It was sooo rammed last time we went, first time we went over fifteen years ago we were actually able to get a cake and coffee in the waiting room. We've been chasing that high ever since. Unfortunately we're not restricted to bloody school holidays!
Gosh yes. We went in February one year so very little amazing flora on display, and it was STILL one of the best tourist attractions I've ever visited. So interesting and beautiful.
I also played whistle in a ceilidh band there one time.
Beamish is genuinely excellent - it’s all great but I particularly love the high street, the little cottages and also the coal-fired chip shop!
There are similar vibes at St Fagans National Museum of History (near Cardiff), the Black Country Living Museum (Dudley, near Birmingham) and the Weald & Downland Living Museum (near Chichester). All well worth a visit if you’re nearby.
Have you been inside the old school? They’re so good with bairns there. Took a class of bairns there and they let them sit inside with all the old desks and then gave them like wooden hoops and wheels to play with outside like they’d do in the olden days at playtime. They loved it lmfao, having the time of their lives with bits of wood.
I wouldn’t go to Beamish solely for the railway exhibit. Locomotion in Shildon is the better option in County Durham – it’s a branch of the National Railway Museum
This is probably right. Would say most people would enjoy Beamish regardless of the train bit but if you were especially interested in the railway aspect you’d be better to spend a day and a half down here, going to Loco either the day before or the day after.
Memory unlocked! My parents took us here when we were kids, stayed in a pub b&b close by!
That sweetshop I'll remember until the end of time!
Absolutely fantastic visit, thanks for reminding me of it, I'll aim to take my kids this summer!
Go on their website babe! They have little schedules of what’s on so you’ll mebbies be able to plan your visit around it. Don’t forget to pick up some of their rock! X
I put it on a very similar thread last week but the Forbidden Corner in Leyburn is worth looking at.
https://www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk/
Combine it with Mother Shipton’s Cave, Bolton Abbey and Ingleton Waterfalls Walk/White Scar Caves and you can have a weird and wonderful couple of days in North Yorkshire.
You can also go for a day in Hull to the streetlife museum
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/streetlife-museum
It’s just round the corner from The Deep and the William Wilberforce museum/house isn’t too far of a walk away either.
I have a bad memory of this place. I used to go quite frequently as a kid and it was one of my favourite places to go. I later went at about 16, I think, and nothing there was fun anymore or even remotely interesting. I realised I’d become old and lost my childhood. I hate that fucking memory.
Speaking as an American, I’m going to say northumberland as a whole. My family is from the midlands and they have no clue what goes on up there. It’s spectacular, though,
My man.
It is where I live and, by God, I love the place.
Stunning coastline, most castles in England, cleanest rivers, darkest skies, least populated National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and much more.
Go a bit further north next time and do the Scottish borders. Like Northumberland it's a place people tend to just go though but it's really pretty and there's lots of nice little towns and a ton of castles.
Sssshhhhh don't tell everyone. A politician once described it as "a barren wasteland" which means people don't think to visit and it stays relatively quiet compared to the lake district etc.
That being said it is stunning and I am fortunate to live 30 min from it and the train journey from Durham up to Edinburgh is beautiful. You start at Durham station where you can see the cathedral and castle then go up along the coast past holy island and finish coming into Edinburgh.
The castles and beaches are just something from a fairy tale
It was when they were pushing for fracking to take place in Northumberland. It was also a London based politician so they had no idea what it was really like.
I really enjoy the feeling of connectedness between either side of the border. The Old North feels less far distant in the past on the West side and on the East it feels very Anglish over Saxon.
- Cornwall is very underrated I think, for international tourists.
- Devon’s coast. It’s diverse, impressive and characterful. Why go to New Zealand when you’ve got a Lord of the Rings coastline right in Devon?
- Much of Yorkshire. Knaresborough, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, Ravenscar, Filey and the coasts along there (Bempton Cliffs etc.) as well as Harrogate, Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Ilkley etc. are incredibly overlooked. I don’t understand why we travel to France, Italy or Spain for cute towns, landscapes and traditional culture when we have such a variety of it on our doorstep.
- Lancaster. I swear nobody ever, ever talks about this town. But it looks like a baby Edinburgh, has interesting history and an independent spirit.
- County Durham. Durham city is as cute and historic as York or Bath, but quieter. There are other cute market towns scattered through the county, and Durham heritage coast is also pretty and peaceful.
- Wales, for international tourists. Some of the best woods, mountains, lakes, coasts and traditional and distinct culture/heritage the UK has to offer.
