.

Where to stay nearby: Sitting above the waves of Portloe, Hillside Stone Cottage has great views of the water and rolling hills. Inside, there’s a big dining table for group suppers and a cute breakfast room overlooking the slate roofs of neighbouring houses. 

4. Nether Compton, Dorset

It may be the gentle expanse of the village green, the way the sun turns the stone deliciously yellow or the fact it’s hidden down a lane that doesn’t take you anywhere else – something gives Nether Compton an air of immense calm. Sherborne, with its imposing abbey and tempting shops (dive into The Circus for cashmere, silk dresses and presents you won’t want to give away) is just three miles from here. But you could just as easily while away the afternoon nursing a pint in the village’s 16th-century Griffin’s Head Inn, while you muster the energy to put on your walking boots.

Where to stay nearby: One of our favourite  Airbnbs in Dorset  is located a 14-minute drive from the town. The  cute and cosy bothy cottage  is set among winding pathways that date back to the 1700s. Inside there are exposed-brick walls and furniture made from reclaimed wood, plus a wood-burning stove that keeps the stone cottage snug.

5. Beaulieu, Hampshire

Forget getting anywhere in a hurry in this Hampshire village at the head of the Beaulieu River, where New Forest ponies and donkeys amble down the high street on the hunt for open heathland. Petrolheads can get their fix at the National Motor Museum and the history of the Beaulieu estate can be found at Palace House, the home of the Montagu family since 1538. Set off on the two-mile riverside walk to neighbouring Buckler’s Hard, scanning for kingfishers along the way.

Where to stay nearby: The Pig Hotel’s original Brockenhurst outpost is a 10-minute drive from Beaulieu.

6. Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty

With its jangling fishing boats and the imposing Caledonian MacBrayne ferry waiting to take passengers to the Outer Hebrides , there’s an air of activity in Ullapool. But allow yourself to stay put for a while, sitting on the wall in front of the white seafront cottages, and soak up the Highland buzz. Make a beeline for The Seafood Shack for lunch (try the crispy lobster burger with guacamole and lemon sour cream), before stopping by The Ceilidh Place opposite to check out its upcoming line-up of local musicians.

Where to stay nearby: The Summer Isles Hotel occupies a wonderful position just above a sandy beach and offers a friendly atmosphere.

7. Mells, Somerset

Meander through this sleepy Somerset village and marvel at the 15th-century New Street, which runs to St Andrew’s Church, where the great war poet Siegfried Sassoon is buried. Set off with a map in hand to explore the surrounding rolling hills and build up an appetite for a wood-fired pizza at the Walled Garden .

Where to stay nearby: There are plenty of options nearby including The Talbot Inn , with its roll-top baths and vintage Welsh rugs, or Soho House ’s original rural outpost at Babington House , which is a five-minute drive away.

8. Powerstock, Dorset

Encased by a maze of lanes in a steep valley on the edge of the Dorset Downs is Powerstock, a place to get your fix of honey-coloured holiday cottages without the risk of feeling as if you’ve stepped onto a period-drama film set. Bridport, with its artisan coffee shops and sprawling Saturday bric-a-brac market, is less than five miles away, and beyond are the Jurassic Coast ’s long, sandy beaches. Recharge post-swim at the Watch House Café at West Bay, with a crab sandwich or a steaming bowl of fish soup topped with saffron aïoli.

Where to stay nearby: If you’re just looking for somewhere to rest your head,  The Warren  is a quaint log cabin with a hot tub.

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9. Lurgashall, Sussex

When cricket is in full flow on the green, right in the shadow of Black Down – Sussex’s highest hill – Lurgashall could be the setting of a Twenties novel. Stock up on supplies at the tempting village shop, where gin from the local Blackdown Distillery lines the shelves, alongside handcrafted truffles from nearby chocolatiers Noble and Stace. For those lacking the energy to navigate the South Downs ’ footpaths, head to nearby Petworth for its antique shops, winding up at The Hungry Guest for coffee and a golden pastry.

Where to stay nearby: The Star , in nearby Alfriston, is a recently revamped 15th-century inn where old meets new, and old exposed beams hang above vibrant textiles from East Sussex designer Richard Smith.

10. Solva, Pembrokeshire

Even on the greyest day Solva adds a flash of colour to the Pembrokeshire coast, with its brightly painted cottages. Take the plunge off the harbour wall at high tide and scale The Gribin – a rocky headland at the entrance to the harbour – for views along the coast and across to St Brides Bay. When the sun does shine, arm yourself with an ice cream from Pointz Castle before grabbing a spot on the beach to watch the sun go down with a takeaway fish platter (go for the dressed crab and lobster) from Mrs Will the Fish .

Where to stay nearby: A short drive from the town is Twr y Felin , Wales’s first contemporary art hotel. A former windmill built in the early 19th century, the hotel features more than 100 pieces of specially commissioned modern art, as well as a lounge, a snug bar and the surprisingly formal restaurant Blas (Welsh for taste) on the ground floor.

11. Orford, Suffolk

There is something mesmerising about this coastal village, with its 10-mile-long shingle spit of Orford Ness – where a lighthouse sits – and its castle that’s worthy of a storybook. Tucked away on the Market Square is the no-frills Butley Orford Oysterage, where half a dozen plump oysters should kick-start any lunch and seasonal specials, such as potted brown shrimp or grilled lobster, are scribbled on a chalkboard. At the Pinney’s of Orford shop, down by the quay, stock up on its own smoked fish or that day’s catches.

Where to stay nearby: Located in the village,  The Crown & Castle  is an award-winning restaurant with 21 modern rooms.

12. Helford, Cornwall

Perhaps it’s the fact that Daphne du Maurier based her novel Frenchman’s Creek in the area – about a love affair between an English lady and a French pirate – or just the labyrinth of overhanging trees, bridges and hidden bays that make Helford village and river so romantic. Arrive by ferry from the Helford Passage (boats leave from the beach in front of the Ferry Boat Inn), grab a table outside The Shipwrights Arms (where you can take your pick from over 20 types of rum) and watch the boats coming and going from the pub’s own pontoon.

Where to stay nearby: Budock Vean Hotel  is one of the only places to stay nearby in Helford Passage. Covering 65 acres of sub-tropical gardens, the sprawling hotel has an indoor pool, spa and 9-hole golf course.

13. Southrop, Gloucestershire

There’s always a risk that Cotswold villages can be a little too sickly sweet, a little too manicured, or rammed with busloads of tourists – but if there were anywhere to embrace that alluring yellow stone and idealised version of rural England, it might just be Southrop. 

Where to stay nearby: Book a room in the Thyme hotel (the Hollywood-style room comes with a home cinema), sign up for a class at the cookery school or tuck into a feasting menu to share (perhaps pumpkin and ricotta salad followed by a leg of lamb) at the estate’s pub, The Swan.

14. Iford, Wiltshire

Hidden in a valley outside Bradford on Avon is this tiny hamlet, so lovely you’ll be glad you made the detour from nearby Bath ’s big-hitting sights. Iford Manor takes centre stage (with its Grade 1-listed Peto garden), the River Frome flows in front of it and Britannia stands proudly on top of the medieval bridge. Walk through the valley to The Inn at Freshford to cool off with a drink in the beer garden, or join the queue for the mobile artisan pizzeria at The Freshford Village Memorial Hall on Friday nights.

Where to stay nearby: The Pig near Bath is a 30-minute drive away, and well worth it too. It’s a joy to sleep here, in the 29 pretty bedrooms that have turned a former family country house into a boutique hotel. It also has the largest kitchen garden of all The Pigs, making dining here a lure for Bath locals as well as the hotel’s guests.

15. Burnham Market, Norfolk

Walk the length of Burnham Market’s smart high street, with its redbrick houses and colourful windows, for an exercise in old-fashioned shopping: there’s a post office, butcher, hardware shop and fishmongers. But it’s not all essentials. Among the assortment of independent shops is The Hat Shop , an emporium of thousands of flamboyant bits of headwear to marvel at. For lunch, join the queue at The Crab Hut three miles away on Brancaster Staithe harbour, where baguettes are stuffed with crab, prawns and lobster, before heading on for a bracing walk on Brancaster beach.

Where to stay nearby: The Hoste Arms is a 35-room restaurant inn, with retro decor and modern bathrooms. The restaurant is serviced by the biggest Aga in the world, and the spa offers surprisingly inexpensive holistic treatments for both men and women.

16. Hambleton, Rutland

Sitting on the sun-drenched terrace at the 18th-century Finch’s Arms , surrounded by boats bobbing happily on Rutland Water, it’s easy to forget that you’re in landlocked Rutland. The Hambleton Peninsula is fast garnering a reputation as a millionaires’ playground, with lavish waterfront properties appearing among the pretty village houses. But that doesn’t taint the draw of sunsets over the water that rival any coastal equivalent, the annual arrival of migrating ospreys and easy ambles around the peninsula.

Where to stay nearby: Overlooking the navy expanse of Rutland Water, Hambleton Hall is a vast country pile that has been welcoming guests since 1980, with an in-house restaurant that has held a Michelin star since 1982 (nowhere in the UK has retained one for this long).

17. Kinsale, County Cork

Pick up a coffee through the hatch at O’Herlihys café before weaving through Kinsale’s electrifyingly bright streets, plotting your next food stop in Ireland ’s foodie capital. Once a medieval fishing port, it’s enviably sheltered, with two forts guarding the narrow entrance from the sea. For big Atlantic views head to Old Head and stretch your legs on the four-mile loop around the peninsula, before returning to Kinsale and bagging a spot under a blanket in The Black Pig ’s garden for a glass of wine and half a dozen oysters.

Where to stay nearby: Just near the harbour, Lemon Leaf Café & Townhouse is a charming cafe and bar with smart rooms to book.

18. Portree, Isle of Skye

The fairy-tale palette of Portree’s seafront is a welcome splash of colour when the inevitable Highlands drizzle descends. Developed in the 19th century by the local chieftain Lord MacDonald as a fishing village, it sits in the shadow of the towering Ben Tianavaig to the south, Fingal’s Seat to the west and Ben Chrachaig to the north. For a spectacle of bagpipes and highland flings, time your visit to coincide with the Isle of Skye Highland Games , which take place on ‘The Lump’, a hill that rises above the old quay and juts into Loch Portree.

Where to stay nearby: The grand Cuillin Hills Hotel is beautifully positioned overlooking Portree Bay. After exploring the extensive grounds, cosy up for a nightcap at the hotel’s dedicated Malt Whisky Embassy.

These are the best things to do on the Isle of Skye

19. Alnmouth, Northumberland

A violent storm on Christmas Day in 1806 changed the course of the River Aln and marked the decline of Alnmouth as a busy port. Today, the estuary weaves around the quiet village on the edge of the North Sea. And striding out across the vast expanse of golden sand that surrounds it when the tide is out, with kite surfers dotted in the distance, you’ll wonder if you’ve landed it all to yourself. Head west to Alnwick on the 1.5-mile Aln Valley Cycle Path and join the Harry Potter fans on their pilgrimage to Alnwick Castle , where the first two of JK Rowling’s books were filmed .

