If you’re still keen to travel safely in the UK before the weather takes a turn for the worse, you might find yourself craving natural beauty and the great outdoors. After all, many of us have realised during this incredibly testing year that nature is
absolutely vital to our mental health.
With this in mind, the folks at Daffodil Hotels have put together a list of the UK’s top staycation beauty spots. They did this by ranking 70 of the UK’s prettiest villages and towns by counting their number of attractions, beauty spots, hills and mountain ranges, Instagram hashtags, heritage spots and green spaces, then giving each a score out of 100.
The top ten is definitely a varied list featuring destinations in northern and southern England as well as Wales and Scotland. Check them all out in this holiday inspo-filled slideshow.
Lying right in the middle of the Lake District National Park, the historic market town of Keswick is an ideal place to stay while exploring the region. The surrounding countryside is obviously stunning, and the town itself is home to many charming listed buildings.
This historic seaside town is known for its cute cobbled streets, heritage coastline and excellent fish and chips. It’s also close to the North York Moors National Park if you find yourself fancying a hike.
Sitting at the head of Windermere, England’s largest natural lake, this town is perfectly placed for boat trips and lakeside hikes. And with 10 pubs and bars within a quarter-mile radius, it’s also known for its hospitality.
This Welsh village has a super-Instagrammable bridge crossing the River Colwyn. It’s a great base for climbing Moel Hebog – the mountain which overlooks the village – and for exploring the rest of beautiful Snowdonia.
This pretty seaside village lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has an excellent range of coastal walks to try, and several lovely sandy beaches to chill out on while the weather’s still warm.
Oban means “The Little Bay” in Scottish Gaelic, reflecting the fact that this seaside town lies in a perfect horseshoe bay. There’s plenty of dramatic coastal scenery to check out, and you can also catch a ferry to the nearby Isle of Mull.
Just 13 miles from Sheffield, this famous market town lies in the southeast portion of the Peak District National Park. After checking out its medieval bridge and the nearby Chatsworth House, you can chill out with a cup of tea and… you’ve guessed, it a Bakewell tart.
The largest town in the Cotswolds is also one of the prettiest; it’s home to several impressive churches and a beautifully designed park. A train from London Paddington to Kemble – the nearest station, which is 3.5 miles away – takes just over an hour.
This market town is home to the stunning Alnwick Castle, which was used as a stand-in for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. You’ll also find several other historic landmarks, a range of listed buildings and one of the largest second-hand bookstores in Europe.
Built between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village – yes, really – this completely unique Welsh destination has to be seen to be believed. Even a quick visit will keep you in Instagram content for weeks.
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These Are The UK’s Top Staycation Destinations