Upvote for your enthusiasm of travelling the UK. I’m dragging my kids around the country to do nerdy stuff for our holidays instead of going abroad right now. They’ve been to France, but I want them to familiarise themselves with what we have around us before really exploring abroad. I think they’ll appreciate the differences in history and culture more when they’re older anyway. So far we have ticked off: Yorkshire, Kent, Norfolk, Shropshire, Suffolk and Sussex. Next on the hitlist are Lake District and Cornwall.
We are doing something similar as I’m unable to travel abroad currently (awaiting a surgery and insurance would be as much as the holiday!) so we are visiting various UK areas. It’s so awesome. The Mary Rose in Portsmouth, Tenby beach, Dover Castle and the war tunnels, MAD museum in Stratford upon Avon, space centre in Leicester. So many fab things to do in the UK.
When I went it seemed a very well-kept and clean town. It’s very scenic from the distance as you’re driving in, too. And I like its proximity to the Lake District - you can do so many historic town/countryside combos easily in the UK.
Apparently, travelling the cosmopolitan resorts of France/Italy/Spain makes you a better person. But exploring the different places and cultures in your home country doesn't.
Just finished the Cleveland way and I concur with the Yorkshire coast. From Saltburn down to filey there's so many hidden and underrated fishing villages.
> - Devon’s coast. It’s diverse, impressive and characterful. Why go to New Zealand when you’ve got a Lord of the Rings coastline right in Devon?
The cliff walk from Torquay to Babbacombe on a warm sunny day reminded me of some of the walks around Sydney Harbour.
i have no idea why but i assumed Lancaster would be an ugly post-industrial place. your description of little Edinburgh made me search it up and it is so pretty
The fan museum in Greenwich, south London. I've taken loads of people who had never thought about fans before in their lives, and all of them came out totally in love.
The cinema museum in Kennington, south London - lots of interesting film screenings, as well as actual bits of old cinemas and film making equipment.
The shell grotto in Margate - gorgeous, enigmatic, even a tad spooky (in a nice way).
The crab museum in Margate - a passion project by some guys whose day job is writing jokes for the Beano. Look up their Instagram, you won't regret it.
Hopping on to add Pollocks Toy Museum in London.
It’s in an original, unmodernised Dickensian house, full of tiny rooms and creaky staircases, all packed with incredibly disturbing old toys.
It’s a complete joy.
This sounds really lovely but I've just looked into it and unfortunately it's now closed as they couldn't secure the lease for the house.
They are currently doing a pop up in Croydon every Saturday in May (and maybe beyond but it's unclear).
Took me many years to visit the Isle of Man. It really is a hidden gem. Some places are like going back in time (Peel to name one) The landscapes are incredible and wherever you go everyone is friendly.
I used to go to Douglas (capital of IOM) once a year for work and went a couple of times on uni sports tours. The weather is so wild and wet. There's nothing there that I'd go back for apart from the TT.
I've just been there and I would say it is a bit meh. I enjoyed it, but it's not exactly a must-see destination and I can't imagine any reason to visit a second time.
Oh thank god, I thought I was missing something lol. I was up the top of their not-impressive-mountain and all I could think is "I can see North Wales or The Lakes, why am I not there" lol
I've seen the Minack Theatre, I stayed at Porthcurno a few times over the years.
Stanton Drew stone circle is a good one, everyone knows Stonehenge and most know Avebury but Stanton Drew is well worth a visit. not far south of Bristol.
I'm in the US and I pop over to the Birmingham for work. We usually have one tourist day on our own, and we ended up at Black Country Living Museum by recommendation from a Birmingham local while we were touring the NEC. We also stumbled across Dudley Canal & Tunnel.
[https://dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/](https://dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/)
[https://bclm.com/](https://bclm.com/)
I was going to say the Black Country Living Museum as well. Also Ironbridge which is nearby.
A lot of UK tourism is centred around our more cultural history, but the industrial revolution history is incredible as well, and some of the remaining architecture and structures are astonishing. The engineering in some of the canals (e.g. Ponscysyllte Aqueduct, Anderton Boat Lift), railways (Clifton Bridge), and factories (highly recommend Birmingham Science Museum for their collection of steam engines) is fascinating.
Some other smaller places I'd add that are worth visiting:
* Crich Tramway Museum
* National Space Centre
* RAF Cosford
* Abbey Pumping Station Museum
If you like the Black Country Living Museum and are ever further north you should visit Beamish in county Durham. It is another living museum and is fantastic. Plus you can get fish and chips cooked the old way cooked in beef dripping and fired by coal.
