England is one of those places with a long history and which nowadays is in the top of the most visited countries. However, most tourists choose to visit London and stop there. It is definitely one of the most beautiful cities I have visited so far and deserves all its fame. But if I tell you that England means more than London, would you believe me?
In this article I propose a list of destinations that I had the opportunity to visit, that I liked and that are definitely worth mentioning, maybe you will be inspired and add them to your itinerary. Many of them are in the northern part of England, so you can consider them if you want to combine them with locations in Scotland.
I leave my top below, in completely random order, with the mention that personal experience and the weather I had while visiting these places may (or may not) have a say in creating this list. I will not include London in this top, I dedicated a separate article to it, so I leave a link to the guide with the most beautiful places to visit in the capital of England.
TOP MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN ENGLAND:
1. Durdle Door
Durdle Door is one of the most iconic beaches in England. It is located in the south of the country, in the county of Dorset, and what makes it special is the arch formed naturally in the rock. The landscape is absolutely gorgeous, and the beach is made of pebbles, not sand. To get to it, you have to walk a short distance, about 10-15 minutes from the parking lot. In fact, if you are a hiking enthusiast, you can dare to walk the coastal path, which offers spectacular views of the entire area.
On nice weather days, the beach can get extremely crowded, but even so, it doesn't detract from its beauty at all. I wrote a separate article about this place, so you can read more about Durdle Door here.
2.Tintagel Castle
It is located in the northern part of Cornwall, and the most interesting parts are the suspension bridge (which connects the peninsula on which the castle ruins are located and the town of Tintagel) and the door that gives the impression of a connection with another world. It is the ideal place to admire the landscapes and walk along the coast. In the beach area, which is public and access is free, you can visit Merlin's Cave, if there is low tide. I wrote a separate article about this place so you can read more information about Tintagel Castle here.
3. Bedruthan Steps is an area on the Cornish coast, with absolutely gorgeous beaches and breathtaking scenery. If there was a favorite place in the United Kingdom, for me this is it.
The name of the location is given by the relief of the coast, not by the 150 steps that facilitate access to the beach. In fact, due to rockfalls, access to the beach was prohibited in certain areas. Personally, this aspect did not bother me, the scenery from above was truly spectacular.
Being a beautiful area, with a holiday vibe, if the weather permits, I recommend booking at least one night of accommodation in the area. Below, I leave some of the locations that caught my attention:
Retallack Resort & Spa - apartment-type accommodation unit, with spa area, parking and internet included in the booking price;
Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa - Adults Only - 4-star accommodation unit with double, twin or suite rooms. It has a spa area, internet and parking included in the booking price.
4. The Cotswolds region is one of the best preserved rural areas in Europe. Here you can enjoy the English authenticity that we see most often in films. There are a few villages worth visiting in this area, and the ones that I liked the most are Castle Combe and Bibury. Both are quite small villages, but the tranquility there transports you to another world, without exaggerating at all when I say this. Although the area is full of tourists, fortunately this does not make these locations seem commercial.
In Bibury, the most famous and photographed street is Arlington Row, where you can admire the oldest houses, which are almost 600 years old and are still inhabited. Completing the landscape, a stream runs through the row of houses, and the area is very green. You can read more details about Bibury.
Castle Combe is a similarly well-preserved village, but the houses here are a bit newer than Bibury. The locals still have little shops selling home-cooked food and it's the perfect place to try traditional scones.
I leave some links to day tours to the villages of the Cotswolds, departing from London or departing from Oxford.
5. Lake District is one of the most famous national parks in England. It is located in the northwestern part of the country and contrary to popular belief, there is only one officially recognized lake in this area, which meets all the characteristics of a natural lake. Unofficially, there are 17 lakes in this park. No matter how many there are, be it one or 17, the area is equally beautiful and wild and is the ideal place for nature walks and hiking. As locations worth considering are: Windermere (the most commercial of all the locations), Skafell Pike, Keswick, Buttermere, Aira Force Waterfall, Lowther Castle, Ambleside, Rannerdale Knots and probably many more, especially if you are passionate about hiking. Of the locations visited here, I liked Rannerdale Knotts the most, which I saw during the full bloom period of the blue bells.
I leave some links with excursions you can have in the area:
- one-day tour, visiting 10 lakes, departing from the Lake District, details here;
- Lake District tour, departing from Manchester, details here;
- Lake District tour, departing from Liverpool, details here;
- Lake District tour, departing from London, details here;
I'm also leaving a slightly more special accommodation location, which I've had on my list for some time, I really liked it, but was way over my budget: Gilpin Hotel & Lake House.
