UK Travel
Escape to the seaside this summer and explore Britain's best classic seaside attractions
The UK coastline is famed for its classic seaside resorts, each with its own vintage attractions. Here's our top 10 – from boats and big wheels, to trains and yummy ice cream spots.
Melt-free escapes: These are the 6 best UK coolcations to escape the summer heat
Beat the heatwave and trade the scorching Med for breezy British highlands, shady forests and refreshing coastal dipping spots, where the temperature stays pleasant and inviting
Are these Britain's most idyllic seaside escapes? These are the 10 stunning coastal UK spots worth cancelling your flights abroad for
With one of the hottest UK summers on record, now is the perfect time for a holiday in one of the country's 10 stunning coastal havens
This pocket-sized speaker might be your new favourite outdoor companion
We review the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Portable Speaker to see how it stands up to the competition
This bizarre pyramid in Scotland looks like it was beamed down by aliens (but was actually a heartbreaking tribute to a prince)
There are sixteen stone cairns on the Balmoral estate, commemorating various Royal marriages – but this is the largest, commemorating a particularly tragic loss for Queen Victoria
What's new?
Special interest holidays are all the rage. I discovered why on a navigation skills weekend in England's 'Little Switzerland'
Sunflowers, laughter yoga and Japanese punks: WOMAD's triumphant comeback in 13 pictures
From HS2 to Hinkley, Britain's most staggeringly expensive construction projects rated (prepare for your eyes to water)
From train lines to power stations, motorways to Parliament buildings, are these megaprojects worth the money? You decide
One of Scotland’s most dramatic (and cursed) forests is set to star in The Odyssey
How a forest that was once swallowed by sand and scarred by naval artillery became the perfect cinematic backdrop for Christopher Nolan’s Greek epic
Ditch the car – walk instead! These 7 UK car-free islands are perfect for a peaceful escape
Ditch the traffic and explore these UK islands where cars are banned and adventure comes on foot, bike or tractor
Cotswolds
Cotswolds A-List: spot the Hollywood icons, royalty and rock stars among the sheep and stone walls
What do Kate Moss, Jeremy Clarkson and Princess Anne have in common? They all live in the Cotswolds. And they're not alone...
Explore the rolling hills and quaint honey-stone villages of the Cotswolds with these 14 charming walks
The Cotswolds’ softly contoured countryside, elevated pastures, and golden limestone villages make it an inviting place to roam throughout the year. Our guide leads you through some of the AONB’s most beautiful walking routes.
Is this the prettiest long distance walking trail in the UK? Spot up to 16 counties from one stunning viewpoint
As it's surprisingly hilly, there are plenty of scenic spots along the Cotswold Way.
Holiday Ideas
'I took my family backpacking around Europe by train. This is the essential kit we wouldn't have been without'
Best walking holidays of 2026: Explore hiking routes, guided tours and accommodation
Explore our beautiful coastlines and countryside on foot with our guide to the best walking holidays in the UK. Plus, some stunning abroad walking holiday options to inspire your next trip
Britain’s quirkiest museums: 11 curious collections worth exploring
From pencils to witchcraft paraphernalia, Britain is filled with quirky museums of all manner and variety. Here's our guide to some of the more unconventional cabinets of curiosity
North West
Ambleside guide: This charming Lake District market town is the gateway to England's largest natural lake
Caroline Butterwick on where to eat, sleep and visit near Ambleside
“Cumbria wants to be the UK’s first carbon-neutral county.” How one writer skipped the gridlock on a car-free escape to the glorious Lake District
Caroline Butterwick embraces the joy of leaving the car at home on a peaceful trip to the idyllic Lakeland landscapes of Ambleside
The Wrekin walk, Shropshire
Stride out on a spectacular hilltop walk and marvel at the bucolic views from an ancient fortress, which crowns some of the world’s oldest rocks.