Where to stay nearby : Blow away the cobwebs at Limpet Cottage in nearby Boulmer. Set in a quiet remote cove, the tiny cottage has floor-to-ceiling windows that open straight onto the beach.

20. Hutton le Hole, North Yorkshire

On the edge of the North York Moors National Park, with a stream trickling through it and sheep roaming freely is Hutton le Hole. In the summer, plant yourself on the grass in the centre of the village with a picnic and paddle in the stream, and when the heavens open, hibernate in one of its tea shops for a hearty slice of cake. Don’t leave without filling up at The Chocolate Factory , set up in the village by chocoholic brothers Gareth and Chris East nearly 20 years ago.

Where to stay nearby: The Feversham Arms in nearby Helmsley wouldn't look out of place in Burford or on Broadway. The bedrooms are large with painted wood panelling and simple, elegant furniture, plus there's an outdoor swimming pool and a spa.

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We don’t do ‘sightseeing’. Yes, our cities are full of iconic attractions – but why simply admire them when you can jump right in? Maybe you’ll explore London on a moonlit kayaking tour, go gin tasting and ghost hunting in Cardiff, or discover Edinburgh’s secret underground streets? From river cruises in floating hot-tubs, to overnight stays in our zoos and museums. Whatever you find, you’ll find it with a warm British welcome.

Top city destinations to visit

An unmissable destination for travellers, London is a melting pot of history, culture and green spaces.

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From palaces to cobbled alleys, and a dormant volcano, this city is a real show-stopper.

Step into a land of castles, world-renowned rugby and a whole host of myths and legends.

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Packed with lively pubs, an eclectic food scene and a myriad of immersive experiences.

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All city destinations

Known as the City of Stories, create your own narrative as you explore Norwich’s huge array of historic and modern day attractions.

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Norwich, England

From a Medieval monarch found under a car park to the city’s celebration of multicultural modern life, Leicester has got it all.

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Leicester, England

Britain’s Ocean City offers a seamless blend of maritime charm and natural beauty; a cultural hub filled with award-winning museums and waterfront attractions.

Plymouth, England

Small but mighty, Exeter is a city with seriously cool credentials.

Exeter City Council

Chester’s charm is captivating and unmissable, from City Walls oozing with history and tales of Romans, to seeing the animal kingdom at Chester Zoo.

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A storyteller of history, Lincoln is a city with thousands of tales to tell.

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From its beginnings as a Norman Fortress, Lancaster’s buildings, streets and locals can tell tales of gigantic proportions.

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Sitting on the edge of the Peak District National Park, its a place for outdoor lovers, adrenaline cravers and creative thinkers.

Salt St for The Outdoor City

A place for roaming Romans, valiant Vikings and a playground for wizards, Durham is bursting with magical moments.

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A perfect blend of nature and urban living, this Essex city was made to be explored.

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The city of Cambridge is a hotbed of history, architecture and innovation.

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Cool creative Bristol is a must-see for art, culture and action-packed adventure.

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A quirky seaside city filled with diverse cuisine, vintage shopping and adrenaline fuelled adventure.

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The birthplace of 2-Tone music, and home to a bohemian village and a showy modern cathedral.

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Small and mighty – York is the medieval walled city that really packs a punch.

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Lovers of The Crown can wrap themselves in royalty as this town is about as regal as it gets.

Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2022

Stratford-upon-Avon

Birthplace of the great bard, William Shakespeare, fall in love with this hopelessly romantic 16th century town.

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From The Beatles to Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Liverpool is a UNESCO City of Music with seriously cool credentials.

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A hotbed for shopping and the arts, you’ll find lots to explore in Leeds.

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Pushing the boundaries of art and culture and a heart that beats through its people.

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Just an hour by train from London and you’re in the city of dreaming spires.

VisitBritain/Jess Barfield

An industrial hub with a vibrant, creative heart and a whole host of quirky adventures.

Newcastle upon Tyne

Linked by no fewer than seven bridges, it's one vibrant place to visit.

Rich Kenworthy

Newcastle, England

World-class football and a music scene that brought Oasis to centre stage – there’s lots to love about Manchester.

VisitBritain/Manchester Craft Beer Festival

Steeped in legends that surround Robin Hood to literary greats, discover what this city has to offer.

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A wellness retreat for the Romans and Georgian architecture around every corner.

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Things to do in the city

Cambridge university botanic garden.

Over 8,000 species spread across 40 acres of beautiful gardens and glasshouses in the centre of Cambridge offer year-round interest and inspiration to visitors of all ages.

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Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

As well as live concerts and spectacular Baroque architecture, Kelvingrove is home to 8,000 treasured exhibits too.

Coventry Transport Museum

See the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles of anywhere, including the world’s two fastest cars.

Titanic Belfast

Even 100 years after this mighty ship sank, its story still captures our imagination – brought to life by Titanic Belfast.

Royal Pavilion

Visit this 19th-century seaside ‘pleasure palace’ in the heart of Brighton to discover its colourful history.

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National Museum Cardiff

You’ll find everything from dinosaur bones to contemporary art at this fantastic free museum.

Visit Wales Image Centre

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Spanning the beautiful Avon Gorge, this is one of the world’s most architecturally ambitious bridges – a true work of art.

VisitBritain/Eric Nathan

The Eagles – The Long Goodbye Final Tour

Don’t miss the UK-exclusive last ever shows from The Eagles at Manchester’s vibrant new venue, Co-op Live.

Manchester Co-Op Live

Glasgow Mural Trail

Glasgow’s Mural Trail transforms the city’s streets.

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Tower of London

Get hands-on with history at this former palace and prison. It’s full of tales and treasures, including the Crown Jewels.

Visit Britain/George Johnson

Edinburgh Castle

Discover this dramatic fortress, perched on top of an extinct volcano at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

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Still not sure where to go.

Want to kayak with dolphins, scuba with seals, or cruise to wildlife-filled islands? Britain’s coastline is yours to explore – and has beautiful beaches of every description.

The Most Beautiful Small Towns in the U.K.

By Lilit Marcus , David Jefferys , and Lale Arikoglu

Weymouth, Dorset, England

The seaside town of Weymouth is perfectly situated in the middle of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO Heritage-listed stretch of coastline where many of the craggy cliffs date from the (you guessed it) Jurassic Era. Arguably the most Instagrammable spot is the pebbly Chesil Beach, which inspired Ian McEwan's acclaimed novel of the same name. —LM

Ballintoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Just around the corner from the stunning Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Ballintoy is a harbor town known for its unobstructed views of the sea, an elegant white church perched on a hill above the village, and—more recently—for being a filming location on Game of Thrones . —LM

Bakewell, Derbyshire, England

A market town located on the River Wye, Bakewell is known as much for its rolling hills as for its desserts: the Bakewell pudding and Bakewell tart (both variations of a flaky pastry filled with sweet jam and almond paste) both supposedly have their origins here. After stuffing yourself with sweets, explore the All Saints Church, whose original structure and wooden crosses date from the 900s. —LM

Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England

Just south of the Scottish border, it's easy to see why Scotland and England fought for ownership of this picturesque town for so long. Situated at the mouth of the River Tweed, Berwick is home to several gorgeous bridges that make it easy to explore by foot—and take great panoramic photos of the Medieval walls that surround the town. —LM

Arati Menon

Hannah Towey

Maya Silver

Rye, East Sussex, England

An important shipping center since Roman times, on an enormous embayment of the English Channel, the Camber Sands, Rye was once entirely surrounded by sea. The best views of the hodge-podge of medieval terracotta roofs and and timbered walls are from St. Mary's Parish Church tower or the Ypres Tower, the two oldest buildings in town. If you're visiting in early Spring, don't miss the annual Bay Scallop Week. Rye is scenic two hour train journey from London St. Pancras International, making it an easy day trip . —DJ

Crail, Fife, Scotland

The historic village of Crail is tucked along the Scottish coast. Although it's about an hour and a half away from Edinburgh, Crail feels like it's lost in time, with fishermen setting out to sea in the morning and returning home along the cobblestone streets at night. Originally settled around the year 800, many of the town's most beloved buildings, such as the stone tollbooth, date from the 16th century. —LM

Burford, Oxfordshire, England

If you imagined what a typical English village might look like, odds are good that you'd conjure up something like Burford, with its rows of yellow limestone houses and tree-lined streets. Located in the Cotswolds, the town's church is built over the ruins of a Roman villa (you can still see some fragments of tile mosaics). —LM

Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, England

Known for its bucolic lakeside setting, charming architecture, and The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction (less kitschy than it sounds—with a delightful garden), this Lake District town became a bonafide hit for travelers in the nineteenth-century with a railway extension from Kendal. England's largest lake contains 14 islands to explore in a plethora of water craft. —DJ

Portmeirion, Gwynedd, Wales

Few would expect to find an Italianate Village in North Wales, but here it is. Designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, this fanciful creation makes for a near-psychedelic getaway (Noël Coward wrote Blithe Spirit while staying in one of the "town's" on-site suites). Extensive gardens burst with rhododendrons, azalea, and camellia in spring, Douglas Firs and Coast Redwoods provide summer shade, and exotic Gingko Biloba trees blaze as golden as the sun in autumn. —DJ

Whitby, North Yorkshire, England

A picturesque Middle Ages fishing port on the wild heritage coastline of east Yorkshire (don't miss a visit to the spooky ruins of Whitby Abbey at East Cliff), pick up some Whitby Jet jewelry (mined in the nearby moors and treasured by Romans and Victorians alike), and don't be surprised to stumble upon crowds of subculture types attending the bi-annual Whitby Goth Weekend. Of note: Caedmon, a monk during the Abbey's heyday, is the world's first known Anglo Saxon poet. —DJ

Mousehole, Cornwall

The minute fishing village of Mousehole (make sure to pronounce it "Mowzul") is Cornwall at its wildest and most rugged. Expect windswept coastal walks, a stellar surf scene, and pubs serving up heaps of freshly caught seafood (it's said that Dylan Thomas's favorite watering hole was The Ship Inn, where a corner of the bar is still dedicated to the poet). —LA

Lavenham, Suffolk

Once a wealthy medieval trade hub, Lavenham holds true as one of the country's most charming small towns, thanks to its haphazard-looking, half-timbre, half-pastel-colored buildings and impressive 15th century church. Unsurprisingly, it also makes for a great movie set, which is why the 14th century cottage De Vere House made an appearance as the birthplace of both Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part One (you know, the house where Lord Voldemort gave Harry his famous lightening scar). Just two hours outside of London, it makes for a great day trip. —LA

Blakeney, Norfolk

At Blakeney, it's all about the coastal walks. This quiet seaside village draws hikers and nature lovers for its dramatic expanses of marshland straight out of Great Expectations and a rich wildlife population. Over at Blakeney Point, the heart of Britain's first coastal nature reserve, go seal-spotting by boat, while at Blakeney Freshes, keep an eye out for rare sea birds and take in one of the best views of the reserve. —LA

Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland

It's said that at the bottom of the Tobermory bay, lies a Spanish shipwreck filled with gold, having sunk during the 1588 Armada. But above sea level, the history and scenery of this town, situated deep within Scotland 's Inner Hebrides, is equally beguiling. Comprising hills and lochs, moorlands and ocean, its home to one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland, Tobermory Distillery, which has been producing single malts since 1788, as well as colorful fisherman's houses, while whales, dolphins, and porpoises swim nearby. Just remember to pack your best waterproof gear, as Scotland isn't exactly famed for its weather. —LA

Upper and Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire

The Cotswolds has long been a favorite escape among Londoners itching to ditch city life, and the twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are a particularly pretty corner. A walk along The River Eye that links the two slaughters (the name originates from an ancient word for mud, presumably thanks to the river) will take you past bucolic cottages and a 14th century mill known aptly as "The Old Mill." —LA

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30 of the most 'Instagrammable' towns in the UK

• Travel website CheapHotels4UK ranked the most picturesque towns in the United Kingdom based on how many times photos tagging certain areas were posted. 
• The most-Instagrammed town on the list is Halifax, Yorkshire, known for its stunning natural views and special architecture.
• Other photo-worthy towns include Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire; Bellingham, Northumberland; and Woodbridge, Suffolk.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

The United Kingdom is a travel destination known for popular spots, such as London and Glasglow.

