England is one of the most travelled countries in the world. But while millions of tourists visit Manchester and London every year fewer venture off the tourist path to discover England’s hidden gems. There is a lot to see and do, from a variety of medieval structures and modernist buildings to historic museums and designer shops, wild style and sophisticated culture, breath-taking landscapes and maintained gardens, natural wonders and flourishing cities.
Would you like to explore off the tourist track for a different style of holiday in England? We’ve picked out four of England’s best kept secrets.
Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
This little archipelago, located off the Cornish coast, is the closest thing to leaving England that you can get without really leaving England. Even though the islands depend on tourism for a living, they haven’t historically attracted many Britons.
From Penzance Harbour, Land’s End, Newquay, or Exeter Airports, you can take a day trip to the Scilly Islands. In Cornwall, visiting the Scilly Islands is a fantastic day excursion. There isn’t much lodging available on the archipelago if you wish to stay longer, and what there is usually fills up quickly. This means that a Scilly Islands vacation needs to be carefully planned. But, because of the wonderfully gorgeous white sand beaches there, it is definitely worth the trip.
Ross Back Sands, Northumberland
From Budle Bay to Lindisfarne, this gorgeously deserted sandy spit stretches for 5 kilometers. The 1.5 kilometer route through Ross Farm and through the dunes is the only way to get there, which discourages most tourists from visiting.
Your reward, though, is an unrivaled view of white sand, blue water, and Lindisfarne Castle at one end and Bamburgh Castle and the Farne Islands at the other. Binoculars will be useful for a variety of reasons, including observing the seals lounging in Lindisfarne Bay (best seen from Guile Point) and scouting the water for divers, grebes, and scoters in the winter and terns in the summer.
Richmond Park, London
The center of London is probably not at the top of your list of secret destinations in England or English nature adventures. But that is exactly what is on offer at the enormous Richmond Park. The chaos of Oxford Street can seem far away to someone who is unfamiliar with London.
Richmond’s down town is likely the only location in the city where you won’t hear the constant rumble of traffic because it is home to the largest of the Royal Parks. It’s not surprising that the red and fallow deer are the stars of the show because they were historically stalked by the Royal Family. The animals are accustomed to human presence and are found in vast herds.
The Outwoods, Woodhouse Eaves
For one of many beautiful days out in Leicestershire, this 110 acre area is home to a number of walking paths and routes. The tourist destination provides a view of Loughborough and the county’s Soar Valley. The Outwoods features picturesque views in addition to affordable all-day parking. Overall, Leicestershire is a location with a ton of undiscovered jewels just waiting to be explored especially if you enjoy cycling or trekking.