British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (2024)

VisitBritain/John Finney

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (1)

Even our quietest corners are full of surprises. Yes, rural Britain is famous for its flower-filled meadows and charming thatched villages – but what about our mountain-top ski resorts, world-class vineyards and dazzlingly diverse national parks? Whether you’re craving a sumptuous break in a former royal castle, or an invigorating hike up our wildest peaks – adventure is calling!

Top countryside destinations to visit

Lake District

From the tip of England’s tallest peak to the nation’s deepest lake, this national park is stacked with super-sized scenery.

VisitBritain/Ryan Lomas

Lake District, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (2)

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Renowned for its glorious countryside, striking coastline and unique attractions.

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (3)

Peak District

For hikers, cyclists, horse riders and thrill seekers, the Peak District offers adventures galore.

VisitBritain/Becky Stacey

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (4)

The Scottish Highlands

Located in the northern reaches of Scotland, the Highlands are about beauty and adventure.

VisitBritain/Rod Edwards

Highlands

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (5)

All countryside destinations

Leicester

From a Medieval monarch found under a car park to the city’s celebration of multicultural modern life, Leicester has got it all.

Midlands

Visit Leicester

Leicester, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (6)

Peak District

For hikers, cyclists, horse riders and thrill seekers, the Peak District offers adventures galore.

North West England

VisitBritain/Becky Stacey

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (7)

Lake District

From the tip of England’s tallest peak to the nation’s deepest lake, this national park is stacked with super-sized scenery.

North West England

VisitBritain/Ryan Lomas

Lake District, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (8)

Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)

Looming peaks over thick forests, sheep-grazed valleys and open moors - adventure awaits in Wales.

South Wales

Nici Eberl

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (9)

South Downs

Discover epic trails, rivers to kayak, castles to conquer and wild woods to explore.

South East England

VisitBritain/Nadir Khan

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (10)

Borders and Lowlands

The gateway into Scotland, the Borders and Lowlands pack the punch,

Lowland Scotland

VisitBritain/Simon Jarratt

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (11)

North York Moors

Rugged yet beautiful, wild yet welcoming – the North York Moors National Park is full of surprises.

Yorkshire and Humber

VisitBritain/Sam Barker

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (12)

Snowdonia (Eryri)

Full of adventure from its sky-scraping peaks to plunging glacial valleys - it’s bursting with bombastic scenery.

North Wales

VisitBritain/Daniel Struthers

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (13)

Northumberland

Historical hot property – evident in its castles, citadels and 2,000-year-old Hadrian’s Wall.

North East England

VisitBritain/Chris Ceasar

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (14)

Pembrokeshire

For a real adventure, head to Wales’s westernmost tip. A paradise for hikers, swimmers, thrill-seekers and birdwatchers.

South Wales

National Trust/Greentraveller

Pembrokeshire, Wales

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (15)

New Forest

Step into nature with tufty-haired ponies, wild countryside and a labyrinth of bike trails.

South East England

VisitBritain/Raul Alex Caramizaru

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (16)

Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms is a playground for wildlife lovers, hill climbers, thrill seekers and more.

Highland Scotland

VisitBritain/Graham Niven

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (17)

Explore pristine woods, climb mountains and paddle the waters of Scotland's wild landscape.

Lowland Scotland

Yorkshire Dales

Proof that perfection can’t be rushed, the Yorkshire Dales was millions of years in-the-making.

Yorkshire and Humber

VisitBritain/MattCant

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (19)

Devon

Hugging the south-west, Devon is a playground for adventurers, explorers and foodie lovers.

South West England

Shutterstock / Hugh O'Connor

Devon, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (20)

Dartmoor and Exmoor

With tangled oak forests and looming peaks, it can feel like the edge of the world.

South West England

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (21)

Kent

From ice-cream parlours to sea food festivals, the ‘Garden of England’ is meant for discovery.

South East England

VisitBritain/Dipyourtoesin

Kent

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (22)

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Renowned for its glorious countryside, striking coastline and unique attractions.

South West England

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (23)

The Scottish Highlands

Located in the northern reaches of Scotland, the Highlands are about beauty and adventure.