And though these well-known places have their own charm, a lot of areas in the UK are worth visiting, especially if you're looking to enjoy picturesque views and snap a few photos. 

By gathering data about which towns have been Instagrammed the most, the travel website CheapHotels4UK created a ranking of some of the most photo-ready towns in the UK.

Here are 30 of the UK's most picturesque towns you'll want to visit.

30. Dover, Kent

Dover is a coastal town located in England and it is famous for its White Cliffs . It's also home to one of the largest castles in England (Dover Castle), beautiful parks, and gardens.

29. Eastbourne, East Sussex

A resort town on England's southeast coast, Eastbourne offers magnificent views of the English Channel.

You'll likely want to snap a photo of Beachy Head, the famous chalk sea cliff that can be spotted in movies like the James-Bond classic "The Living Daylights."

28. Southport, Merseyside

Southport is yet another seaside town in England located on the Irish-Sea coast, and it offers miles and miles of natural beauty on the water.

There are beaches that feature plenty of fun activities, world-famous golf courses, and beautiful piers.

27. Ipswich, Suffolk

Another waterfront town, Ipswich is located on the River Orwell. It's one of England's oldest towns and it's filled with historic charm and beautiful beaches.

26. Newmarket, Suffolk

Newmarket in England is said to be the home of thoroughbred horse racing. It's also home to many beautiful plants as well as impressive nature preserves. 

25. Huddersfield, Yorkshire

Located in West Yorkshire, England, Huddersfield is one  of the largest towns in the United Kingdom.

The town is full of Victorian architecture as well as the famous hilltop tower, Castle Hill, which offers panoramic views you won't want to miss.

24. Pembroke, Pembrokeshire

This historic town in the countryside of Wales features the Pembroke Castle , which is former King of England Henry Tudor's birthplace . 

23. Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Milton Keynes sits about 50 miles outside of London and it's quite different from many of the towns on this list since it's filled with modern buildings and architecture.

It's also filled with many parks — there are reportedly more than 20 million trees throughout the town. 

22. Windermere, Cumbria

This English town is located right near Lake Windermere, one of the largest natural lakes in the Lake District of England.

In addition to scenic lake views, there are gardens, a wildlife oasis, and parks in this town.

21. Bedford, Bedfordshire

The River Great Ouse flows past this country town in England.

In the area, there are lots of museums to visit, but you'll probably be snapping photos at the town's Bedford Park , which has tennis courts, a pond, a basketball court, and plenty of greenery. 

20. Northampton, Northamptonshire

Northampton is home to many estates and manors that anyone interested in architecture will likely appreciate.

The English town also features the beautiful Northampton Guildhall building, as well as The Holy Sepulchre, which is one of few Norman round churches in England.

19. Falmouth, Cornwall

Falmouth sits on the coast of southwest England, with a beautiful Fal-River harbor you'll want to explore. The area also offers some truly picturesque boat tours and beaches.

18. Margate, Kent

Margate is located on England's coast and it boasts Dreamland, a theme park that holds one of the world's oldest operating roller coasters, Shell Grotto, an underground tunnel network, and beautiful sandy spots like Margate Beach. 

17. St. Ives, Cornwall

Seafront St. Ives is also known for its beautiful English beaches. The town also has impressive wildlife , including seals and sunfish. 

16. Torquay, Devon

Another great spot for beach photos, Torquay is a seaside resort town on the English Channel.

There, take in the cliffs made of red breccia and sandstone, the unique Kents-Cavern cave system, and Babbacombe Beach.

15. Warwick, Warwickshire

Warwick, an English town, is known for its stunning castles, historic charm, and annual festivals.

You can also tour gardens or take in the grandeur of ( or stay at) Warwick Castle, a Medieval castle in the area. 

14. Hastings, East Sussex

Another town located on England's coast, Hastings has tons of impressive sights.

While there, take in impressive castles, piers, parks (like Alexandra Park), and functioning railways that go up and down cliffs. 

13. Bellingham, Northumberland

Bellingham is a small town on the banks of the River North Tyne.

It has views of the English countryside, fishing opportunities, golf courses, and hiking trails. There's even a waterfall in the area.

12. Newhaven, East Sussex

Newhaven is a port town on the water with beaches, marinas, and plenty of greenery.

11. Brentwood, Essex

Brentwood is a town that's not too far from London, so if you want to go on a day trip from there, this could be a great option.

The area has various parks and gardens in the area, including Weald Country Park, known for its bustling deer population. It also has the architecturally impressive Brentwood Cathedral.

10. Woodbridge, Suffolk

This historic town is on the banks of the River Deben and it has lots of parks, beaches, and nature preserves .

If you're interested in history, you can check out the National Trust Sutton Hoo, home to a group of Anglo-Saxon burial mounds and many impressive artifacts.

9. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

A popular town in England, Cheltenham his home to Pittville Park , which features bodies of water and greenery. You can also enjoy the landscape of the public park, Montpellier Gardens. 

8. Whitby, Yorkshire

It's no wonder this seaside town is thought of as being so picturesque — Whitby overlooks the North Sea in England.

This area is also home to the ruins of the former monastery Whitby Abby, which is known for being Irish author Bram Stoker's inspiration  for "Dracula."

7. Stafford, Staffordshire

This English country town is quite small but it holds plenty of historic charm. Visitors can snap photos of the ruined Stafford Castle, explore the historical town Eccleshall, and more. 

6. Deri, Caerphilly

Deri is a village in Wales with lots of small-town charm. While in the Caerphilly area, you'll want to visit the nearby Caerphilly Castle and Cwmcarn Forest .

5. Rochester, Kent

Rochester has been mentioned in many works by famed author Charles Dickens. Throughout the year, the town hosts many festivals including a few dedicated to Dickens. 

You can also explore some of the area's stunning landmarks including the Rochester Castle, Rochester Cathedral, and Upnor Castle.

4. Blackpool, Lancashire

Blackpool is a seaside town is on the Irish-Sea coast of England. While there, you may want to check out the Blackpool Tower , a beloved landmark that offers impressive views from high above the town. 

3. Scarborough, Yorkshire

This resort town is on the North-Sea coast of England.

For a dose of history, you can check out the Scarborough Castle or you can just go down to the seafront to hang at the beach or go to an arcade.

2. Bournemouth, Dorset

Bournemouth , on the southern coast of England, has both several miles of beaches and lots of Victorian architecture — so it's really no surprise that it's number two on this list.

While in the area, you can explore the Lower Gardens , which features greenery and an aviary, or take in the views at Hengistbury Head Beach, a sand-and-pebble beach in the area. 

1. Halifax, Yorkshire

According to CheapHotels4UK, the number-one Instagrammed town is Halifax. This is where you can find the famous Piece Hall, an 18th-century cloth hall known for its Georgian architecture.

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• Main content

19 Best Places to Visit in the UK

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Jun 8, 2023

Consisting of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK) has long been one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. For most travelers, like me, the country's appeal has as much to do with its diverse scenery as it does its rich cultural heritage. In fact, the best places to visit in the UK include everything from beautifully preserved country estates and picturesque castles to its many big city art galleries and museums.

You'll find one of the greatest pleasures of a UK vacation, however, is just how easy it is for you to explore this fascinating, diverse, and relatively small country. The UK could easily fit into the state of Texas with room to spare, so you can base yourself in a couple of cities and simply take a train, bus, or ferry to explore other areas.

One of my favorite day trips from London , for example, is to take the 90-minute train ride to beautiful Salisbury . Once there, you're only a short bus ride or tour away from one of the country's most recognizable attractions, Stonehenge. Want to hop between the Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow ? A one-hour train ride will deposit you in the heart of either city.

Sure, the UK can seem like a very busy travel destination. But plan your sightseeing adventures carefully with my list of the best places to visit in the UK and you'll have no problem making the most of your time.

1. London: The UK's All-in-One Destination

2. edinburgh: scotland's capital, 3. roman-era bath, 4. ancient stonehenge and medieval salisbury, 5. royal windsor, 6. idyllic england: the cotswolds, 7. the magical lake district, 8. medieval york and its minster, 9. the university towns of cambridge & oxford, 10. england's pilgrimage city: canterbury, 11. loch ness and inverness, 12. northern ireland's giant's causeway, 13. liverpool: home of the beatles, 14. manchester: england's football mad city, 15. cardiff: the capital of wales, 16. the channel islands, 17. glasgow & loch lomond, 18. snowdonia: wales' biggest mountains, 19. belfast.

While it's possible to plan a trip to the UK without actually visiting London, it's certainly not a recommendation I'd make. I typically begin my UK visits by spending a few days in the nation's sprawling capital while getting over my jet lag before venturing out to my planned final destination (or destinations).

There are plenty of attractions to keep you busy. Want to learn more about the UK's rich history? You're literally spoiled for choice here as London boasts more than 200 world-class museums and art galleries to explore.

In the City of London, the heart of the old Roman city, you'll find evidence of pretty much every period in history ever since. Some of the top attractions in London are located here, including the Tower of London .

Located beside the spectacular Tower Bridge on the banks of the River Thames , this former palace and prison includes highlights such as the iconic 1,000-year-old White Tower, with its fascinating displays of armor and weaponry, and the Jewel House, home to the Crown Jewels. I always make a return visit at sunrise or sunset to grab an iconic photo of the Tower of London framed by Tower Bridge.

If you're a fan of Britain's Royal Family, you'll want to head to Buckingham Palace , London's Royal home since Queen Victoria's reign. Here, you can enjoy the colorful pomp of the Changing of the Guard or even take a tour of the Palace's State Rooms. Spaces are limited, so be sure to book in advance as they're only open for a few weeks each year.