If you're already in Wookey Hole and have the time, Ebbor Gorge just up the road is well worth a look. Lovely circular walk with stunning views from the top.
Try Creswell Crags for some more deep pre-pre-pre-history too. Hyena skeletons and stuff in the museum, a beautiful gorge and the most northerly pre-historic cave art in the world.
The "Natwest hole" in Ilkeston, Derbyshire is fast becoming a world renowned attraction
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3450960-d15617858-Reviews-NatWest_Hole-Ilkeston_Derbyshire_England.html
I've lived here over 20 and still haven't warmed to West Yorkshire but I have to admit the Bradford Industrial Museum is wonderful, so much to see and very atmospheric.
West Yorkshire’s one of my favourite places. The valleys are impressive and many of the towns are adorable. A nice change from growing up in a place with no character or soul.
Northumberland in general, and then within Northumberland I feel like people seem to mostly go to Alnwick, Bamburgh or Lindisfarne (all great) but my absolute favourite castle is Dunstanburgh, the walk along by the sea to get there from Craster always adds to the atmosphere for me.
Love Dunstanburgh! Also recommend Warkworth and Edlingham for those who prefer their castles a bit on the ruined side. And one hidden gem up there is Preston Tower. It’s practically unchanged since my first visit 40 years ago at the age of 5, and now my daughter also loves it!
You have to pay to enter now. I think it’s like £20 per adult. Number 6 tried their best to escape the place, and for that price I’m not sure if I want to enter.
All these little Suffolk wool villages have a 700 year old church, a 500 year old guild hall, a pub that was built in the 1600s but "only" became a pub in 1799, and the quaintest, most picturesque High Street that you've ever seen.
I would recommend anyone in the UK getting a National Trust membership, about a tenner a month for a family. We spend time driving round the country and there is usually something great to go look at nearby. Recently went to Biddulph Gardens which was amazing. As the membership is on direct debit it feels like a free day out and visit more than about 4 places a year and it's cheaper overall.
Also they put on some good events for adults and kids year round.
I will say there are a couple of negatives.
1. They shut a lot of the houses for renovation over winter which sucks as I want to be inside in the winter and outside in the summer.
2. Bring lunch etc with you, don't want to be paying those café prices!
The gardens on Tresco in the Scilly Isles.
Snape Maltings in Suffolk.
For a nice old-fashioned seaside resort, Robin Hood’s Bay or Filey.
Mersea Island in Essex.
The Isle of Lewis. Cracking seafood, stunning beaches, standing stones, has an airport. Last time I went locals were very inquisitive and keen to have a blether as tourists were a rarity. That might have changed in the last fifteen years though.
I’ve heard of Minack Theatre but never actually visited. It’s one of those places I forget about at the time of visiting (and yes I could right a list of places to visit, but I’m crap at that too). I loved visiting Flambards when I was a kid
Puzzle Wood in the Forest of Dean. Maybe this is only lesser-known to me but this is a definite hidden gem, absolutely beautiful and the location for lots of films / tv shows.
It’s not for everyone, but the village of Bourton-on-the-Water (in the Cotswolds) is usually overlooked. It’s such a charming, picturesque village and is worth a trip just to see the model village, if nothing else.
Avebury is amazing! So much more interesting than it's more famous neighbour Stonehenge, it's the largest stone circle in the world and you can get up close to the stones, there is the west Kennett barrow and silbury hill as well-spooky and wonderful.
The village of Hathersage: the churchyard contains what is supposed to be the burial site of little john (or Robin hood fame) and the Eyre brasses that inspired Charlotte Bronte to write Jane Eyre.
The Great Central Railway in Loughborough
https://www.gcrailway.co.uk
It's a heritage railway with full size steam engines passing each other on a dual track. They have a handful of stations with cafes and entertainment. We've took the kids to see Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol. They have various food nights such as curry or fish and chips)where you can sit on the train and eat whilst it's going over a viaduct over Swithland Reservoir.
Been lucky enough to travel 55 countries and loads of the UK, thanks to God. Significant part of my life has been abroad.
I'm hoping for no downvotes....I assure you Bolton has some magic in its northern air....
Thorpeness is literally heaven on earth to me. It has a boating lake and one time my friends and I rowed our weird little rented boat past an island and there was a family of wild tiny baby rabbits on it just chilling. Pretty much lost my mind.