Highland Scotland

VisitBritain/Rod Edwards

Highlands

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (24)

The Broads

The Broads is a breath of fresh air, beautifully webbed with lakes, fens and rivers.

East England

Norfolk Broads Direct

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (25)

Cotswolds

Lush rolling pastures, pretty stone villages and rambling rivers - the Cotswolds has it all.

South West England

VisitBritain

Cotswolds, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (26)

North Wales

From valleys, shorelines to towns, find North Wales packed with adventure.

North Wales

VisitBritain/Lee Beel

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (27)

Leicester

From a Medieval monarch found under a car park to the city’s celebration of multicultural modern life, Leicester has got it all.

Midlands

Visit Leicester

Leicester, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (28)

Peak District

For hikers, cyclists, horse riders and thrill seekers, the Peak District offers adventures galore.

North West England

VisitBritain/Becky Stacey

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (29)

Lake District

From the tip of England’s tallest peak to the nation’s deepest lake, this national park is stacked with super-sized scenery.

North West England

VisitBritain/Ryan Lomas

Lake District, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (30)

Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)

Looming peaks over thick forests, sheep-grazed valleys and open moors - adventure awaits in Wales.

South Wales

Nici Eberl

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (31)

South Downs

Discover epic trails, rivers to kayak, castles to conquer and wild woods to explore.

South East England

VisitBritain/Nadir Khan

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (32)

Borders and Lowlands

The gateway into Scotland, the Borders and Lowlands pack the punch,

Lowland Scotland

VisitBritain/Simon Jarratt

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (33)

North York Moors

Rugged yet beautiful, wild yet welcoming – the North York Moors National Park is full of surprises.

Yorkshire and Humber

VisitBritain/Sam Barker

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (34)

Snowdonia (Eryri)

Full of adventure from its sky-scraping peaks to plunging glacial valleys - it’s bursting with bombastic scenery.

North Wales

VisitBritain/Daniel Struthers

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (35)

Northumberland

Historical hot property – evident in its castles, citadels and 2,000-year-old Hadrian’s Wall.

North East England

VisitBritain/Chris Ceasar

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (36)

Pembrokeshire

For a real adventure, head to Wales’s westernmost tip. A paradise for hikers, swimmers, thrill-seekers and birdwatchers.

South Wales

National Trust/Greentraveller

Pembrokeshire, Wales

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (37)

New Forest

Step into nature with tufty-haired ponies, wild countryside and a labyrinth of bike trails.

South East England

VisitBritain/Raul Alex Caramizaru

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (38)

Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms is a playground for wildlife lovers, hill climbers, thrill seekers and more.

Highland Scotland

VisitBritain/Graham Niven

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (39)

Explore pristine woods, climb mountains and paddle the waters of Scotland's wild landscape.

Lowland Scotland

VisitScotland

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (40)

Yorkshire Dales

Proof that perfection can’t be rushed, the Yorkshire Dales was millions of years in-the-making.

Yorkshire and Humber

VisitBritain/MattCant

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (41)

Devon

Hugging the south-west, Devon is a playground for adventurers, explorers and foodie lovers.

South West England

Shutterstock / Hugh O'Connor

Devon, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (42)

Dartmoor and Exmoor

With tangled oak forests and looming peaks, it can feel like the edge of the world.

South West England

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (43)

Kent

From ice-cream parlours to sea food festivals, the ‘Garden of England’ is meant for discovery.

South East England

VisitBritain/Dipyourtoesin

Kent

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (44)

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Renowned for its glorious countryside, striking coastline and unique attractions.

South West England

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (45)

The Scottish Highlands

Located in the northern reaches of Scotland, the Highlands are about beauty and adventure.

Highland Scotland

VisitBritain/Rod Edwards

Highlands

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (46)

The Broads

The Broads is a breath of fresh air, beautifully webbed with lakes, fens and rivers.

East England

Norfolk Broads Direct

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (47)

Cotswolds

Lush rolling pastures, pretty stone villages and rambling rivers - the Cotswolds has it all.

South West England

VisitBritain

Cotswolds, England

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (48)

North Wales

From valleys, shorelines to towns, find North Wales packed with adventure.

North Wales

VisitBritain/Lee Beel

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (49)

Things to do in the countryside

Take to the helm of your very own boat to explore this glorious waterway.

