12 prettiest UK towns and villages to visit this summer

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Golden sand seashores, rolling countryside and charming towns and cities are ample within the UK, offering loads of alternatives for holidays and day journeys.

For anybody who needs to uncover someplace new to take within the sights this summer, the quieter wonders of lesser-known inland and coastal areas are nicely value exploring.

Pastel homes, historical castles and cobbled streets dot fairytale towns and picturesque villages within the UK, with hidden gems delighting in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – in any case, who doesn’t need to improve their afternoon tea view?

From streets stuffed with bookshops to small-town home-from-homes in nationwide parks and quaint island shores for water sports activities lovers, there are many eye-catching towns and villages barely off the same old UK vacationer path.

With choices for charming strolls previous conventional thatched homes and awe-inspiring structure so plentiful, The Independent has pulled collectively a listing of 12 of the UK’s prettiest towns and villages to visit this summer.

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Castle Combe, Cotswolds

The picturesque Cotswolds village of Castle Combe is the picture of a quintessential English city, with quaint streets, stone homes and lush greenery – good for scenic walks – all staples of a keep. Surrounded by the Cotswolds Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, the bridged village is house to beautiful Thirteenth-century church buildings, conventional pubs and intimate mattress and breakfasts. and the tranquil setting is a well-liked setting for blockbusters together with Stardust and War Horse – it’s no marvel the charming space is regualrly voted probably the most lovely within the UK.

Where to keep

The Old Museum presents unrivalled attraction, character and house comforts. The rustic vacation house options one double bed room, snug seating areas and a completely outfitted kitchenette. The space is ideal for mountaineering, and friends profit from facilities within the idyllic native village only a brief stroll away.

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Portmeirion, Gwynedd

Portmeirion, an enthralling Italian-style village in Gwynedd, is a perfect spot for a relaxed weekend in North Wales. The coastal village was created by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in 1925 – with the venture accomplished round 50 years later – for example of structure’s capacity to improve pure magnificence slightly than destroy it. The pastel buildings, piazza and Gwyllt Japanese gardens will take you from rural Wales to Italy, Japan and again with out ever having to go away the UK.

Where to keep

Portmeirion Village & Castell Deudraeth sits on a non-public peninsula overlooking the Dywryd Estuary. The lodge has an award-winning brasserie, acres of woodland and is shut to Eryri/Snowdonia National Park. A spa, on-site bar, quirky room decor and a complimentary breakfast welcome guests to the distinctive Welsh locale.

Port Isaac, Cornwall

Narrow winding streets and whitewashed cottages line the 14th-century fishing harbour of Port Isaac. The quaint Cornish haven, which acts because the setting for the favored TV collection Doc Martin, is the right place for fishing, boat journeys and coastal walks within the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coastline. The environment of mild hills and rugged Cornish cliffs complement the neatly packed streets, themselves lined with charming boutiques, candy retailers and conventional bars and eating places.

Where to keep

Port Gaverne, a Seventeenth-century lodge and restaurant, options cosy rooms with nautical decor only a five-minute stroll from Port Isaac. The coastal accents and conventional outdated bar domesticate a unusual character – becoming for the traditional fishing village.

Tobermory, Isle of Mull

The Isle of Mull’s capital, Tobermory, is fringed by dense woodland. Experience the CBeebies childhood basic Balamory in actual life right here – the rainbow homes had been primarily based on Tobermory’s vibrant waterfront – and with rows of vibrant townhouses, it’s clear to see why they stood out. Boat journeys from Tobermory provide the alternative to stand up shut to the Scottish isle’s pure magnificence, in addition to see a spread of extraordinary wildlife, together with puffins, whales, eagles and otters.

Where to keep

Western Isles Hotel boasts a relaxed ambiance, nice native delicacies and sea views throughout Tobermory Harbour. Spacious doubles and household suites are fitted with snug beds and walk-in showers, and breakfast is included within the worth of your keep.

Portrush, County Antrim

Portrush, a small seaside city in County Antrim, is house to idyllic white sand seashores and pastel homes, all set on a mile-long peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The once-humble fishing village is the right base to discover Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coastal Route making it a preferred spot for holidaymakers in peak season – particularly for the reason that dramatic medieval ruins at Dunluce Castle had been used as a filming location in Game of Thrones. 

Where to keep

Just 800m from Whiterocks Beach, Elephant Rock Hotel exudes quirky character and Irish attraction. Buffet breakfasts are included in your keep, whereas a terrace, in-house bar and lounge await friends staying within the trendy sea-view rooms.

Cockington, Devon

The chocolate-box village of Cockington sits beside widespread Torquay on the so-called “English Riviera”. Old thatched cottages, rural countryside and Cockington Court manor home conjure an environment of conventional English attraction – finest loved with a Devon cream tea at The Drum Inn. Take a stroll again in time, previous the romantic water mill, Norman church buildings and cricket inexperienced, away from the hustle of metropolis life.

Where to keep

Orestone Manor is an enthralling nation home that options sea-view suites, personal sizzling tubs and inviting Georgian decor. Neighbouring a secluded sandy seaside, Orestone is a 15-minute drive from the centre of Cockington. 

