The pride of Britain lies within its countryside, and there are fewer places in the UK to get a truly authentic experience of British life than in its villages. This is exactly why I wanted to share some of the best places to go in the UK that aren’t just the obvious spots.
Yes, we’ve got the likes of London, Bath, Cardiff and Edinburgh to explore, but there is so much more to the UK than just the big cities.
Now, for me, some of the best places to go in the UK have come from finding the little communities that are so historic and picture-perfect, too.
Also, what these little places lack in size (there are sometimes just hundreds of people living in these villages), they more than make up for in charm and their honestly idyllic to visit.
So, it’s safe to say some people won’t have heard of a lot of these places (kudos to you if you have), but I really hope I can share a few special places that you haven’t previously thought of visiting.
Next time you’re visiting the UK and looking to explore more places outside of your norm, set some time aside to explore these best places to go in the UK.
1.) Bibury, England
Bibury is a gorgeous little place that’s nestled within the stunning Cotswolds and easily one of the best places to go in the UK to explore.
The whole area is incredible to explore. Just make sure to stop off at Arlington Row, too. It’s so picturesque.
Read more: Best things to do in the Cotswolds
2.) Eton, England
Eton is a stunning place to visit, not too far from London.
Make sure to wander around this historic place, take a tour of some of the older buildings and make a stop at nearby Windsor Castle.
The castle is huge and home to the Royal Family.
Just make sure you book your tickets online so you don’t need to queue up on your visit. It really is one of the best places to go in the UK to explore our history and so easy to visit from London for a day trip.
Read more: Best things to do in Windsor
3.) Crail, Scotland
The Kingdom of Fife is a great place to visit in south-east Scotland, with Crail being a little gem to see.
Head to this older historic fishing town and make sure to grab a good fish and chips lunch. You’ll find loads of delicious Scottish foods you should try, too. Honestly, this alone makes it one of the best places to go in the UK as part of a wider trip in Scotland. It’s such a beatiful area and well worth driving around whilst you’re here.
Read more: Best places to see in Fife
4.) Castle Combe, England
Castle Combe is a stunning village to visit in Wiltshire and a place that’s filled with charming buildings, and it’s one best places to go in the UK for a leafy and historic village.
Take a wander through the pretty streets and stop off at some of the local tea rooms for warm scones with clotted cream and jams.
They’re delicious.
Read more: Visiting Castle Combe
5.) Bourton-on-the-Water, England
Another gem in the Cotswolds is Bourton-on-the-Water. This is easily one of the best places to go in the UK to visit when exploring the Cotswolds and can easily be reached from the likes of Bath, too.
Make sure to rent a (or take your own) car and discover this pretty place. It’s perfect on a lovely sunny day.
Read more on visiting Bourton-on-the-Water
6.) Cerne Abbas, England
Cene Abbas is a historic little place that dates back to beyond the Pagan era.
Make sure to visit the Pagan fertility hill statue that was created thousands of years ago and still exists today. It really is a special place. Visits won’t take too long, you’ll only spend about 30 minutes here, but you can easily pair it up with a visit to nearby Dorchester, Weymouth or even further afield like Corfe Castle.
Read more: How to go fossil hunting in Dorset
7.) Yalding, England
Not too far from London is the stunning spot of Yalding (Google Maps pin). Nestled in the countryside, it’s a great little spot to visit. Especially if you’re wanting some time away from the big city. It’s only a tiny little place, but you’ve also got places like Scotney Castle, which you can visit with a small entrance fee, close by.
Afterwards, you can use Yalding as a sort of base to ground yourself and explore more of Kent and Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Also, if you’re looking for a nearby city, stop off at the historic Canterbury. You will need to drive as it’s about 70 minutes away but it’s a great place to inlcude as you explore wider Kent.
8.) Polperro, England
Pop over to Cornwall and visit Polperro. Gorge on all the Cornish Pasties (they’re so amazing) and enjoy some of that well-known Cornish charm. It really is one of the best places to go in the UK and an absolute gem to visit as part of a roadtrip.
As with most places in Cornwall, they are quite small, and that’s part of their charm. The whole area is stunning and well worth visiting in a car if you can.
Now, in the summer months, Cornwall does get busy. Not wild, but it’s worth booking your accommodation before your trip. This way, you’ll have the best availability for hotels and lodgings, which can fill up fast in the height of summer.
Read more: Best places in Cornwall to explore
9.) Lacock, England
Lacock is one of the best places to go in the UK when you’re on a road trip. You see, you might not spend longer than a few hours here, but it’s totally gorgeous. This is especially true if you like crooked cottages and straw roofs; it has a charm of its own.
You can easily spend a sleepy afternoon in Lacock, pop into the little tea rooms and grab some freshly baked scones with lashings of jam and cream. You’ll also find heaps of little stores and a pub. The Red Lion pub does a tasty steak and ale pie.
Read more: Best day trips in England
10.) Plockton, Scotland
Plockton is one of those places where you’ll really enjoy some Scottish hospitality.
Make sure to head out on Calum’s Seal Trips to see some of those cute locals. It is a special place and one of the villages that you should visit when exploring the Highlands of Scotland. Plus, you can easily tack this onto your NC500 road trip around the Scottish Highlands.
Read more: Best places on the NC500 route to visit
11.) Beddgelert, Wales
Wales is a gorgeous country to visit, especially in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). Now, this area is a great place to anchor yourself if you’re driving around North Wales and considering the hike (or train) to the top of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon).
Pop over to Beddgelert and enjoy some tasty Welsh Cakes and Bara Brith with lashings of butter. They’re amazing.
Read more: The best places to see in Wales
12.) Crovie, Scotland
There’s so much to see in Scotland, especially as it has loads of the best places to go in the UK dotted all around. It really is beautiful, and I’ve no doubt you’ll love Crovie. Take a wander around the streets, pop into the local pub and see if you can spot some of the sea life from the shore.
Read more: 1-week itinerary for the Scottish Highlands
13.) St Davids, Wales
The biggest thing in St Davids is the Cathedral, and a place you should definitely see. Not only that, St David’s is one of the UK’s smallest cities and so great to base yourself if you’re looking to explore wider Pembrokeshire. Which, honestly, you should do. The whole region is absolutely beautiful.
This grand and historic place is so beautiful and steeped in history. Wales is a gorgeous country, and this is no exception. Plus, like I said, it’s nice and small and really easy to explore by foot.
Read more: Best places to see in Wales
14.) Kettlewell, England
Yorkshire is amazing, there’s no denying it. And you know what, Kettlewell is a perfect example of where you should visit. It’s so charming and easily one of the best places to go in the UK.
Read more: Best places in the north of England
15.) Tobermory, Scotland
Tobermory is an old fishing town that’s great to explore. The whole region is stunning and a place you should spend some time in when in Scotland.
Read more: 1-week itinerary for the Scottish Highlands
16.) Cushendun, Northern Ireland
There are loads to do in Northern Ireland, especially in places like Belfast. But, make sure you don’t forget the smaller places like Cushendum with its epic coastline. It really is a natural beauty and easily one of the villages that you should visit.
Read more: Best places to see across Ireland
17.) Portmeirion, Wales
Wales is steeped in history, but there are also examples of lovely places that are completely different and unique. Portmeirion, in North Wales, is that place! This easily makes it one of the best places to go in the UK when you’re exploring Wales.
Make sure to take some time to explore Snowdonia National Park, too. It’s a stunner.
Read more: The best places to see in Wales
20 Very Best Places In North Wales To Visit (and how to find them)
Check Out The Very Best Of Great Britain!