Northumberland Coast
What looks like a crumbling ruin was once the nerve centre of England’s bloodiest war: How Warkworth Castle and its hidden hermitage shaped a nation’s history
Explore a mighty hill-top castle that Shakespeare once wrote into a play, and then follow a gentle riverside path that holds enchantments of its own: a mystical hermitage
Explore Seahouses and the Farne Islands, Northumberland
Explore the pretty fishing village of Seahouses, then take a boat trip to islands thronging with puffins with our complete guide to visiting the Farne Islands in Northumberland.
Lindisfarne Priory
Julia Bradbury explores a beautiful ruin, once raided by Vikings, now providing enchantment for peaceful visitors
Peak District
Perched on a rocky outcrop, does this Norman fortress ruin have the best views of the Peak District?
Step back 1,000 years and climb up to the ancient battlements of Peveril Castle, where sweeping Peak District panoramas await
This iconic stately home is holding a Regency festival to celebrate its literary connection – including a summer ball
Discover the history behind the Grade I-listed Chatsworth House and what it's famous for – as well as its Jane Austen connection
The Roaches and Lud's Church circular walk, Staffordshire
Look out for wallabies while enjoying folklore and oatcakes amid striking Staffordshire gritstone outcrops with this six-mile walk along The Roaches to the mysterious gorge of Lud's Church in the Peak District National Park
Scotland
When they left this Scottish island 50 years ago, something large and unexpected took over
Abandoned nearly 50 years ago, this remote Scottish island has become an accidental experiment in nature, survival, and evolution
He gave us Auld Lang Syne and was known for passionate love affairs and bold, radical politics – just who was Robert Burns?
From humble Ayrshire beginnings to worldwide annual celebrations, we take a look at the life of Robert Burns, Scotland's favourite poet.
Want to own your own island like Richard Branson? This uninhabited remote Scottish isle is now for sale
If you thought an island off the coast of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland was remote, there's an island OFF this island currently up for sale
South Downs
Podcast: A sensational evening of singing with nightingales – with folk singer Sam Lee
Enjoy a truly magical experience deep in a Sussex woodland – singer Sam Lee and violinist Anna Phoebe accompany nightingales at midnight in episode 3, season 12 of the Countryfile Magazine Plodcast
Discovering history and mystery in Kingley Vale in the South Downs
Explore the yew forests, wildflower meadows and hidden history of Kingley Vale, West Sussex. Poet Hugh Dunkerley hosts episode 6 of season 10 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine podcast
Walk: Wilmington to Alfriston, Sussex
A short walk to the Long Man of Wilmington, the mysterious chalk figure on the South Downs. But how exactly did he get there?
South West
749 US soldiers died on this English beach weeks before D-Day. This is the tragic lesser-told story
Fall in love with Cornwall's ancient past and breathtaking present, from smuggling coves to Neolithic wonders
England’s wild far-western shores are scattered with mysterious ancient sites. Take a walk back through time with Melanie O’Shea, to the Celtic roots of Cornwall’s ruggedly beautiful West Penwith peninsula.
What is Dartmoor famous for? And can you wild camp there? Everything you need to know about the National Park
Everything you need to know about Dartmoor National Park – including its history and whether you can wild camp
Wye Valley and Forest of Dean
Forestry England is hiring for one of the UK's weirdest jobs – and it pays £42k a year
One of the Forest of Dean's most ancient jobs is now welcoming new applicants
Podcast: The joy of riding an electric bicycle in the Forest of Dean
Explore the Forest of Dean and its wildlife on an eBike in the company of Tom Marvin from BikeRadar – in episode 8, season 11 of the Countryfile Magazine podcast
Podcast: Getting lost among hillforts and ravens in the lowlands of Monmouthshire
A winter's walk between hillforts becomes a battle with blocked or vanished footpaths in the farmland of Monmouthshire. In episode 4, season 11 of the Countryfile Plodcast, we explore problems with accessing the countryside