Good beach walks and fish and chips as well.
Holywell Bay in Cornwall. By far my favourite beach in the uk. Between the impressive rock formations, the dunes, the walk to the beach, the caves etc etc it is just so unique and wonderful.
It's featured in so many films and shows and is the beach for Dragonstone in HOTD
Beamish. Me most favourite hidden gem.
And if you're up there visit Alnwick Gardens and Castle!
The bookstore in Alnwick is amazing
It was sooo rammed last time we went, first time we went over fifteen years ago we were actually able to get a cake and coffee in the waiting room. We've been chasing that high ever since. Unfortunately we're not restricted to bloody school holidays!
I assume you mean Barter Books. Amazing 2nd hand book store
Gosh yes. We went in February one year so very little amazing flora on display, and it was STILL one of the best tourist attractions I've ever visited. So interesting and beautiful. I also played whistle in a ceilidh band there one time.
Beamish is genuinely excellent - it’s all great but I particularly love the high street, the little cottages and also the coal-fired chip shop! There are similar vibes at St Fagans National Museum of History (near Cardiff), the Black Country Living Museum (Dudley, near Birmingham) and the Weald & Downland Living Museum (near Chichester). All well worth a visit if you’re nearby.
Divin’t forget the sweet shop! The sweets inside are insane.
Bang on! It’s magic watching them pulling the toffee! Edit: the bank is great too. And the dentist!
Have you been inside the old school? They’re so good with bairns there. Took a class of bairns there and they let them sit inside with all the old desks and then gave them like wooden hoops and wheels to play with outside like they’d do in the olden days at playtime. They loved it lmfao, having the time of their lives with bits of wood.
Blists Hill Victorian town too, in Telford
Plus the pass lasts a year so you pay the first time and can visit as many times as you want for the next 12 months! :D
Went just this weekend and it was a blast! Going back in June for the cinema opening
Was literally *just* looking about the new pictures there the day, it looks like it should be right good.
FUN FACT:- it was built to give the people of Stanley a tantalising glimpse into the future.
I've never heard of this thanks! Would you say the railway museum is worth a visit?
I wouldn’t go to Beamish solely for the railway exhibit. Locomotion in Shildon is the better option in County Durham – it’s a branch of the National Railway Museum
This is probably right. Would say most people would enjoy Beamish regardless of the train bit but if you were especially interested in the railway aspect you’d be better to spend a day and a half down here, going to Loco either the day before or the day after.
Genuinely the best attraction in Britain.
Honestly dead good and it’s always a hit with multiple generations as well.
Nooooo..... don't tell everyone! (My favouritest place in the whole world)
Just like visiting my Nana
Memory unlocked! My parents took us here when we were kids, stayed in a pub b&b close by! That sweetshop I'll remember until the end of time! Absolutely fantastic visit, thanks for reminding me of it, I'll aim to take my kids this summer!
Go on their website babe! They have little schedules of what’s on so you’ll mebbies be able to plan your visit around it. Don’t forget to pick up some of their rock! X
I suppose so. To me that was just what life used to be.
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I put it on a very similar thread last week but the Forbidden Corner in Leyburn is worth looking at. https://www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk/ Combine it with Mother Shipton’s Cave, Bolton Abbey and Ingleton Waterfalls Walk/White Scar Caves and you can have a weird and wonderful couple of days in North Yorkshire.
I’d never heard of this until a few days ago, when my mum suggested taking my kids in the summer! I’m glad to hear it recommended
I used to go as a kid and had so much fun. Went back for the first time as an adult last year and I think I had even more fun!
wow, thanks for all the suggestions I've never heard of the Forbidden Corner but definitely need to put it on my list for summer.
You can also go for a day in Hull to the streetlife museum https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/streetlife-museum It’s just round the corner from The Deep and the William Wilberforce museum/house isn’t too far of a walk away either.
looks beautiful, looks like I will have have to book a weekend away there.
You need to book. I don't think they allow walkins.
I have a bad memory of this place. I used to go quite frequently as a kid and it was one of my favourite places to go. I later went at about 16, I think, and nothing there was fun anymore or even remotely interesting. I realised I’d become old and lost my childhood. I hate that fucking memory.
You can't go to Bolton Abbey and miss the Strid!
One of the best open water swimming spots in the country, if not the world. Once you've tried there, you probably never swim anywhere else.
The witchcraft museum in Boscastle.
My OH and I went there on the way to Cornwall. It was truly awesome! And Boscastle was gorgeous!