Lavenham, Suffolk

One of the perfect preserved medieval villages in England, Lavenham within the Suffolk countryside is fashioned of timbered cottages, Fifteenth-century church buildings and magical woodlands. The market sq. is lined with Tudor structure, listed buildings and unbiased native retailers that after traded wool (and now promote quilted jackets). Famous for its position as Godric’s Hollow in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, the charming backdrop of cosy tea rooms, a conventional English guildhall and crooked homes are usually not to be missed on a picturesque UK staycation.

Where to keep

Rectory Manor presents world-class service and elegant rooms in Great Waldingfield. The manor options an out of doors swimming pool, tennis courts and spacious rooms with backyard views for a style of luxurious within the English countryside.

Hay-on-Wye, Powys

This one is for all bookworms, bibliophiles and collectors. World-renowned because the “town of books”, the market village of Hay-on-Wye – on the border between England and Wales – not solely boasts greater than 20 bookshops, but additionally enchanting streets, galleries and Hay Castle. This literature hotspot and cultural hub has second-hand and antiquarian bookshops that open year-round, and its location on the River Wye signifies that you’re solely a brief stroll away from secluded studying spots hidden within the hills and woods of Brecknockshire.

Where to keep

If uncovered wood beams, stone fireplaces and a wealthy historical past are your lodging wishes, then The Old Black Lion Inn is simply the place for you. A neighbour to the Lion Gate – an authentic entry level to the walled Hay-on-Wye – and walks within the Bannau Brycheiniog, conventional rooms are the best area to cosy up with a great e-book.

Portree, Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye’s capital, Portree, sits in a sheltered bay surrounded by rolling hills, strolling routes and a good looking loch dotted with boats. A former fishing city, Portree’s rustic harbour is lined with rows of rainbow stone cottages on the waterfront and is a well-liked base from which to discover the island’s fairy swimming pools, dramatic rock formations and spectacular surroundings. Head to Colour House Viewpoint, subsequent to the Royal Hotel, at sundown for the perfect views throughout the bay.

Where to keep

A couple of steps from Portree Bay, Cuillin Hills Hotel boasts spectacular views, an award-winning restaurant, The View, and trendy decor in fashionable rooms. The calm ambiance and varied whiskies on provide make Cuillin Hills the right home-from-home keep on the Isle of Skye.

Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

The largest city in County Fermanagh has additionally been (*12*)named the UK’s friendliest. Enniskillen’s welcoming waterfront setting is a selected attraction, with spectacular historical past to be discovered within the Fifteenth-century Enniskillen Castle in addition to the Marble Arch Caves, which had been fashioned over 340 million years in the past and are a part of an unmissable pure panorama of rivers, woodlands and waterfalls – all only a brief journey from the centre of this Northern Irish jewel. In the city centre, the Enniskillen Buttermarket hosts native jewellers and cafes with Irish produce, and the idyllic space round Lough Erne’s two related lakes is ideal for a protracted hike, relaxed stroll, or easy day spent getting away from all of it.

Where to keep

Belle Isle Castle and Cottages presents friends a completely outfitted kitchen, terrace and automotive rental service six miles from Enniskillen Castle. There’s the choice to keep in courtyard and indifferent three-bedroom cottages, some with loch views and log-burning stoves. 

Whitby, North Yorkshire

Whitby’s quirky streets, energetic harbour and moorlands are stuffed with charming character and attraction. Pristine sands, the North York Moors National Park and the gothic Whitby Abbey on the East Cliff create a dramatic Yorkshire panorama that begs to be found – the beautiful seaside city was even a setting for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In summer, Whitby’s 21 golden seashores are a success with holidaymakers, with a number of providing the quintessential British seaside expertise – assume colored huts, ice cream distributors and fish and chips galore, all accomplished by the presence of pesky seagulls. Take a refreshing dip within the sea or catch your breath after taking up the 199 Whitby Abbey steps, which had been initially used as a check of Christian religion.

Where to keep

The Horngarth condo in central Whitby encompasses a clear, spacious king room with a cushty mattress. Just metres from Whitby’s gardens, museums and prepare station, this is the right place to keep for a pair wanting a weekend away.

Beddgelert, Snowdonia

Beddgelert, a village constructed of stone within the coronary heart of Snowdonia, is a spot of basic Welsh magnificence. Its proximity to Snowdon, the Welsh Highland Railway and rocky slopes create a back-in-time really feel within the picturesque streets. Rumoured to be named after the hound Gelert, a beloved Welsh folktale about Prince Llywelyn’s trustworthy canine, the city feels simply as magical as its namesake. Arched stone bridges zig-zag throughout the River Colwyn, which you’ll cross on charming walks to blooming gardens and the Sygun Copper Mine.

Where to keep

Ty Afon River House has 12 cosy bedrooms, complimentary continental breakfasts and leafy gardens. The secluded nation home features a terrace with panoramic views of the North Wales surroundings, and Snowdonia’s well-known mountaineering trails are only a brief stroll from Beddgelert city.