Recommended places to visit in the UK

66Mustang

Hi, just wondering if anyone can suggest where to look for somewhere new to go for a short break in the UK.

What we want is interesting small towns (or villages) in the UK with lots of character and history. Not cities. Also like looking in small independent shops, not chains, and going to nice but not overly posh restaurants i.e. good quality pub food.

We’ve already done these counties so maybe something outside of these…

-Peak District

-Yorkshire Dales

-Norfolk

-Cambridgeshire

I have looked at…

-Rye, Sussex ... nice looking old town with history, the smugglers used to have big operations there, you can drink at the pubs where the criminal gangs used to drink which sounds quite cool.

-Lindisfarne ... first place in the UK raided by the Vikings might be interesting, I quite like the Vikings. Not sure if you can stay there but maybe somewhere near and visit there?

Any other ideas welcome. Maybe you know or live in an interesting town that's not on the radar for tourists and can recommend it???

Thanks!!!!!

Hannah_Alumni

Rye is on my list! I also like that it isn't too far of a journey to other heritage sites.

Have you thought about Wales? It may be quite a journey, but last year I went to Betws-Y-Coed in North Wales with my family and it was lovely. Lots of local pubs and restaurants. Not a far drive from the beach, castles and Portmeirion, which was one of the highlights for me and I highly recommend  

66Mustang

@Hannah_Scope thank you for the reply and suggestions.  

Wales is certainly something to think about! I'm glad you enjoyed your time there.

Portmeirion...my Granny has a whole cupboard full of china by a company called Portmeirion...I didn't realise it was an actual place! Does the china come from there? 

durhamjaide2001

Lake District Bendrigg 
Keilder Calvert Trust 
London 
Newcastle 
Scotland but beware it's not very accessible but it's stunning 

chiarieds

I would definitely recommend Lindisfarne, & then you've got my favourite castle (Dunstanburgh - about a mile's walk north of Craster), & my daughter's (Warkworth) nearby.

Amble has some great dog friendly pubs we found when I stayed there with my son & his wife for a week, & beaches for long dog walks. Alnwick is nice, but can be expensive for eating out (& also for spending most of the day in the large secondhand bookshop in the old railway station!). A little further afield is Rothbury & nearby Cragside House & gardens. Northumberland is a beautiful county, & the people very friendly.

Sandy_123

I can recommend York. Lovely place, there is a train museum which is really good to walk around.
The shambles which takes you back in time.
Can also hire boats. Has a viking trail too.

66Mustang

Thank you all for the suggestions. I appreciate everyone taking the time to give me some ideas. I will have to do some research into all of these.

Hannah_Alumni

66Mustang said:

@Hannah_Scope thank you for the reply and suggestions.  

Wales is certainly something to think about! I'm glad you enjoyed your time there.

Portmeirion...my Granny has a whole cupboard full of china by a company called Portmeirion...I didn't realise it was an actual place! Does the china come from there? 

They do have china and pottery, unsure if it is from there now or they use a third party. It's so beautiful there, it's a little Italian inspiration on the Welsh coast. They've filmed a bit there too, mainly The Prisoner if you have ever seen that series. 

life

Weymouth nice place to visit or revisit 👍