6. Peak District is one of the most visited national parks in England. It is located in the central part of the country, so it can be reached from almost any area. As for activities, most of them involve nature. Here you can enjoy walks and hikes or just relax and admire the scenery. The most famous locations in this park are Winnats Pass and Lud's Church.
If you reach Winnats Pass, don't miss Speedwell Cavern. It is a passage dug into the mountain, which 200 years ago served as a mine corridor. The visit is done in a boat, because the passage is flooded. It was just as flooded when the mine was operational, with workers having to stay in the water for 12-16 hours a day. The experience of visiting this place is quite interesting, especially if you have never visited something like it before.
7. York is one of the most beautiful cities in Great Britain and also one of the few places in the world that is still inside a protective wall that has remained intact since the medieval period. The most famous street is The Shambles, one of the best preserved streets in the world. Besides the fact that this street is absolutely gorgeous, here you can admire old houses that are even 500 years old, as well as the street, paved with cubic stone, which still retains the shape that allowed horse-drawn carts to move easily. To visit this city, it is enough to have one day, or even two if you want to explore more. I leave a link to the full article about the city of York.
8. Leeds is one of the cities that developed greatly with the industrial revolution, nowadays being the third largest city in England. Here you can enjoy the architecture, the two arcades (County Arcade and Thornton's Arcade), a walk on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Kirkgate Market or visits to museums (Leeds City Museum, Abbey House Museum, Thackray Museum and Medicine, Royal Armouries Museum). You can also visit the Leeds United stadium, admire butterflies and other insects and animals at Tropical World, or enjoy activities such as go-karting, shopping or escape rooms.
It is often overlooked by tourists, all the popularity of the area being stolen by Manchester, a slightly more popular city thanks to the great football teams that have its name. In fact, I chose to remove Manchester from this top, because it is a city that conveyed absolutely nothing to me, I recommend you put it on the list only if you are passionate about football and want to see the stadiums.
9. Whitby is one of the places that inspired Bram Stocker to write the novel "Dracula". It is considered the ideal place to enjoy a guided tour in search of ghosts (the so-called "Ghost tour"), or to spend Halloween, a very popular holiday in this place. The most interesting activities and places to see in Whitby are the Ruins of the Monastery, the view from the almost 200 steps that lead to it and the boat trip in search of whales. I recommend getting to this place as early as possible in the morning, because it is very popular and becomes extremely, but extremely - extremely crowded, especially if the weather is nice. By the way, if you come here by car, you can find free parking on weekends on the streets with residential houses. You just have to go right at the roundabout in front of the train station and go forward until you reach the residential area.
10. Saltburn is one of the most beautiful villages on the north-east coast and one of the most underestimated from a tourist point of view. On summer days with good weather, this place becomes almost unfit for the crowd of people who come to enjoy the traditional fish and chips and the holiday-like walks. Whether you choose a walk on the cliff, on the beach or on the pier, or if you choose a walk along the coastal promenade alley, I am sure that this place will delight you, as it delighted me. There are no tourist attractions worth visiting here, only what is related to nature, so I recommend choosing to go here in the summer and definitely on a sunny day.
11. Scarborough, like Saltburn, it is a town on the north-east coast, slightly further south and much larger. Good weather is essential to enjoy the best version of this town, which loses all its charm and holiday resort feel when it rains. Here you can visit Scarborough Castle (which is not a castle, just the ruins of one), Sea Life Scarborough Aquarium, Peashoom Park, Cayton Beach Bay and the Fair Collection (a vintage car museum).
12. Staithes is a fishing village, quite small, but with a special charm. To visit this place you need 1-2 hours. It is gorgeous in any season, and apart from a walk on the beautiful streets or on the coast there are no other tourist activities. Parking for non-residents is at the entrance to the village and is free between October and March.
13. Robin Hood's Bay is an old fishing village on the northeast coast, located near Whitby and Staithes, so you can make an itinerary and visit all 3 in one day. The charm of this place is represented by the narrow alleys between the houses, which take the place of streets. Being a village with access to the sea, when it's low tide there is also a beach, which I personally find quite ugly. What I find really beautiful in this place, besides the narrow alleys between the houses, are the climbing roses that give a special air to the place. I recommend, if possible, to visit this place in June, when all the climbing flowers are in bloom, and the place has a fairy-tale atmosphere. In fact, come here as early as possible in the morning because parking spaces are limited and it can be a real headache to find a free space.
14. Runswick Bay is another absolutely charming fishing village. It is a kind of Robin Hood's Bay, but much smaller and greener. Here too there are lots of narrow alleys between the houses and absolutely gorgeous flowers. This place is a bit more authentic and very little touristy, so most of the people you meet here are either locals or live nearby. The best time to visit this place is June, when the roses and hydrangeas are in bloom.