From here you can wander along the Thames to the city's Whitehall Road area. Here you'll find Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings , as well as Westminster Abbey, the scene of many a royal wedding.

Another area to visit in London is South Kensington, home to the city's best museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum , as well as the famous Harrods department store. Also check out Trafalgar Square , home to the iconic Nelson's Column and the National Portrait Gallery.

And be sure to make the most of London's excellent transport system. Whether you go by bus or by underground, the system's now so good that you can simply use a debit or credit card to tap in and out as you go. It really is very easy, and once you've mastered that famous map of the city's "Tube" network you'll be traveling like a Londoner.

One of the UK's most attractive cities, the capital city of Edinburgh is also one of the UK's most visited destinations. Popular for its many well-preserved historic buildings, Edinburgh is perhaps best known as the home of the majestic Edinburgh Castle .

Perched high above the old city on a rocky promontory, this 13th-century royal fortress includes highlights such as the famous One O'Clock Salute, held daily at Half Moon Battery, as well as the Scottish Crown Jewels in the Royal Palace . Also worth seeing are the Scottish National War Memorial and the famous Stone of Destiny , the Stone of Scone, which only returned to Scotland after being held for 700 years in London.

From the castle, I always find it easy to explore the other most important historic sites in the city. Follow your nose downhill from the castle to the Old Town via the famous Royal Mile , a delightful medieval cobbled street that's immensely fun to walk. Sure, there are plenty of the usual tacky tourist and souvenir shops, but skip these and look out for the area's fine old architecture, boutique shops, cafés, and restaurants, as well as trendy art galleries and studios.

Edinburgh Old Town is also where you'll find the splendid old Palace of Holyroodhouse . From here, I usually make my way to Princes Street and New Town before looping back around to the castle. This broad, more modern avenue was planned in the late 18th century and is extremely popular for its shopping and dining opportunities. It's also where you'll find attractions such as the Royal Botanical Garden and the National Gallery of Scotland.

Read More: Top Attractions & Places to Visit in Edinburgh

Although one of the UK's smaller cities, Bath more than makes up for its diminutive size with a multitude of things to see and do . Named after its famous Roman Baths, this beautiful city has been luring visitors like you and me to its healing waters for more than 2,000 years.

Gushing from three hot springs, the water-known to consist of 43 different minerals, hence its curative properties-travels upwards some 3,048 meters at a rate of 275,000 gallons per day, before spilling out at a consistent 46.5 degrees Celsius. It's a truly awesome sight, and also a little eerie to think that you're standing just feet away from the very hot springs that Romans and early Britons enjoyed some 2,000 years before you got here.

While it's not possible to bathe in the original Roman Baths (try it and you'll be arrested!), a number of nearby spas, most notably the modern Thermae Bath Spa , offer a unique opportunity to enjoy the city's famous waters. This must-do experience features a stunning rooftop pool using the same waters as the Roman Baths, and all with incredible views of city landmarks such as Bath Abbey .

In addition to its ancient history, Bath is also famous for its lovely Georgian architecture. The best examples can be seen along the magnificent, curved Royal Crescent, with its palatial townhomes. One of them, No.1 Royal Crescent , is now a museum that offers a fascinating peek into life during Georgian times.

While Bath is served by the same London rail service as the neighboring port city of Bristol , it's one of those increasingly forward-thinking cities that makes it easy for car drivers, too. My most recent visit in the summer of 2022 was via car, and I avoided traffic and hassle by parking at the extremely affordable Landsdowne Park and Ride facility on the outskirts of the city. Not only is it inexpensive with plenty of availability, but regular bus services will also whisk you away to the heart of the city in just 10 minutes.

Read More: From London to Bath: Best Ways to Get There

One of the planet's oldest World Heritage Sites , Stonehenge has been a place of pilgrimage for more than 4,500 years. It was believed to have been erected as a place of worship, but these days, the crowds consist of tourists drawn by the sheer scale of this magnificent monument to mankind's ingenuity.

It's a sprawling site, covering an area of more than 20 square kilometers and boasting a state-of-the-art visitor center. Here, you can catch a fascinating glimpse not only into the construction of Stonehenge but also its history since then.

But it does get busy, so be sure to plan well ahead and purchase a timed ticket for the day of your visit. Better still, splurge a little on one of the attraction's new VIP admission packages . This unforgettable experience guarantees your spot on a fun "Stone Circle Experience" that includes free time to wander the site on your own. The verdict? It's a must-do.

Be sure to also spend time exploring the nearby medieval city of Salisbury , located just 16 kilometers south of Stonehenge. You'll be rewarded with a chance to visit one of the country's most famous cathedrals, dating back to 1220 and home to an original Magna Carta .

Afterward, spend time wandering the old city center with its many fine churches and historic medieval architecture. Not only are there a number of first-rate places to stay here (I'm partial to the Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel for its central location and 4-star quality and cleanliness), but great little intimate eateries like the Cosy Club on Crane Street. The food here is home-cooked, locally sourced, tasty... and served in an extremely patriotic British setting.

Read More: From London to Stonehenge: Best Ways to Get There

The historic town of Windsor, conveniently located a short train ride west of Central London, offers plenty of fun attractions for tourists . In addition to its lovely Thames-side setting and the many medieval half-timbered buildings along its quaint old cobblestone laneways, it's also home to spectacular Windsor Castle , the most famous of the UK's royal castles.

This grand old castle has served as the summer residence of British royalty for more than a millennium. It was started by William the Conqueror in 1078 and is the world's largest inhabited castle. Highlights include the splendid State Apartments containing the Queen's Gallery and dining hall, each with magnificently painted ceilings and woodcarvings, and St. George's Chapel, famous as the home of the Knights and Ladies of the ancient Order of the Garter.

When you've had your fill of these historic buildings, be sure to also spend time exploring the castle's large and beautiful grounds, almost 10 kilometers long. You'll enjoy some truly memorable panoramic views over Windsor and its castle, and a number of picnic areas, some with barbecue grills, are available if you want to stop awhile.

Traveling with kids? Another area attraction worth visiting is Legoland Windsor . This fun family resort, set on 150 acres of parkland and just a short bus ride from Windsor town center, even boats a modern Lego-themed hotel if you're looking to make a weekend of it.

Also worth seeing is Royal Ascot , the UK's most famous horse-racing venue. While you might want to try to time your trip to coincide with the Royal Meeting held each June, you'll find yourself fighting often huge crowds, all dressed to the nines, here for what is after all one of the most important events on the country's social calendar.

Read More: From London to Windsor: Best Ways to Get There

Covering almost 1,287 square kilometers of charming countryside, the beautiful Cotswolds is undoubtedly one of the most photographed corners of England. Its unrivaled pastoral scenery has earned it a reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the UK, ranking highly on many a traveler's bucket list.

Easy to get to from London and close to the popular tourist attractions of Bath and Bristol , the Cotswolds includes some of the best parts of the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.

Why visit? Well, if you're anything like me, you're here to experience a true taste of rural English life and explore its many quaint villages . You'll want to include the idyllic village of Bourton-on-the-Water on your Cotswolds itinerary. Nicknamed the "Venice of the Cotswolds," this popular vacation spot boasts a charming river setting and countless well-preserved cottages, some dating back to the 15th century, and all just begging to be photographed.

One of the most popular ways to do this is via the area's extensive trail network, including the excellent 164-kilometer-long Cotswold Way. Other fun things to do include horseback riding and biking, or simply soaking up the history of popular market towns such as Castle Combe or Tetbury.

Located in the northeast of England not far from the border with Scotland , the spectacular Lake District in Cumbria covers an area of 1,448 square kilometers. Not only is it considered one of the most magical places to visit in the UK for its beautiful scenery, its reputation as a place of romance and great culture will forever be associated with its most famous former resident, Beatrix Potter.

It was Potter who in fact led the way with the conservation efforts that have preserved so much of the Lake District when she bequeathed her estate to the National Trust. Her one-time home near Sawrey, Hill Top , can and should be visited for its exhibits and artifacts.

Her legacy also set the stage for the establishment of Lake District National Park . Encompassing 12 of the country's largest lakes including Windermere and Ullswater, the two biggest and best known, this beautiful region is another famous place in the UK that's great to explore on foot. All told the park boasts more than 3,218 kilometers of hiking and walking trails, so be sure to pack your hiking boots.

Other things to do in the Lake District include visiting Scafell Pike , at 978 meters the highest mountain in England. And, of course, there is no end of picturesque towns and villages to explore, including Grasmere .

Read More: From London to the Lake District: Best Ways to Get There

One of northern England's most popular tourist destinations, the medieval city of York, long the ecclesiastical capital of the Church of England, boasts one of the country's most magnificent cathedrals. The country's largest medieval church, York Minster can trace its roots back to the spread of Christianity in the 3rd century, although the splendid present Gothic structure was built almost 1,000 years later.

One of the best ways to get to see this historic landmark is via an official guided tour . I recommend you book in advance, and spend a little time reviewing the available choices to find one best suited to your interests. I opted for the fascinating "Tower Trip" option, a little more expensive but well worth the cost for the magnificent city views.

Other highlights of a visit to York Minster include seeing its spectacular 14th-century stained glass windows, plus the richly decorated interiors of the choir and north transept. You'll also want to visit the crypt, which contains parts of the original 11th-century church the cathedral now stands on.

Another York landmark worth exploring is the historic City Walls . I make a point of strolling this nearly five-kilometer-long structure each and every time I visit the city. Not only is it good exercise, but it's also a fun way to circle around the old medieval city center without the crowds.

Along the way, you'll enjoy excellent views over The Shambles , a narrow 14th-century roadway that's famous for its fine old timber-framed buildings, many of which hang over the street below. It's also an area known for its many restaurants and tearooms, as well as its many boutique shops and galleries.

York also boasts a number of major museums, the most popular being the National Railway Museum . Highlights of this museum's vast collection include many fine old steam engines dating as far back as 1820, plus a unique collection of Royal Trains. The museum also offers an excellent afternoon tea experience in the historic Countess of York railway carriage, bookable in advance.

• Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in York, England
• From London to York: Best Ways to Get There

The UK has long been a center of learning, with two of its most famous university towns also ranking highly as tourist destinations. An easy commute north of London and just 128 kilometers apart, Cambridge and Oxford have for centuries been rivals for the title of the country's top academic establishment, a rivalry celebrated during the famous rowing event, The Boat Race , which takes place each spring on the River Thames .

Despite this generally good-spirited rivalry, each location offers plenty of attractions to make them worthwhile additions to your UK travel itinerary. Highlights of a visit to Cambridge include the chance to wander the UK's largest collection of preserved historic buildings, many of them located within an easy walk of Cambridge University ' s 31 colleges, the oldest of which was founded in 1284.