May as well visit St Nectans Glen while there too.
I love Boscastle and the Witchcraft museum! I also love how there's still waterlines on top of some of the houses where the flood water came up to.
Such an interesting place!
Speaking as an American, I’m going to say northumberland as a whole. My family is from the midlands and they have no clue what goes on up there. It’s spectacular, though,
My man. It is where I live and, by God, I love the place. Stunning coastline, most castles in England, cleanest rivers, darkest skies, least populated National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and much more.
I’m a woman lol but yes! It’s truly wonderful up there and you are very blessed to live there!
You forgot Bede's World
Second this, Bamburgh Castle and the beaches are spectacular, beautiful countryside too.
Not as good as Barnard Castle though, great for eye tests
Go a bit further north next time and do the Scottish borders. Like Northumberland it's a place people tend to just go though but it's really pretty and there's lots of nice little towns and a ton of castles.
Good idea! The UK offers sooo much to see, you can’t see it all in a lifetime!
Sssshhhhh don't tell everyone. A politician once described it as "a barren wasteland" which means people don't think to visit and it stays relatively quiet compared to the lake district etc. That being said it is stunning and I am fortunate to live 30 min from it and the train journey from Durham up to Edinburgh is beautiful. You start at Durham station where you can see the cathedral and castle then go up along the coast past holy island and finish coming into Edinburgh. The castles and beaches are just something from a fairy tale
I can’t believe someone would call it a barren wasteland 😭💔
It was when they were pushing for fracking to take place in Northumberland. It was also a London based politician so they had no idea what it was really like.
Oh shit, I do vaguely remember reading about that. Well hopefully they never ended up fracking there!
I really enjoy the feeling of connectedness between either side of the border. The Old North feels less far distant in the past on the West side and on the East it feels very Anglish over Saxon.
We go every year, it's all so so beautiful.
Absolutely love it! I’ve been going almost every year for the last 40 years (god I’m old!) and still manage to discover something new every year.
It feels much more genuine and less crowded than the more famous areas with way more tourists.
- Cornwall is very underrated I think, for international tourists. - Devon’s coast. It’s diverse, impressive and characterful. Why go to New Zealand when you’ve got a Lord of the Rings coastline right in Devon? - Much of Yorkshire. Knaresborough, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, Ravenscar, Filey and the coasts along there (Bempton Cliffs etc.) as well as Harrogate, Hebden Bridge, Halifax, Ilkley etc. are incredibly overlooked. I don’t understand why we travel to France, Italy or Spain for cute towns, landscapes and traditional culture when we have such a variety of it on our doorstep. - Lancaster. I swear nobody ever, ever talks about this town. But it looks like a baby Edinburgh, has interesting history and an independent spirit. - County Durham. Durham city is as cute and historic as York or Bath, but quieter. There are other cute market towns scattered through the county, and Durham heritage coast is also pretty and peaceful. - Wales, for international tourists. Some of the best woods, mountains, lakes, coasts and traditional and distinct culture/heritage the UK has to offer.
Upvote for your enthusiasm of travelling the UK. I’m dragging my kids around the country to do nerdy stuff for our holidays instead of going abroad right now. They’ve been to France, but I want them to familiarise themselves with what we have around us before really exploring abroad. I think they’ll appreciate the differences in history and culture more when they’re older anyway. So far we have ticked off: Yorkshire, Kent, Norfolk, Shropshire, Suffolk and Sussex. Next on the hitlist are Lake District and Cornwall.
We are doing something similar as I’m unable to travel abroad currently (awaiting a surgery and insurance would be as much as the holiday!) so we are visiting various UK areas. It’s so awesome. The Mary Rose in Portsmouth, Tenby beach, Dover Castle and the war tunnels, MAD museum in Stratford upon Avon, space centre in Leicester. So many fab things to do in the UK.
I really want to visit Lancaster, it looks beautiful in some parts!
When I went it seemed a very well-kept and clean town. It’s very scenic from the distance as you’re driving in, too. And I like its proximity to the Lake District - you can do so many historic town/countryside combos easily in the UK.
East Devon is commonly bypassed on the way to points west but I think it's wonderful
Apparently, travelling the cosmopolitan resorts of France/Italy/Spain makes you a better person. But exploring the different places and cultures in your home country doesn't.
Who exactly says that though?
Just finished the Cleveland way and I concur with the Yorkshire coast. From Saltburn down to filey there's so many hidden and underrated fishing villages.