Discover the beautiful Broads by boat

Norfolk Broads Direct

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (50)

Boat hire in the Broads

This action-packed mountain offers skiing in the winter and epic hiking in the summer – with a thrilling ‘tubing park’ too.

Plan your trip to Cairngorm Mountain

The Cairngorms National Park

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (51)

Cairngorm Mountain

See owls, eagles, hawks and falcons in flight, and get hands-on with conservation at this wildlife-focused attraction.

Book tickets to Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centr

VisitScotland

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (52)

Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre

Malvern

View on map

On the foothills of The Malverns, discover the waters of this quaint town.

Discover more about Malvern

Michael Whitefoot

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (53)

Malvern

Conquer the three hills ofPen-y-ghent,IngleboroughandWhernside - a 24-mile circular challenge for walkers.

Find out more about the routes

Welcome to Yorkshire

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (54)

Yorkshire Three Peaks

Experience the thrill of the world’s fastest zip wire, try out surfing or steer a canoe through the crashing rapids at one of Britain’s adventure capitals.

Discover Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (55)

Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park

Langdale Valley

View on map

For invigorating mountain hikes, you’ve come to the right place: Langdale is famous for its lofty peaks, with cosy pubs and guesthouses too.

Plan your Langdale Valley adventure

VisitBritain/Jack Anstey

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (56)

Langdale Valley

South Downs Way

View on map

Meander the ancient trackways and spy dazzling chalklands along the South Downs Way National Trail.

Discover more about the South Downs Way

VisitBritain/Nadir Khan

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (57)

South Downs Way

Pembroke Castle

View on map

The only castle in Britain to be built over a natural cavern.

Explore Pembroke Castle

Peter Morgan

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (58)

Pembroke Castle

Take in the sweeping views across Dartmoor and the south Devon coast at these majestic granite rocks dating back 280 million years.

Find out more about the mysteries of Haytor

Dartmoor National Park Authority

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (59)

National Park Visitor Centre, Haytor

Take to the helm of your very own boat to explore this glorious waterway.

Discover the beautiful Broads by boat

Norfolk Broads Direct

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (60)

Boat hire in the Broads

This action-packed mountain offers skiing in the winter and epic hiking in the summer – with a thrilling ‘tubing park’ too.

Plan your trip to Cairngorm Mountain

The Cairngorms National Park

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (61)

Cairngorm Mountain

See owls, eagles, hawks and falcons in flight, and get hands-on with conservation at this wildlife-focused attraction.

Book tickets to Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centr

VisitScotland

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (62)

Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre

Malvern

View on map

On the foothills of The Malverns, discover the waters of this quaint town.

Discover more about Malvern

Michael Whitefoot

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (63)

Malvern

Conquer the three hills ofPen-y-ghent,IngleboroughandWhernside - a 24-mile circular challenge for walkers.

Find out more about the routes

Welcome to Yorkshire

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (64)

Yorkshire Three Peaks

Experience the thrill of the world’s fastest zip wire, try out surfing or steer a canoe through the crashing rapids at one of Britain’s adventure capitals.

Discover Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (65)

Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park

Langdale Valley

View on map

For invigorating mountain hikes, you’ve come to the right place: Langdale is famous for its lofty peaks, with cosy pubs and guesthouses too.

Plan your Langdale Valley adventure

VisitBritain/Jack Anstey

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (66)

Langdale Valley

South Downs Way

View on map

Meander the ancient trackways and spy dazzling chalklands along the South Downs Way National Trail.

Discover more about the South Downs Way

VisitBritain/Nadir Khan

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (67)

South Downs Way

Pembroke Castle

View on map

The only castle in Britain to be built over a natural cavern.

Explore Pembroke Castle

Peter Morgan

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (68)

Pembroke Castle

Take in the sweeping views across Dartmoor and the south Devon coast at these majestic granite rocks dating back 280 million years.

Find out more about the mysteries of Haytor

Dartmoor National Park Authority

British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (69)

National Park Visitor Centre, Haytor

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Our cities are full of innovative ways to explore: from London’s secret supper clubs and Edinburgh’sunderground ghost hunts to star-studded music gigs at Cardiff Castle…

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British Countryside Attractions & Places to Visit (2024)

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