In addition to touring the stunning college grounds (only a handful of the university's buildings offer tours), you should also take a punt along the River Cam. This must-do activity is something of a Cambridge ritual, and chances are you'll even be "punted" along by a university student willing to share a little of their college experiences.

As with most popular tourist destinations, however, a little advance planning will ensure you find a reputable company for your punting tour. Licensed operators to consider include Cambridge Punt Company , which also offers a private romantic evening tour; and Scholars Punting , which features a fun picnic hamper package worth considering. In both cases, you can keep the cost down by joining a shared tour.

Oxford University's 38 colleges are equally fun to explore. These historic old places of learning are each set around a quadrangle and several inner courtyards along with chapels, dining halls, libraries, and student residences, some of which offer unique tourist accommodation packages, too. Like most UK tourist sites, they do get extremely busy in summer so be sure to book your visit in advance if you can to avoid disappointment.

Other Oxford highlights include the Carfax Tower, with its fine views over the city center, and the many fine old buildings of the town's High Street .

Pay a visit to historic Canterbury in Kent, and you'll soon discover why this beautiful city continues to be such a draw for visitors to the UK.

An easy hour's train ride from central London, Canterbury has been a draw for visitors for centuries. The first visitors were religious pilgrims who have in fact been visiting for more than 1,500 years, ever since St. Augustine first started converting pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity here in AD 597.

The city's most famous attraction is Canterbury Cathedral , the home church of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this stunning cathedral offers plenty to see, from the intricately carved masonry of its exterior to its magnificent interior, a highlight of which is the beautiful choir with its statues of six English kings. Also of note are the exquisite Miracle Windows, dating from the 12th century and depicting scenes from the life of murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket .

Afterward, be sure to spend time wandering the pedestrianized area of Old City Canterbury with its many preserved, historic timber-framed buildings, particularly along Mercery Lane. Be sure to include the excellent Canterbury Roman Museum on your itinerary. It was built around the remains of an original Roman townhouse and its unique mosaic.

Read More: From London to Canterbury: Best Ways to Get There

Despite the fact that the legends of mythical monsters have largely been debunked (just don't tell the locals), spectacular Loch Ness remains an extremely popular tourist attraction for travelers heading to Scotland. While it's unlikely you'll encounter any monsters, you will, however, be rewarded with seeing some of the UK's most beautiful scenery.

Highlights of Loch Ness include the ruins of Urquhart Castle . Set overlooking the loch, it's one of Scotland's largest fortifications, with the current structure dating from the 14th century. For those wanting to learn more about the area's many legends, the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition recounts its history, along with that of its monster, including details of ongoing searches for the elusive creature.

A little farther north is Inverness. This lovely city boasts numerous excellent attractions, including Inverness Castle, the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, and the late 19th-century St. Andrew's Cathedral.

History buffs should also check out the Culloden Battlefield and Visitors Centre . It was in Culloden in 1746 that the English and Scots fought their last battle and where the fate of Scotland as a British dominion was determined. Also of interest are the gravestones of warriors from the Scottish clans, as well as the six-meter-high Memorial Cairn erected in 1881 to commemorate the battle.

• From Glasgow to Loch Ness: Best Way to Get There
• From Edinburgh to Loch Ness: Best Ways to Get There

It's sometimes a little too easy to forget that the UK includes a tiny little piece of Ireland . Northern Ireland, consisting of the northeast corner of the "Emerald Isle," can easily be included on a trip to either country and is well worth taking the time to explore.

My favorite among the many Northern Ireland attractions worth visiting is the magnificent Giant's Causeway, a stunningly beautiful natural feature that looks anything but natural. Just a short drive from the capital of Belfast , this UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of unusual columns of layered basalt that jut upwards out of the sea and shoreline like some giant's staircase, hence their name.

All told, there are some 4,000 of these polygonal-shaped steps to see and clamber over. Formed over 60 million years ago during a period of intense volcanic activity, it's a truly impressive sight, and easy to see how local legends of giants could so easily have sprung up as a result.

A modern visitor center has been opened here and provides fascinating details about the reality and the myths behind this bucket-list attraction. Guided tours can be arranged, and be sure to make use of the audio guides that are provided with admission. Tickets can be booked online in advance to avoid disappointment.

Address: 44 Causeway Road, Bushmills, Antrim, Northern Ireland

Read More: From Dublin to Giant's Causeway: Best Ways to Get There

Liverpool , under three hours away from London by rail, offers plenty of cultural excitement for the curious traveler. It's also well-known for its role in giving rise to the English music legacy, not least because of its association with the Beatles .

Music fans are drawn here first and foremost for "Fab Four"-related attractions, such as The Beatles Story located in the renovated Albert Docks area. Also worth seeing are the famous Cavern Club, where the band made its debut in 1961, as well as the former homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Numerous walking tours and bus tours of Beatles sites are also readily available.

Other great reasons to visit Liverpool include its many historic buildings, lovely gardens, and parks, as well as great museums such as the Merseyside Maritime Museum , the Museum of Liverpool , and world-class art galleries like the Walker Art Gallery and the Tate Gallery . These are all located in the city's revitalized Royal Albert Dock area, an historic area enjoyed exploring on foot.

Thanks to its international airport, Manchester is often the first stop for many visitors from North America planning to explore northern England, Scotland, or Wales. It's especially popular for fans of the sport of football (that's soccer to those from the US, including Ted Lasso!).

Manchester is, in fact, home to two top football clubs: Manchester United and Manchester City. Both are well represented in the must-visit National Football Museum , as are other popular teams from around the UK. Along with displays of memorabilia, trophies, and clothing, fun short movies explain the history of the sport and capture many of its defining moments.

Be sure to also visit at least one Manchester club's stadium, too. The best known is Manchester United's Old Trafford grounds, though Manchester City's Etihad Stadium is also worth seeing. Both offer fascinating tours and behind-the-scenes access. Better still, try to visit when there's a game on!

Other notable places to visit in Manchester include Castlefield , popular for its well-preserved Victorian houses, canals, and Roman ruins. It's also popular to explore on foot for its many old warehouses now serving as trendy shops, hotels, and restaurants.

If you've got time left in your Manchester itinerary, be sure to include Manchester Cathedral and the historic Town Hall. There's also a rich cultural scene that includes museums (Museum of Science and Industry), galleries (Manchester Art Gallery), and entertainment (Chinatown).

Despite being much smaller than both Scotland and England, Wales is home to some of the UK's top attractions. Interesting things to do here range from exploring the breathtaking scenery and enjoying outdoor adventures in its national parks to visiting its historic castles.

One of the best places to sample a little of everything that Wales has to offer is the country's capital, Cardiff , with most travelers beginning their visit at Cardiff Castle . Located in the middle of the city and built on the ruins of an ancient Roman fort, parts of the current structure date as far back as 1090, with much of it restored in the 1800s. Highlights include the State Apartments, the Clock Tower, the Chapel, and a spectacular Banqueting Hall with its fine murals.

Afterward, be sure to spend time wandering the city's many old Victorian shopping arcades, the best of which can be found around The Hayes. You'll find everything from second-hand record stores to boutique clothing shops and custom jewelers to browse.

Also worth checking out is Cardiff Bay. One of the UK's largest redevelopment projects, this vast area is now home to numerous fine restaurants, theaters, galleries, and shopping opportunities, many of them housed in former warehouses on lovely Mermaid Quay.

Read More: Top-Rated Day Trips from Cardiff

Although just 14 miles away from mainland France , the Channel Islands have been a British territory since 1066. One of the most picture-perfect destinations in the country, these attractive small islands not only boast a milder climate but offer great places to visit that don't get the large crowds like other parts of the country.

The Channel Islands comprise Jersey (the largest island), Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Herm (the smallest), along with numerous even tinier islands. The intrepid traveler will also be rewarded with everything from quaint seaside towns and villages to explore, historic castles and ruins (sometimes one and the same), as well as outdoor adventures and wildlife spotting.

As for getting here, the Channel Islands are well served by ferries from mainland England, as well as short flights from most major British airports.

Read More: Exploring the Top Attractions of the Channel Islands

The Scottish city of Glasgow is a great place to visit for those who enjoy a mix of cultural attractions and the great outdoors. Once you've had your fix of historic sites such as Glasgow Cathedral and the museums of the University of Glasgow, among others, head out to explore nearby Loch Lomond .

Loch Lomond was dubbed "The Queen of Scottish Lakes" by famed writer Walter Scott, and it's here you'll see Ben Lomond and the beautiful Trossachs countryside. Trossachs National Park now includes Loch Lomond itself and covers some 720 square miles of prime hiking and biking country.

It's also popular for its fishing and boating, including sailing, canoeing, and kayaking. For true outdoor enthusiasts, Loch Lomond is the perfect spot for a "wild camping" adventure. Not only is it safe, you're never too far away from people if you need them. And, of course, you'll agree that the scenery here is even more beautiful when you have it all to yourself.

Read More: Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Glasgow

Not only does the Snowdonia region of Wales boast some of the country's most remarkable scenery — and that's saying something, as it really is a beautiful country — it's also home to the UK's second largest national park: Snowdonia National Park. Spread across nearly 830 square miles, the park is as big a draw for adventurers as it is for those seeking a pleasant and not-too-exhausting day trip.

If you're a hiker you can choose from a variety of trails that wind their way up (and down) Mount Snowdon itself, spending a full day tackling as difficult a route to the top as you desire. And those like me who want to see the spectacular views from the top without all the hard work can take the Snowdon Mountain Railway .

Considered one of the world's top scenic railways, the journey starts in Llanberis before tackling steep inclines up to the "Eryri" visitor center at the top of Snowdon.

Read More: Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Snowdonia

Once omitted from the itineraries of most travelers to the UK, Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, has in recent years become something of a must-see destination. Not only are there numerous historic attractions and cultural experiences to enjoy, but the city's people have the same welcoming attitude that the European nation of Ireland to the south is known for.

One of the city's top claims to fame was its role in the building of the ill-fated ocean liner, RMS Titanic . This connection is celebrated and memorialized in the city's Titanic Quarter , home to the impressive Titanic Belfast attraction. Here, you can explore interactive exhibits that deal not only with the vessel, but the thousands of people involved in its construction and, ultimately, its sinking.

More on England

• 7 Breathtaking Towns to Visit in New England

New England , a breathtaking region blessing states like Maine, Rhode Island , Vermont, Connecticut , New Hampshire, and Massachusetts , feeds the souls of sight-seekers. Whether you're in for the Monhegan Ciff Walk to paint in the fresh air or see Vermont's modest beginnings in Bennington, these small towns offer experiences for every taste.

Monhegan Island, a place for creatives since the mid-19th century, retells the stories of adventurers to relish the isolated feel, artists to recreate the staggeringly beautiful terrain, and simple families to share inspiration back home with their loved ones. Home to just over 18,000, Madison delivers the quintessential dose of New England charm, even being referred to by Bill Clinton at Yale as “especially old and beautiful” in his memoir, My Life.