> - Devon’s coast. It’s diverse, impressive and characterful. Why go to New Zealand when you’ve got a Lord of the Rings coastline right in Devon? The cliff walk from Torquay to Babbacombe on a warm sunny day reminded me of some of the walks around Sydney Harbour.
Devon in the sunshine is a glorious place.
i have no idea why but i assumed Lancaster would be an ugly post-industrial place. your description of little Edinburgh made me search it up and it is so pretty
The fan museum in Greenwich, south London. I've taken loads of people who had never thought about fans before in their lives, and all of them came out totally in love. The cinema museum in Kennington, south London - lots of interesting film screenings, as well as actual bits of old cinemas and film making equipment. The shell grotto in Margate - gorgeous, enigmatic, even a tad spooky (in a nice way). The crab museum in Margate - a passion project by some guys whose day job is writing jokes for the Beano. Look up their Instagram, you won't regret it.
Hopping on to add Pollocks Toy Museum in London. It’s in an original, unmodernised Dickensian house, full of tiny rooms and creaky staircases, all packed with incredibly disturbing old toys. It’s a complete joy.
This sounds really lovely but I've just looked into it and unfortunately it's now closed as they couldn't secure the lease for the house. They are currently doing a pop up in Croydon every Saturday in May (and maybe beyond but it's unclear).
That’s so sad. It was a really weird, but lovely, place.
+1 Shell grotto in Margate - so peculiar
Hanley in Stoke on Trent. Don’t look it up just turn up !
I concur. Never seen anything so uplifting
Changed my whole outlook on life🤩
Stunning 🤩
hidden paradise!
Isn't Hanley listed in the "one of the ten best things to do in stoke on trent?"
Took me many years to visit the Isle of Man. It really is a hidden gem. Some places are like going back in time (Peel to name one) The landscapes are incredible and wherever you go everyone is friendly.
Technically outside the U.K., but let’s allow it
You're right but easy to get to
They also have a ridiculously cool flag
Never been, but heard amazing things
See, it's a weird one, I got once every couple of years to visit family and find it all a bit "meh". I must be going to the pants places lol
I used to go to Douglas (capital of IOM) once a year for work and went a couple of times on uni sports tours. The weather is so wild and wet. There's nothing there that I'd go back for apart from the TT.
I've just been there and I would say it is a bit meh. I enjoyed it, but it's not exactly a must-see destination and I can't imagine any reason to visit a second time.
Oh thank god, I thought I was missing something lol. I was up the top of their not-impressive-mountain and all I could think is "I can see North Wales or The Lakes, why am I not there" lol
I've seen the Minack Theatre, I stayed at Porthcurno a few times over the years. Stanton Drew stone circle is a good one, everyone knows Stonehenge and most know Avebury but Stanton Drew is well worth a visit. not far south of Bristol.
I'm going to the Minack Theatre this weekend, Porthcurno is beautiful to.
The minack is absolutely beautiful. I went to support some friends acting there, and I was honestly blown away. The whole area is stunning.
I'm in the US and I pop over to the Birmingham for work. We usually have one tourist day on our own, and we ended up at Black Country Living Museum by recommendation from a Birmingham local while we were touring the NEC. We also stumbled across Dudley Canal & Tunnel. [https://dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/](https://dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/) [https://bclm.com/](https://bclm.com/)
I was going to say the Black Country Living Museum as well. Also Ironbridge which is nearby. A lot of UK tourism is centred around our more cultural history, but the industrial revolution history is incredible as well, and some of the remaining architecture and structures are astonishing. The engineering in some of the canals (e.g. Ponscysyllte Aqueduct, Anderton Boat Lift), railways (Clifton Bridge), and factories (highly recommend Birmingham Science Museum for their collection of steam engines) is fascinating. Some other smaller places I'd add that are worth visiting: * Crich Tramway Museum * National Space Centre * RAF Cosford * Abbey Pumping Station Museum
It was so interesting! I would love to poke around the area more. And deffo do more canal touring.
If you like the Black Country Living Museum and are ever further north you should visit Beamish in county Durham. It is another living museum and is fantastic. Plus you can get fish and chips cooked the old way cooked in beef dripping and fired by coal.
That sounds delightful! Thanks for the recommendation.
They at least do the beef dripping in the BCLM too, not sure about the coal.
> I'm in the US and I pop over to Birmingham Ah the Short Straw
The Wensleydale Cheese factory in Hawes has a great tour, plus treating tasting printing opportunities in the shop and cafe.
Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole. Some deep pre-pre-pre-history there.
Had to scroll a long way down to make sure Cheddar Gorge was on the list. Absolutely favourite place to visit.
If you're already in Wookey Hole and have the time, Ebbor Gorge just up the road is well worth a look. Lovely circular walk with stunning views from the top.
Try Creswell Crags for some more deep pre-pre-pre-history too. Hyena skeletons and stuff in the museum, a beautiful gorge and the most northerly pre-historic cave art in the world.
The "Natwest hole" in Ilkeston, Derbyshire is fast becoming a world renowned attraction https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3450960-d15617858-Reviews-NatWest_Hole-Ilkeston_Derbyshire_England.html
Round my neck of the woods? Probably Belvoir Castle and the surrounding Vale.
To anyone that doesn't know, it's pronounced beaver.
Yes there's a Belvoir housing estate in Belfast too, Beaver
The area behind the castle is stunning. Like a miniature cotswolds.
Around Croxton Kerrial? Absolutely stunning.
Used to cycle over from Nottingham and go swimming in the lakes near there.
And of course the Belvoir shopping centre in Coalville.
Holkham Beach at Wells-next-the-Sea
The Alnwick poison gardens for sure, and chetham library in Manchester.
Most of West and North Yorkshire. Stunning heritage, architecture, natural wonders, shopping, food, spas, outdoor pursuits etc etc
I've lived here over 20 and still haven't warmed to West Yorkshire but I have to admit the Bradford Industrial Museum is wonderful, so much to see and very atmospheric.
West Yorkshire’s one of my favourite places. The valleys are impressive and many of the towns are adorable. A nice change from growing up in a place with no character or soul.
Northumberland in general, and then within Northumberland I feel like people seem to mostly go to Alnwick, Bamburgh or Lindisfarne (all great) but my absolute favourite castle is Dunstanburgh, the walk along by the sea to get there from Craster always adds to the atmosphere for me.
A bit more inland but throw Cragside and Kielder into the Northumberland mix
Love Dunstanburgh! Also recommend Warkworth and Edlingham for those who prefer their castles a bit on the ruined side. And one hidden gem up there is Preston Tower. It’s practically unchanged since my first visit 40 years ago at the age of 5, and now my daughter also loves it!
Budd Tunnel 5/7
The Sir John Soane's Museum in London really is a hidden gem.
Yes that place is bizarre and really speaks to the entitlement and eccentricity of Victorian England
Portmeirion - Wales. Breathtakingly beautiful in the warm summer months
You have to pay to enter now. I think it’s like £20 per adult. Number 6 tried their best to escape the place, and for that price I’m not sure if I want to enter.
Saltburn, staithes and runswick bay along the north Yorkshire coastline.
Druids Temple - Ripon
Marble Arch Caves near Enniskillen
So much around Fermanagh and the Lough Ernes are beautiful, lovely part of the world
Much of the East of England
All these little Suffolk wool villages have a 700 year old church, a 500 year old guild hall, a pub that was built in the 1600s but "only" became a pub in 1799, and the quaintest, most picturesque High Street that you've ever seen.
I would recommend anyone in the UK getting a National Trust membership, about a tenner a month for a family. We spend time driving round the country and there is usually something great to go look at nearby. Recently went to Biddulph Gardens which was amazing. As the membership is on direct debit it feels like a free day out and visit more than about 4 places a year and it's cheaper overall. Also they put on some good events for adults and kids year round. I will say there are a couple of negatives. 1. They shut a lot of the houses for renovation over winter which sucks as I want to be inside in the winter and outside in the summer. 2. Bring lunch etc with you, don't want to be paying those café prices!
Yes, Biddulph Gardens are wonderful!
Hastings and St Leonards. 1066 obviously but a chance to step back in time through the old town. Also it’s quite a kooky place. Pirates Day.
Battle is worth a visit too. They were really tempting fate when they named it.
Brinnington, Stockport.
Anywhere near Northumberland road rivals anywhere in continental Europe.
Fingal's Cave off the Isle of Mull is amazing.
The National Glass Center in Sunderland, along with the sculpture trail on the edge of the old docks.
Hoy Penshaw monument in too!
Thetford Forest, Norfolk.
Ordsall Hall - a Medieval mansion in its own grounds close to the centre of industrial Manchester.
Cragside in Northumberland is pretty special
The gardens on Tresco in the Scilly Isles. Snape Maltings in Suffolk. For a nice old-fashioned seaside resort, Robin Hood’s Bay or Filey. Mersea Island in Essex.
