12 Beautiful Places to Visit in England (That Aren’t London!)

Last Updated on July 23, 2023

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England is such a beautiful country but most people miss the real beauty because they just stay in London.

London is my favourite city in the world, BUT there are also so many other amazing places to visit in England that are waiting to be discovered.

From northern cities and seaside towns to historic sites and hidden gems, there are plenty of amazing places in England for visitors of all kinds.

England has such a rich history, beautiful architecture and some great natural wonders which most don’t even know about!

There are so many nice places in England to visit no matter your interests: art and culture, history, scenic landscapes, and more!

So here is a little taste of some of the best places to visit in England and the top that I personally recommend!

While these are my personal picks for the top places in England to visit, there are so many unique places to go in England, you’ll never get bored here!

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If you’re wondering which of these places is not in London and you are looking for transport, England has a great rail service so I would suggest catching a train to these places.

For those more into buses, Megabus do very cheap fares – sometimes you can get a £1 deal from London to other places in England to visit.

Here are some of the most beautiful places to visit in England

1. Bristol

A clear choice for one of the best places in England to visit for anyone who loves creativity. Bristol has an amazing vibe full of amazing street art and some great music venues.

I stayed at the YHA Hostel right next to the water. It was a great hostel which was cheap and really close to everything that you would want to see.

Check out the Bristol Cathedral, Banksy’s graffiti around the city, and all the other beautiful street art. Outside of London, Bristol is the best place in England to visit for street art.

If you love discovering amazing street art then you should do a walking tour of the city. Bristol is one of THE major places to visit in South of England.

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Bristol

2. York

When researching the best places to visit in England outside of London, the city of York will pop up on almost everyone’s radar, and they might wonder, is York England worth visiting?

The answer is an emphatic YES – the city of York is one of the best places to visit in England other than London.

There are so many cool things to see in York such as the York Minster, York Castle and even have a walk on the city walls.

York is a very beautiful place (some say it’s the most beautiful city in UK!) with so much history to take in. This region is definitely somewhere you would want to spend the whole weekend, maybe more.

I lived just out of York for a few months and the city was great to spend a few days looking around and taking in the city. This is one of my favourite places to visit in England!

The Shambles is a ‘must do’ for a spot of shopping, soaking up the Yorkshire culture and do some people watching.

Have a picnic on the side of the museum gardens which overlooks the river Ouse. If you get a chance to check out the countryside, you will experience the real Yorkshire.

If you’re lucky enough to go in spring, you will see the rapeseed flowering which means you will see seas of bright yellow paddocks – it’s really beautiful.

York is one of the more underrated big cities, but it’s definitely one of the top places to go in England!

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in York

3. Cotswolds

If you are looking for pretty places in England, you must visit the Cotswolds, which are located in South Central England.

The Cotswolds consist of rolling hills with very, very cute villages you only see in the movies, you will see very sweet, old English pubs with a lot of character.

As one of the prettiest places in England, the Cotswolds is perfect if you are looking for scenic places in England to drive through.

Spend a weekend driving around the Cotswolds and staying in one of the beautiful England villages.

You can’t say you have been to a proper village in England until you have visited this area. Castle Combe has even been named England’s prettiest village!

The Cotswolds are actually considered one of the most beautiful places in United Kingdom as a whole, and it’s easy to see why when you get here!

Truly one of the most magical places to visit UK has to offer!

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4. Bath

You can’t go to England and not experience Bath! It is known for its still-standing Roman baths which are believed to have been constructed around 60-70 AD.

Bath is the best place to see in England for history buffs as the entire city is a UNESCO site, and the baths are in amazing condition.

Entry to the baths cost £16.50 for an adult and it’s really worth the money!

Not only are the baths beautiful but the whole town is, so have a good wander around and take in the architecture of this amazing place.

I highly recommend having a weekend in Bath as one of the most beautiful places in England.

It’s one of the most architecturally beautiful places near London, and easily reachable for a day trip.

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Bath

5. Windsor

Looking for the most interesting places in London? Windsor is both beautiful, historic and fascinating!