Bennington, Vermont

Chartered before any other town in 1749, Bennington , where Vermont likely began, is breath-takingly buried in history. The state's tallest structure, the 306-foot-tall Bennington Battle Monument, greets visitors right from the highway, reminiscing of the victorious battle that pivoted the American Revolutionary War into the American forces favor on the New England front. Old First Church, Vermon's oldest church in Bennington, dates back to 1762, while literary fans come to pay respects to the poet Robert Frost at the nearby cemetery, his last resting place.

Don't miss the notable Bennington Museum, proudly displaying the world's most extensive public collection of Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses' 20th-century folk art, among other antiques and artworks. Home to numerous venues and outdoor landmarks, five covered bridges, starkly red along the winding Walloomsac River, are part of its treasured past in the local county. Having grown as a cultural hub, Bennington's galleries, workshops, and live theater impress modern art fans while retaining an authentic New England feel that is unique to Vermont .

Eastport, Maine

The Down East town of Eastport is often overlooked as a gem along Maine's eastern seaboard. Retaining an opulent air of history with all the architecture on its own, pristine Moose Island, Eastport, is heart-wrenchingly picturesque from every corner. Many come to indulge in the freshest seafood served right out of the waters, including all kinds of fish and lobster, like at the Happy Crab. Old Sow Grill features monthly jazz and string jams, named after the iconic Old Sow here, one of the largest tidal whirlpools in the US, which inspires mysticism. Visitors can also take a water taxi to the peaceful Treat Island and enjoy the Sutherland Amphitheater for an al fresco moonlight movie or Horn Run Brewing, a classic favorite.

WaCo, the state's oldest diner from 1924, offers a filling breakfast for a daytime whale-watching charter with Butch and his crew at Eastport Windjammers or Shackford State Park's scenic hiking trails before a glass of wine over nibbles at Phoenix Fine Wines. Eastport's thriving art scene of unique local works is a smattering of shops and galleries along the historic Water Street. Don't miss the Eastport Arts Center for a classic music performance and a chance to chat and see the process of creation at StudioWorks. Home to a vibrant indigenous community willing to share insights and traditions, maybe you can meet some of them at Ole Hookers, a local cocktail bar.

Madison, Connecticut

While Mystic is often the star of the state, Madison is breathtaking in its simplicity—beloved among the East Coasters. Retaining a feel of authenticity and undiscovered, Madison feels like layered chocolate-coated candy bursting with flavors in a pretty wrap. Once listed as the only "Best Beach Town" in the whole state by Yankee Magazine, its outstanding beaches continue to mesmerize without crowds to spread out on the pristine sands, with clear surf lapping at your feet. From award-winning bookstores to art cinemas and tea emporiums, elegance is unmistakable in local aesthetics through coffee shops, cafes and restaurants, clothing boutiques, and gift shops.

On the other side of the pedestrian-friendly downtown, woodlands provide for a refreshing stroll with untouched trails, despite being so close to amenities that appeal to all tastes and interests. From an opulent waterfront hotel to several bed and breakfasts, Madison masterfully blends natural scenery into small town urban charm, like its E.C. Scranton Memorial Library and a large town green that anchor downtown. Hammonasset Beach State Park attracts new families, couples, and returning tourists for a pretty boardwalk between two miles of beaches, wetlands, and woodlands.

Monhegan Island, Maine

Some ten miles from the mainland of Maine, Monhegan is a scarcely square-mile-sized, rocky island town with only access by boat. Well worth it, the walkable town has been dependent on tourism and fishing since the 1800s. Visitors get treated to the local lifestyle, like fishermen retrieving catch from the lobster traps along the unpaved roads by the docks. From there, it is just a short stroll to the village heart and its most attractive feature, the breathtaking cliffs overlooking stunning coastal landscapes. Clustered on the third of the island, its lodging, gift shops, and refreshments, the remote island town appeal features unique saltbox architecture and imposing lighthouses.

Around the town, "wildlands" comprise nine miles of maintained hiking trails to ocean cliffs, the highest along Maine's entire coastline, with puffins, seals, and porpoises below the dramatic cliffs and whales in the distance. Attracting adventurers, respite seekers, artists, and photographers, visitors can join them with an easel or a picnic. Sample their work through welcoming studios and craft cooperatives that shed light on how this oceanside hike has been a destination for creatives since the mid-19th century to relish the isolated feel, recreate the staggeringly beautiful terrain, and share their inspiration. The Monhegan Museum of Art and History displays many such paintings and drawings en plein air.

Newport, Rhode Isla nd

Newport, a classic New England harbor town with deep red brick streets and bustling outdoor markets, is truly breathtaking from every side, like its very own 10-mile coastal drive, a bikeable highway between the scenic coastline and beautiful parks! Once a favorite summertime playground for America’s wealthiest families during the Gilded Age , "City by the Sea" retains an opulent air that fosters a feel of intimacy and inspires artistry. Today, accessible for all to enjoy the meticulous preservation of over a dozen homes, including shoreside, Newport is a step into the time warp of the Age of Innocence and Moby Dick, the two worlds that all romantics dream of revisiting.

The sandy beaches here stay particularly quaint even in the summer, so dig your toes in the serenity of the Atlantic breeze, with just the right amount of sunshine to keep you daylong basking in relief. The 3.5-mile Cliff Walk is an invigorating adventure for couples or more moments in peace with your loved ones to soak in the panoramic ocean views, salty air, crashing waves, and those stunning Gilded Age mansions. Drenched in authenticity, Newport’s old-school ice cream and taffy shops delight kids of all ages, while historic seaside taverns reveal the local lifestyle like in the old days.

North Conway, New Hampshire

North Conway, “Best Ski Town,” delivers in all four seasons within the White Mountains of New Hampshire , with quaint antique shops, bookstores, and bakeries. Attracting everyone from adventurers and skiers to historians and photographers, the quaint town with gorgeous historic buildings overlooks the peaks right downtown. The breath-taking scenery prevails whether on an outdoor excursion, a culinary adventure, or a hunt for unique treasures along Settlers Green or Main Street in the village. The 34.5-mile Kancamagus Highway starts in Conway and cuts through White Mountain National Forest with magnificent fall foliage, while the 18-mile Presidential Traverse Trail presents a rigorous hike just an hour north.

Listed in the top 10 for “Best Small Town for Adventure,” its larger-than-life character features landscapes like the Cathedral and Whitehorse Ledges for rock climbers, many covered bridges in the area, and waterfalls. Schouler Park in North Conway Village, a local favorite for a weekend picnic or lunch break, offers free summertime concerts and a playground, while the water hole in the Saco River is great for a swim. Don't miss North Conway's historic train station straight from the Victorian age, with trains still coming and going along the Conway Scenic Railroad. The New England Ski Museum displays the history of skiing in the region, which ski bunnies can enjoy first-hand at Cranmore Mountain, with scenic chair lift rides, a mountain coaster, and a Mountain Adventure Park open in the warm season.

Siasconset, Massachusetts

Siasconset is tiny and often overlooked at the eastern end of Nantucket , about eight miles from the more popular town on the remote Nantucket Island. Seemingly a world of its own, the active enjoy access to the beachside town via a 6-mile Milestone Bike Path or a 9-mile Polpis bike path, alongside a shuttle service or a private bus. Overflowing with beach peas and rose gardens within white picket fences, the rows of classic New England saltbox houses follow you in the scented air on the way to the beach at the end of Milestone Road, with no amenities, just lifeguards.

Its renowned heavy surf adds a sense of drama to the otherwise quaint community, formerly a fishing village. Sconset, to locals, offers an all-dimensional experience of island life, from its storied past against the evoking panorama of the Atlantic Ocean to the rose-covered cottages jostling side by side with elegant new homes, with the picture-perfect blue ocean peeking in between. Home to the island's most scenic walk, ‘Sconset Bluff Walk starts from the village with views every bit behind its name, leading you north to the evoking views of the lonesome Sankaty Head Light.

Madison exudes an air of elegance with tea emporiums and boutiques, while "Sconset" is a former fishing village blending a quaint seaside lifestyle with drama evoking heavy surf against panoramic ocean views.

Don't miss North Conway's "Best Ski Town" historic train station straight from the Victorian age, and when in Eastport, it's home to the iconic Old Sow, one of the largest tidal whirlpools in the US. If you've ever wished you lived during the Age of Innocence or the Moby Dick era, Newport, RI , nails the feels.

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40 Beautiful New England Towns You'll Want To Visit

Posted: November 6, 2023 | Last updated: November 6, 2023

Charm personified

If you’re looking for a picture-perfect getaway that combines culture, art, locally-produced food and exhilarating outdoor activities, you can’t beat the beautiful states of New England. They may be small, but they pack quite a punch whatever the season.

From salty seaside towns to quaint rural villages surrounded by mountains bathed in autumnal tones, read on to discover some beautiful small settlements that personify New England charm.

Little Compton, Rhode Island

Little Compton, Rhode Island, was founded by explorers from the Plymouth Colony seeking to expand their settlement along the Massachusetts coastline. Situated on a peninsula sticking out into the Atlantic, it's always been a fishing and farming town, and despite the influx of vacationers it still maintains a traditional atmosphere. Goosewing Beach Preserve is one of Rhode Island's most scenic spots, created to provide a habitat for rare piping plovers and the threatened least tern. South Shore Beach is one of only a few public beaches in the area, and is surprisingly uncrowded.

Bethel, Maine

Nestled in Maine’s Lakes & Mountains region, Bethel is definitely a town for all seasons. In summer you could find yourself kayaking along the mighty Androscoggin River or hiking and biking through the spectacular White Mountain National Forest, while in winter the finest alpine skiing in the east is only minutes away. Fall is a riot of copper tones, and spring is the perfect time to check out the Lovejoy covered bridge. The walkable colonial town center is the epitome of charm any time of year, but especially at Christmas.

Waitsfield, Vermont

Once a quiet farming town, Waitsfield sits at the heart of the gorgeous Mad River Valley, a must-visit stop on the scenic Route 100. Surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, this charming town has become a four-season destination for people seeking exhilarating active pursuits, from powdery downhill snowsports in the Mad River Glen ski area in winter to challenging walking trails in the warmer months. There’s an active cultural scene too with several theater companies and arts facilities organizing everything from opera festivals to photo exhibitions.

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem is of course famous for the witch trials that were held here in 1692, and the modern town leans heavily into its notoriety. There are witch walks, potion-brewing classes and cafés serving witches’ fingers, while at Halloween it seems everyone is wearing a pointy hat and carrying a broomstick. But the port here is worth visiting too. In 1938 the Salem National Maritime Historic Site was designated the first national historic site in the US, and it's steeped in revolutionary history. Follow the Salem Heritage Trail – marked by a yellow line on the sidewalk – to discover everything Salem has to offer.