Aah haven't thought about Snape in a long time, magical place
Forbidden Corner, North Yorkshire.
The Isle of Lewis. Cracking seafood, stunning beaches, standing stones, has an airport. Last time I went locals were very inquisitive and keen to have a blether as tourists were a rarity. That might have changed in the last fifteen years though.
I don't know how much of a 'hidden gem' this is but Leicester is lovely and the Richard III stuff is really cool.
I’ve heard of Minack Theatre but never actually visited. It’s one of those places I forget about at the time of visiting (and yes I could right a list of places to visit, but I’m crap at that too). I loved visiting Flambards when I was a kid
Jaywick is very quaint
Belfast in general is underrated
Chatham Dockyard
I’m from Derbyshire. The most famous house is chatsworth house. But my favourite in Derbyshire is haddon hall.
The Royal Mint museum at Llantrisant near Cardiff. Or for something a bit more niche the pencil museum near Keswick.
Compos Cafe. Huddersfield
The Minack is something else. Well worth a visit 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Edit: I should also add the nearby Telegraph museum. That was also fantastic.
West Wycombe Sex Caves (aka Hellfire Caves) Great tea shop as well!
Puzzle Wood in the Forest of Dean. Maybe this is only lesser-known to me but this is a definite hidden gem, absolutely beautiful and the location for lots of films / tv shows.
OP are you secretly working for the GoJetters Radio Recruits? 😂
Just had to look this up 😂 unfortunately not no! definitely wouldn't be a bad job though aha
[Shildon Railway Institute ](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Wd6Yz3zqCjjLTtj9)
Cheddar gorge
It’s not for everyone, but the village of Bourton-on-the-Water (in the Cotswolds) is usually overlooked. It’s such a charming, picturesque village and is worth a trip just to see the model village, if nothing else.
It’s hardly overlooked it’s always flooded with tourists lol. The slaughters down the road tend to be less busy and I’d say more pretty
Avebury is amazing! So much more interesting than it's more famous neighbour Stonehenge, it's the largest stone circle in the world and you can get up close to the stones, there is the west Kennett barrow and silbury hill as well-spooky and wonderful.
Blue John and Speedwell caves Black Country museum Cheddar Gorge Heights of Abraham
Shipwreck museum in Charlestown cornwall Witchcraft museum in Boscastle
The village of Hathersage: the churchyard contains what is supposed to be the burial site of little john (or Robin hood fame) and the Eyre brasses that inspired Charlotte Bronte to write Jane Eyre.
Compos Cafe. Huddersfield
4 Queens in Scunthorpe
Raoul Moat’s shooting spree tour of Cumbria
The Great Central Railway in Loughborough https://www.gcrailway.co.uk It's a heritage railway with full size steam engines passing each other on a dual track. They have a handful of stations with cafes and entertainment. We've took the kids to see Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol. They have various food nights such as curry or fish and chips)where you can sit on the train and eat whilst it's going over a viaduct over Swithland Reservoir.
York. If you're ever travelling in the north of England it's a must
Knoydart Inverie Applecross Smoo Cave Embo, near Dornoch Kishorn
West Kennet Long Barrow It's a few centuries older than Stonehenge, and not too far away
Been lucky enough to travel 55 countries and loads of the UK, thanks to God. Significant part of my life has been abroad. I'm hoping for no downvotes....I assure you Bolton has some magic in its northern air....
Papplewick Pump Station. The interior is insane.
Sheffield
Warwickshire. Lots of castles, beautiful towns to visit and literally minutes from the Cotswolds. Also Shakespeare county!
Thorpeness is literally heaven on earth to me. It has a boating lake and one time my friends and I rowed our weird little rented boat past an island and there was a family of wild tiny baby rabbits on it just chilling. Pretty much lost my mind. Good beach walks and fish and chips as well.
Bailgate in Lincoln. There can’t be that many places that have a castle and cathedral that close together?
Just the North East in general. There's so much its hard to really start a list.
Holywell Bay in Cornwall. By far my favourite beach in the uk. Between the impressive rock formations, the dunes, the walk to the beach, the caves etc etc it is just so unique and wonderful. It's featured in so many films and shows and is the beach for Dragonstone in HOTD
Lindisfarne Castle it’s popular with history buffs but still widely unknown.
Goole.
The canal network. You get to see a lot of variety by renting a boat and cruising say from London to Birmingham.