15. Ravenscar is the ideal place for hiking and wildlife lovers. This place is famous for seeing seals in their natural habitat. Access to the beach is not the easiest, so I recommend hiking shoes, not slippers or sandals. Also, I need to mention that you can't go down with a baby stroller. The beach is not sandy, but with boulders and stones. You will notice the seals and their pups coming to rest on the shore. It is recommended to keep your distance to not scare them. When it is low tide you have the opportunity to see much more than during the high tide because they have more space for sunbathing.
16. The Royal Navy Museum Hartlepool is one of the most interesting museums I have seen in England. What captivated me about this place is the way the museum was designed. More precisely, it is a life-size 19th century port. Here you can admire shops selling various objects, a tailor (which I thought was brilliant), a bar, a mini-museum with various objects and much more. In addition to these, the icing on the cake is the battleship in the middle of the port. I had been wanting to visit such a ship for a very long time, and I could not find a more interesting one than this.
17. Holy Island is the place you must visit if you want to see in more detail the beauty of a natural phenomenon, namely the tide. Obviously, the tide manifests itself throughout Great Britain and is visible on any beach, but here it is different because during the flow it swallows a road of several miles, making it disappear completely under water for a few hours. In fact, this island, also known as Lindisfarne, is an island only during the flow. I recommend that you inform yourself very well about the times when the water level rises and to respect in detail all the traffic rules so as not to risk getting stuck. I wrote more details in a separate article about Holy Island.
18. Farne Islands is by far the wildest place in Europe I have visited so far. Here you can admire seals, puffins, arctic terns, cormorants, black gannets and gulls. To reach these islands it is necessary to book a boat cruise from the town of Seahouses. Due to the avian flu that hit the bird colonies, public access to the islands was prohibited in 2022 and 2023. If the bird pandemic situation improves, it is possible that visits will return to normal. Even without access to the islands, you can easily observe and photograph the birds from the boat. In a separate article I wrote more details about visiting the Farne Islands.
19. Tyntesfield Castle is a mansion built in the Victorian era. The name comes from the Tynte family, who owned the land on which the mansion was built since 1500. The location became famous due to the numerous films and series made here. Among the most famous series are Sherlock, Doctor Who, Doctor Thorne, Antiques Roadshow, The Famous Five, and the films Dracula and Angel.
The location is managed by the National Trust, which does a good job, but I would say a little too good:)) I mean, most of the furniture was covered with pieces of white cloth, you could not access many of the rooms, except to admire them from the door, and only the ground floor was open to the public. In my opinion, the location is absolutely gorgeous, but a little expensive considering that you do not visit much of the interior, and covering the furniture can create a little frustration.
20. Howard Castle is the ideal place to visit during Christmas. During the winter holidays, Christmas trees are decorated in every room, and the place seems to be taken from storybooks. In the rooms where there is a fireplace, the fire is lit, and the atmosphere with the smell of burning wood makes you not fall in love with this castle on the spot. The ticket price may seem high, but believe me when I say, it is worth all the money. This location is located near York and can be an option to add to your itinerary if you get to the area. I wrote a separate article about Howard Castle.
21. Bamburgh Castle is a castle located on the north-east coast of England, right next to the beach. As for the distance, it is quite close to Holy Island and the Farne Islands. In the very place where the castle stands today, there was once a Celtic fort. A few hundred years later, it was destroyed by the Vikings, and not long after, the Normans began to build part of the current building. The final form and restoration were carried out in the Victorian era.
22. Raby Castle is a castle that does not stand out for luxury and opulence, as we are used to in the case of many locations of this kind. Although the building is huge and for the time it was built it far exceeded the average of homes, both in terms of structure and furniture and amenities, personally, I felt this location as a modest one. The location also has a garden with plants, a stream crosses its courtyard, and the point of resistance is represented by the deer that walk unhindered through the castle courtyard.
23. Alnwick Castle is a somewhat more imposing castle, compared to Raby. Several scenes from a Harry Potter movie were filmed here, which made it famous among tourists. You can visit the interior (where photography and filming are prohibited) and the courtyard and garden. For the garden, you have to pay a separate ticket.
24. Riexaulx Abbey is one of the monasteries destroyed by Henry VIII, when he broke ties with the Catholic Church in Rome and decided to dissolve all the monasteries in England. This is one of the least destroyed because the priests and monks did not resist and gave the king everything he asked. Even in ruins, this building is an imposing one, and the area in which it is located is quite rural. So you can enjoy picturesque landscapes, in addition to a dose of history.
25. Fountains Abbey is a complex of ecclesiastical settlements, somewhat larger than that of Rievaulx, but which suffered the same fate. Here you can visit the ruins of the monastery, the gardens (which form a park), Fountains Hall, which is an imposing building, built shortly after the destruction of the monastery, the mills built by the Cistercians in the 12th century and Swanley Grange (a kind of farm).