Jackson, New Hampshire

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, the quiet resort town of Jackson should be top of your list. It sits in the heart of New Hampshire’s beautiful White Mountains, which boast hundreds of miles of well-groomed trails ready for snowshoeing, classic track skiing or skate skiing for skiers of all abilities. Or maybe visit Nestlenook Farm, home to a huge Victorian skating pond and 65 acres of trails for horse-drawn sleighs. Couples will want to head to the Honeymoon Bridge, as a kiss stolen under its covered roof is said to bring love and good luck.

Cornwall, Connecticut

Set in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains in rural Litchfield County and surrounded by stunning farmland, rolling hills and quiet country roads, this is classic New England, and Cornwall is often described as 'the Greenest Town in Connecticut'. The historic colonial town center is laidback and cultured, with a historic covered bridge built in 1864 that's one of only three surviving in the state. The more adventurous visitor is well catered for too. Mohawk Mountain ski area is the largest in Connecticut, and the mighty Housatonic River and Mohawk State Forest offer a wealth of outdoor activities.

Newport, Rhode Island

Affluent Newport is an old money charmer on Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island. Its yacht-filled harbor hosted the prestigious America’s Cup regatta for many years, and retains a moneyed aura. The town is also famous for its Gilded Age mansions, built during a period of extreme materialism in the 1870s. Most are concentrated along stately Bellevue Avenue, and many are now museums. The most famous is the Breakers, an 1895 mansion patterned after a Renaissance palace. It was the Vanderbilts’ summer 'cottage', and a symbol of their social and financial eminence.

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Just an hour’s drive north of Portland, Boothbay Harbor is famous for its 1,000-foot-long (305m) wooden footbridge. Built in 1901 and recently restored, it connects one side of the town to the other and gives a unique perspective on harborside life. The historic downtown is a jumble of colorful shops, restaurants and lobster shacks while aquatic activities like boating, kayaking and paddleboarding open up a whole other world. Enjoy rocky coastlines, picturesque lighthouses and marine life including whales, seals and puffins. On land, the beautiful Coastal Botanical Gardens delights adults and children alike with its incredible giant trolls.

Waterbury, Vermont

Home to three state parks and a charming downtown where most of the buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Waterbury is at once a popular foodie, artsy and active outdoor hotspot. It’s also home to Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory where you can tour the facility and sample the product. Concerned about the extra pounds from the double fudge cookie dough? Fear not. Waterbury is one of the best biking destinations in Vermont with a trail for every ability, including one to Ricker Mountain in Little River State Park, a farming community abandoned in the 1880s.

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Sugar Hill may have gotten its name from the large groves of sugar maples within the town limits, but visit in June and it's the glorious fields of purple lupine flowers that will catch your eye. They stretch out towards the magnificent Presidential, Franconia, Kinsman and Dalton ranges, ranking among the most unforgettable sights in New England. At other times of year, visitors are drawn to more of the town’s myriad charms, not least Polly’s Pancake Parlor famous for its homemade pancakes smothered in locally sourced maple syrup.

Chatham, Massachusetts

Perfectly placed on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, charming Chatham offers wild Atlantic views, gorgeous beaches and an obligatory picture-perfect lighthouse, built in the early 19th century. There’s a railroad museum that exhibits model trains and artifacts in a former depot that dates to 1887. But the real highlight is a visit to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, just to the south, a haven for migratory birds and colonies of gray seals that roll around on the eight-mile-long (13km) spit of blindingly white sand.

Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Old Saybrook sits where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound and was first settled in 1635 and incorporated in 1854, making it one of the oldest towns in the state. Its colorful history is best explored on the Main Street Walking Tour or on a bike tour to Fort Saybrook, which was repeatedly besieged during the Pequot War. The marina offers all kinds of boating adventures from chartered fishing tours to kayaks and paddleboards. Beautiful beaches, coastal forests and a small-town vibe make Old Saybrook one of the most charming locations in all Connecticut.

Wickford Village, Rhode Island

With its picturesque streets, one-of-a-kind shops and eateries nestled among Federal-style homes, Wickford Village is the hidden gem of Rhode Island. Explore the galleries, antique shops and boutique stores or head to the harbor to watch the world float by. On select Fridays through spring and summer the harbor is illuminated, shops stay open later and food trucks from all around the state pull up to serve plenty of delights.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Kennebunkport is a historic fishing village in southern Maine famous for its incredible beaches, screensaver lighthouses and, of course, its seafood. It is one of the oldest European-settled towns in the United States, and for more than 150 years was the preserve of the moneyed sailing and shipbuilding elite. Cross the famous Mathew J Lanigan Bridge over the Kennebunk River and you’ll find the town is now a little more relaxed. Hip chefs have come from all over the country to bring innovation to traditional seafood dishes, while new inns and boutiques have sprung up on every street corner. A slew of off-season festivals have also made Kennebunkport a year-round destination.

Manchester, Vermont

Nestled between the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Range to the west, Manchester is a south Vermont charmer whatever the season. Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert built a Georgian-Revival mansion here; known as Hildene, its beautiful gardens are still worth visiting today. The Southern Vermont Arts Center showcases local artists, and to the west of the town a trail climbs Mount Equinox. The fascinating American Museum of Fly Fishing is a due acknowledgment of the importance of the sport in this neck of the woods.

Meredith, New Hampshire

Meredith sits on the western edge of Lake Winnipesaukee in the heart of New Hampshire’s stunning Lakes Region. The town is surrounded by forests and mountains so it's the perfect base for hiking, biking and kayaking, but there are plenty of less strenuous options available too. You could take a boat ride on the lake or ride the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. You could take the Meredith Sculpture Walk, an exhibition of 33 sculptures stationed throughout the town. Or you could sample award-winning tipples at the Twin Barns Brewery or the Hermit Woods Winery.

Webster, Massachusetts

The town of Webster in southern Massachusetts has many claims to fame. It was the home of Samuel Slater, nicknamed 'the Father of the American Industrial Revolution'. The Rose Room Cafe is considered the best place in the state to experience locally sourced dishes from farms across the northeast. And the Pierpont Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary supports a thriving colony of beavers. But the town is perhaps most famous for the lake it sits beside – Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg – which is the longest place name in the US, and is often humorously translated as "You fish on your side, I'll fish on my side, and no one shall fish in the middle".

Milford, Connecticut

Only 60 miles (96km) from New York, Milford feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of big city life. Here life passes at a distinctly slower pace, albeit with a cultured and sophisticated edge. You’ll find 17 miles (27km) of stunning coastline along Long Island Sound to explore, one of the largest seafood festivals in New England to dive into and a historic district with buildings dating from as far back as 1650. The water, dotted with sailboats, is never far away. Arguably that's always been Milford’s enduring appeal.

Jamestown, Rhode Island

This peaceful settlement on Conanicut Island has had quite the checkered history. Most of the original homes here were burned down during the American Revolution, when the town was occupied by the British. Today it is a peaceful coastal gem with historic farms, award-winning restaurants and locally owned shops and art galleries offering a distinctly serene atmosphere. Be sure to walk the clifftop trail to the Beavertail Lighthouse and Museum and experience beautiful vistas along the New England coastline.

Camden, Maine

Cultured Camden brings a touch of style and sophistication to the Midcoast region of Maine. Perched on Penobscot Bay, its High Street Historic District features a series of 19th-century homes and a landscaped amphitheater. The restored Camden Opera House hosts a dazzling program of music, film and dance, and a host of art galleries and boutiques display the work of acclaimed local artists. There’s plenty for the body as well as the mind. Trails line the slopes at Camden Hills State Park, and exploring nearby Curtis Island, with its 19th-century lighthouse, is an invigorating and rewarding pursuit too.

Weston, Vermont

Weston sits at an elevation of around 1,500 feet (457m), surrounded by the verdant grandeur of the beautiful Green Mountain National Forest. It was once a bustling timber town, home to 10 sawmills, a grist mill and the Weston Playhouse Theater Company, the oldest professional theater in Vermont. The colorful Vermont Country Store, a family-owned business since 1946, is a focal point. Several farmers' markets dot the town, offering fresh, locally grown produce, homemade goods and handcrafted items. And the Benedictine monks at the Weston Priory bring tranquility and reflection to the town.

North Conway, New Hampshire

Set amid the peaks and forests of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, North Conway is the perfect jumping-off point for hiking excursions on Mount Washington and leaf-peeping tours on vintage trains when the foliage changes color in the fall. The region’s best ski slopes are close by too, as are the Diana’s Baths cascades, a must-visit in the warmer months. The town is also something of a shopper’s paradise, whether you’re hunting for antiques or looking for a bargain at one of the town’s famous outlet stores.

Lowell, Massachusetts

Lowell was the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution, famous for its textile mills and factories. Today these historic manufacturing buildings form the Lowell National Historical Park, a buzzing quarter of museums, cultural centers and restored factory floors that bring the industrial era to life. Lowell is also home to one of the oldest folk festivals in the US, the grave of Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac; the house where actor Bette Davis was born; and the mysterious (and some say haunted) statue of Witch Bonney.

Wethersfield, Connecticut

During the late 1700s and early 1800s Wethersfield in Hartford County was the center of the onion trade in New England, earning the town the unflattering moniker ‘Oniontown’. Founded in 1634, it's also known as 'Ye Most Ancient Towne' in Connecticut, a status reflected in the colonial homes, 150 of which pre-date the Civil War. It is this rich heritage that draws visitors, but it would be remiss of you not to at least try a famous Wethersfield red onion on your visit.

Charlestown, Rhode Island

Charlestown is a south Rhode Island gem where it’s all about nature. One day you can be stomping along mile after mile of secluded hiking trails in the Charlestown Moraine and Tucker Woods Preserves. The next, exploring the surprisingly secluded and undeveloped stretches of shoreline on the thin tendril of land between the Ninigret and Quonochontaug Ponds and the Block Island Sound. Finally, sate the appetite you’ve worked up with an all-you-can-eat, seafood-heavy buffet at the Nordic on the shore of Pasquiset Pond. A local legend since 1963, no one walks away hungry.

Stonington, Maine

Stonington on Deer Isle is a living, breathing fishing village where the fruits of the sea are still the lifeblood of the town. The Lobster Co-op here was founded in 1948, making it the second oldest in the state, and to this day you can wander down to the dock and buy a lobster directly from the person that just caught it. There are lobster boat races every summer and a sunset lobster boil at Burnt Cove most evenings between June and August. If lobsters aren’t your thing there are coves and reserves to explore by foot or kayak, plus an intriguing Granite Museum.

Woodstock, Vermont

If you’re after a picture-book New England village, look no further than Woodstock in the center of Vermont. Once voted the prettiest town in America, you’ll find Insta-friendly vistas around every corner, particularly around the Green, which is known for gorgeous historic buildings like the 19th-century pink-sandstone Norman Williams Public Library. There’s also the obligatory covered bridge, a recreation of 19th-century farm life at the Billings Farm and Museum, and a bunch of trails to explore in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.