Known for its iconic castle, the area is definitely worth a day trip! Windsor Castle is the Queen’s castle and has been in the royal family for over 900 years.

It’s also the largest occupied castle in the world! Windsor Castle is not only one of the most picturesque places in London, it’s one of the most beautiful places in UK as a whole!

Entry to Windsor castle costs £21.20. You can opt for an audio guide which I recommend because this place is huge, and the guide will tell you about all the places you are standing in.

Go in summer so all areas are open, including the gardens which are stunning. They’re like a condensed version of Hyde Park London, and are one of the most magical places in London.

The one thing I love about England were the castles – they are simply mind-boggling. Windsor Castle is sure to knock your royal socks off!

If you love castles or are interested in the royals, this is definitely one of the best places to go to in England.

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Windsor

6. Cambridge

For most people planning on visiting places in England outside of London, Cambridge is top of their list, and for good reason!

Where the big players play and also go to the very posh universities! Cambridge is truly incredible.

Make sure you go on a nice day when you can punt down the river Avon and admire where many great minds have attended university.

The universities are something you would see in movies, actually, they do frequently get featured in movies!

And, of course, these beautiful iconic buildings make Cambridge one of the most beautiful places to visit in the UK.

This is a great day trip from London as you can catch a 50-minute train from Kings Cross St Pancras to see this beautiful city.

Visiting Cambridge on one of your day trips outside London is a great way to see some more of the beauty of England!

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Cambridge

7. Robin Hood Bay

When I au paired in the UK, my family took me here for the day and I loved it.

This is a little bay north-east of York on the coast and, in my opinion, one of the most picturesque places in England!

Its got a great fish and chip shop (we had to queue for 20 minutes!), it’s just off a very steep street, which I struggled to get up after my greasy meal.

Although the beach was very full, as most of the English beaches are on nice days, I was very impressed with the little village.

Places like Robin Hood Bay, with their character and charm, are what not to miss in England when you visit.

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Robin Hood Bay

8. St Ives

St Ives is a seaside town with loads of character and is easily one of the prettiest places in the UK – definitely the most beautiful place in England in my opinion.

This would have to be one of my top 3 places in England to visit for sure. Visitors can soak up the sun and enjoy the gorgeous town.

There are really good art galleries here; I bought a couple of little painted pictures from a guy selling them on the seaside.

It is recommended to take a train here and not drive because parking is a nightmare.

This is mainly because St Ives is one of the most popular places to visit in England, and one of the most scenic places to visit in UK overall!

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in St Ives

9. Hayle

The town itself is not overly exciting but if you don’t believe England has good beaches, then maybe this will change your mind.

It might even be the best place to go in England for beach lovers – it certainly has some of the best views in England to go along with the sand and the sun!

The beaches were amazing and beautiful – that’s coming from a Kiwi. If you need a bit of a sun-soaked relaxing weekend while you visit England, then you need to head here!

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Hayle

10. Ilfracombe

This is an awesome sea-side town with a tiny beach. The town and the lake with the boats is very picturesque.

Enjoy on a sunny summers day with fish and chips and an ice cream!

You can also walk up the top of the hill and take in some amazing views as this is one of the most beautiful places to visit in UK!

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Ilfracombe

11. Woolacombe

Another beautiful English seaside location with cute huts and no stony beach in sight! Woohoo! It is very full in the summer but a must see in England for some amazing snaps.

The bonus is that it is a huge beach so you can have a nice long walk and you will be sure to find a spot for yourself.

🛌🏼 Click here to check out the best accommodation in Woolacombe

12. Hertfordshire

Interested in where to go in England that’s less mainstream? Head to Hertfordshire for one of the most unique places to visit in England.

I was lucky enough to live in Hertfordshire for a couple of years and this is by far a secret gem within England.

Hertfordshire holds a lot of history and is only a quick train ride from London, making it a great place to base yourself. This is also one of the most beautiful parts of England.

There are plenty of places to visit in Hertfordshire and many that will completely blow you away! It is a great place to visit in England off the beaten path.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are your top places to see in England? Did I miss any beautiful places in England worth visiting? Let me know your favourite places to visit in England in the comments below!

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