26. Newcastle is a city located in the north of England, known largely for its nightlife. In addition to the multitude of clubs and restaurants, in this city you can visit: Victoria Tunnel (a 19th century tunnel that was used as a bunker in World War II), Newcastle Castle, Newcastle Cathedral, Quayside (the most touristic place in the city, located on the banks of the River Tyne), Grey Street and Jesmond Dene.
27. Ilfracombe is a town in the southwest of England, located on the Atlantic coast. Certainly, the strength of this location is represented by the beaches hidden among the rocks and the air of a holiday resort. It is the ideal place to enjoy a walk and try fresh seafood. Although there are some less touristy areas and through which you do not want to be even passing, it deserves to be put on your travel bucket list due to its strategic position and the connection it has with other areas of England, implicitly Cornwall. The prices for accommodation in this location are considerably lower, compared to the same offers in Cornwall. From this point of view, it is worth considering this location, if you are looking for accommodation units that are slightly cheaper.
28. Stonehenge is a very touristy, popular and crowded place. Despite these aspects, it is worth putting on your list to visit, especially if you are passionate about history and human evolution. It is considered one of the oldest man-made constructions, and its mysteries have not been completely solved. You can get here as a day trip from London. If you do not have a car and do not want to bother with public transport, you can opt for an organized trip departing from London. Find more details about Stonehenge here.
29. Knaresborough is a village in northern England, which has become famous among tourists because of the viaduct that crosses it. To visit this place you do not need much time, just an hour or two. The most beautiful part of this place is definitely the promenade area on the river bank.
I'm leaving a link to a 5-day trip, which includes several areas of England, including Knaresborough, departing from London, details here.
30. Durham located in the north of England, it is a city that became famous thanks to the monastery that was one of the locations where Harry Potter was filmed. The area worth visiting is not very large, so in an hour or two you can visit everything. Apart from the cathedral, I do not recommend paying entrance to visit anything else in this place. I honestly tell you that it is not worth wasting your time visiting Durham Castle, although the entrance ticket price is low, it is not worth it. This place is divided between the area open to tourists and the area of student dormitories. Instead, I recommend a walk through the streets with old houses, to the cathedral and back along the river that crosses the city.
If you would like to spend more days in the area, I leave you some accommodation options:
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County - 4-star accommodation unit, with double or twin rooms, gym and private parking;
- The City Hotel - 3-star accommodation unit, which has double, twin rooms or apartments.
31. Flamborough Head is one of the most spectacular limestone cliffs in England. Both the beach and the view from the coast are equally beautiful. The highlights are the arches naturally formed in the rock and the contrast between the white of the cliff walls and the sea water. Also nearby is Bempton Cliffs, a very wild place, where puffins and white gannets can be seen.
32. Haworth is the place where the famous British writers, the Bronte sisters, were born and raised. The areas around this town served as inspiration for the well-known novels (and not only) "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre". The village is quite small, but it is very picturesque and worth seeing. Also, if you get here in June, do not miss a walk through the park. During this period the rhododendrons bloom and offer a real show.
You can opt for a day trip from York to Haworth and the Yorkshire Dales, details here;
SEASONAL LOCATIONS:
33. Harrogate and more precisely The Stray park, is one of the places worth visiting in April, when the Japanese cherry trees are in bloom. The Stray offers a real visual spectacle, with cherry blossoms on the edges of every alley. I recommend getting here as early as possible in the morning, especially if you want to take photos. During the day it becomes extremely crowded with people eager to enjoy this place.
34. Hitchin Lavender as we deduce from the name, it is a lavender field in the town of Hitchin. The flowering period is somewhere in late July - early August. There is an entrance fee, the price of which includes a bouquet of lavender. For me it was the first place of this kind visited, and the smell of lavender took me by surprise.
35. Roseberry Topping is a place that can be visited all year round, but if you want to enjoy the meadows full of so-called Blue Bells, then you have to get here in May. The place looks like it was cut out of storybooks.
36. Temple Newsham is one of my favorite places when it comes to flowers and the spectacle they offer. This place is a huge park, full of azaleas and rhododendrons, which bloom at the same time. Believe me when I tell you, you have never seen anything like this before (and if you have, you must tell me where :)). The location is near Leeds, and the best time to visit is early June.
CONCLUSIONS
England is a diverse country, which is worth giving a chance from a tourist point of view. Obviously, there are many other gorgeous places that are worth visiting, but because I didn't get to see them, I preferred not to include them on this list. If you have already been to England and have places you recommend that are not on this list, you can leave them in the comments.
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