Laconia, New Hampshire

The biggest problem with visiting the lakeside town of Laconia in New Hampshire is deciding what to do. Wedged between Lake Winnipesaukee and Paugus Bay, Laconia boasts five beautiful beaches – Weirs Beach is the most popular – and a 1,300-foot-long (396m) boardwalk taking in the best of the sights. The Funspot claims to be the largest arcade in the world and Weir Drive-In Theater offers all the latest movies the way we watched them back in the 1950s. And thanks to the WOW Trail, a paved multi-use pathway, Laconia can be easily and safely explored by bike.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Nantucket is a popular summer destination that's famous for its unpainted cedar-shingled buildings, built to withstand the harsh winter winds that batter this tiny island. When the sun is out, however, there's no better place to be than the town's dune-backed beaches. The wharfs and cobblestoned streets are lined with restaurants, high-end boutiques and steepled churches, while the walk to Brant Point Lighthouse is bracing and picturesque. If that's not enough, the town’s Whaling Museum recounts the island’s role as a 19th-century whaling hub.

Mystic, Connecticut

Mystic has been a significant Connecticut seaport since 1784, building over 600 ships and providing chandlery services for countless more. The harbor remains the focus of the town, buzzing with shops, restaurants and cafés. The town’s nautical heritage is reflected in Mystic Seaport Museum, kayak and paddleboard tours and even in Mystic Knotwork, a local shop that sells hand-tied nautical knot bracelets, coasters, ornaments and doormats. A little further along Main Street you’ll find Mystic Pizza, the pizzeria made famous by the movie of the same name that marked one of Julia Roberts’ first roles, which was shot at various locations around the town.

Greenville, Maine

Sitting at the lower end of Moosehead Lake in the Maine Highlands, Greenville is the historic gateway to the north country and a lively center for outdoor recreation in the area. Moosehead Lake is the largest body of freshwater in the state, and as its name suggests it's a great place to spot moose, which gather here in their hundreds. It's also a hub for all kinds of boating and watersports, and visitors can ride on the magnificent Katahdin, built in 1914 and the last remaining steamboat in Maine.

Stowe, Vermont

Imagine the quintessential Vermont town – a white steepled church backed by mountains covered in a riot of fall colors – and you’ve essentially imagined Stowe. Sitting at the foot of Mount Mansfield, it’s also the perfect base for a host of outdoor activities whatever the season. Nearby you’ll find two of Vermont’s most beautiful waterfalls – Moss Glen and Bingham – and Emily's Covered Bridge, named for a jilted lover who took her own life there and continues to haunt it to this day. The story goes that she occasionally gouges at cars as they pass through.

Bethlehem, New Hampshire

In the late 1800s trains brought city dwellers to the 'highest town in New Hampshire' to escape hay fever and the summer heat. Now they come to this corner of the White Mountains for all kinds of reasons: old-fashioned festivals, first class theater and art, excellent antique shopping and top-notch restaurants and breweries. Plus, of course, the great outdoors. In winter, cross-country skiing is king, while in summer mountain bikes reign supreme. A visit to The Rocks, a well-managed 1,400-acre forest reservation, is an absolute must at any time of year.

Rockport, Massachusetts

Just 40 miles (64km) northeast of Boston on the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula, Rockport is the quintessential seaside New England town – but with a distinctive artistic slant. The town has more than 30 galleries featuring the work of over 400 artists, many of whom you’ll bump into around town, their easels out and ready to talk to you about their work. In fact, the red building on the dock is said to be the most painted in America. Alternatively, head out onto the water in a kayak or on a historic schooner and keep your eye out for Rockport’s other famous residents – pods of humpback whales, minke whales and finback whales.

Kent, Connecticut

There must be something in the water in the tiny town of Kent, and fortunately it's not an overhang from its time as a center of the iron industry. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger lives in the town and  Family Guy  creator Seth MacFarlane was born in it, while actor Ted Danson and singers Lana Del Rey and KT Tunstall went to school here. With a beautiful town center, the stunning Kent Falls State Park and 17 waterfalls right on the outskirts of town, the real question is why they would ever want to leave.

York, Maine

Tucked away on Maine's southern tip, York is the second oldest town in the state. Old York Gaol is among the oldest English public buildings in the US, and the nearby Nubble Lighthouse is surely a candidate for the cutest lighthouse on Earth. The town itself bustles with quaint shops and honky-tonk arcades, the beaches are wide and long, and clifftop walks offer solitude and peace. But let’s be honest – the biggest reason to visit York is to stop off at The Goldenrod, the region's premier candy store since 1896, for some of its famous saltwater taffy.

Grafton, Vermont

Nestled in the mountains of southern Vermont, Grafton is one of New England’s prettiest villages. And despite its small size and beauty, it's definitely not a living museum. Many of the beautiful and historic buildings have been restored by residents who still hold traditional town meetings to decide on important matters. The result is a town that looks much as it did years ago – and feels the same too. The town is particularly pretty during the colder months – visit in winter and discover a snowglobe come to life.

Harrisville, New Hampshire

Harrisville is a preserved 19th-century mill town located in the Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire. The town is centered around a 19th-century industrial mill complex and is the best-preserved mill town in New England. Here you’ll find 10 lakes and ponds, a rehabilitated brick and granite mill and a traditional New England general store. It is surrounded by a vibrant rural community who bring their freshly grown produce to the town’s bustling farmers' market.

Ipswich, Massachusetts

It’s all about the clams in this part of coastal Essex County. Ipswich is known for the soft-shell variety – or steamers – that are dug from the sand along the coast here and famously served fried. There’s an annual Chowderfest held on the River Walk every October – especially popular with Bostonians who make the trip north ­– but you can sample this delicacy any time of year at the Clam Box, the Choate Bridge Pub or fresh as you like from the Shellfish Fish Market.

Chester, Connecticut

Located in the heart of the beautiful Connecticut River Valley, Chester makes the perfect New England getaway. The picturesque village center is bursting with lively art galleries, shops and restaurants. And if you’re feeling active, you can always bike through the Cockaponset State Forest, swim at Cedar Lake or take a tour of the Chester Museum at The Mill. Or cross the Connecticut River to visit historic Gillette Castle on a ferry service that has been operating since 1769.

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7 of the best small towns and villages to visit in Tuscany

Driving among the medieval towns dotted across the countryside is a quintessential tuscan experience, article bookmarked.

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Although Italy has no shortage of enchanting holiday destinations – the Amalfi Coast , Cinque Terre, Puglia and Sicily , to name just a few – there’s something particularly magical about Tuscany.

This is a region that often seems to be bathed in a soft golden light, with gently sloping hills and beautiful Italian villas nestled among olive groves, cypress trees and vineyards .

Although you could easily fill your days in the cities of Florence and Pisa, or exploring the narrow streets and central piazza of Siena, perhaps one of the greatest experiences in Tuscany is exploring the many medieval hilltop towns and villages that are scattered through the countryside.

From the famous towers of San Gimignano and charming Pienza to Greve in the wine-making region of Chianti, there are plenty of towns and villages to discover, all with their own unique charms and within easy driving distance of one another. Here are seven of our favourites.

San Gimignano

San Gimignano is one of the best known small towns in Tuscany – and for good reason. With its hilltop location, charmimg local restaurants and picture-perfect setting, it’s a favourite among tourists. Visitors can stroll through the medieval streets, stop in at one of the many small shops, gaze at the town’s impressive Duomo cathedral and visit the civic museum at the Palazzo del Popolo.

There’s a fun story behind San Gimignano’s famous towers. Between the 11th and the 13th centuries, the noble families who controlled the town believed their towers were a sign of wealth and power to their political and economic rivals, and so kept building more and more – it is believed that a total of 72 could be found in San Gimignano at its peak. Only 14 have survived, but they’re still rather impressive and give the town a palpable sense of history .

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Montalcino is an excellent choice for wine lovers – it’s well known for its brunello di montalcino and rosso di montalcino wines. The location in the hills of the Val d’Orcia gives it an even more rustic setting than other towns on this list. Visitors will find themselves surrounded by countryside dotted with cypress trees and flowers, as well as rolling olive groves and vineyards. Tourists can climb the fortress walls, amble through the winding streets and spend some time on the town’s Piazza del Popolo – but no visitor should miss the wine tastings which can be enjoyed in and around the town.

Pienza also lies in the Val d’Orcia, where gently rolling hills are populated by Renaissance towns, vineyards and medieval castles. The town itself is surrounded by medieval walls, inside of which is a maze of pretty cobbled streets lined with typical Tuscan houses. From the town you can enjoy amazing views over the hills and olive groves, and in the distance sits Mount Amiata.

All roads in this town lead to the Pio II plaza, with particularly picturesque streets including the Via dell’Amore and Via del Bacio. The town’s cathedral sits in this square, as does the Palazzo Piccolomini and Palazzo Borgia, which houses the town’s museum.

Greve in Chianti and Montefioralle

A visit to Tuscany is arguably not complete without a visit to Chianti, the region’s famous wine-producing area. Greve in Chianti is one of the more scenic towns in this part of Tuscany – it’s centred around the triangular Piazza Matteotti, the porticos of which hide vendors of various fresh produce.

In the foothills just below Greve in Chianti lies Montefioralle, one of the oldest villages in Tuscany. It’s still enclosed by its original defensive walls, and its (nearly) car-free centre is a great place for a relaxed stroll. The surrounding vineyards will likely be the focus of your visit, but be sure to climb up the hills to the highest point in the village where you can see the Santo Stefano church and take in a sweeping view of the vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees.

Volterra was once a mighty Etruscan city, but nowadays it is best known for Italian handicrafts and remnants of its medieval past. It is dominated by its Duomo along with the Palazzo dei Priori and 13th-century palazzo, though the 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre is another highlight. Remnants of its Etruscan past remain in the 5th-century Porta all’Arco walls and the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, while the smaller Pinacoteca museum focuses on art from between the 14th and 17th century.

Pitigliano is located in the Maremma region near the Tuscan coast. It’s another hilltop town, and features rows of sandstone buildings built on top of volcanic red “tuff” stone. As well as enjoying wine tastings, tourists can amble through the mazy streets, stop for a drink or bite to eat around the lovely Piazza del Popolo, explore the palace-fortress of Palazzo Orsini (and its museum) and visit the Sette Cannelle fountain.

This town is also known as “Little Jerusalem” as a large Jewish population resided there until around the time of the Second World War, and there are several remnants of its religious history still present, from an old Jewish Quarter – now with a Jewish museum – to a gilded synagogue.

Pietrasanta

Pietrasanta still retains some of the artistic creativity that was associated with it in bygone times when artists such as Michelangelo frequented the town. Today it has one of the highest concentrations of art galleries in any Italian town, from the Favret Mosaici Artistici to the Flora Bigae gallery of contemporary art.

Pietrasanta is located very close to the coast, near upmarket resorts like Forte dei Marmi, and so is a town influenced by both local history and modern tourism. Away from the beaches, the highlights include the Duomo and the Rocca di Sala fortress, while an archaeological museum, marble quarry and yearly performing arts festival (named La Versiliana) are a little more off the beaten track.

Read more on Italy with the best hotels in Rome

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