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Original poster

What do you consider the prettiest part of the UK?

137 replies

Hour · 13/12/2024 14:11

I wfh and can move pretty much anywhere. Giving up on London.

Without being practical ie considering infrastructure, transport, weather, demographics etc - where do you consider the prettiest part of the UK to be? I’m talking in terms of natural scenery and architecture. Or you could split it up.

I personally adore Norfolk. Coastline is unrivalled and the flint and brick is gorgeous. You obviously can’t beat the Cotswolds either for buildings but the landscape isn’t my favourite.

My answer would be:
buildings/architecture - Cotswolds (very unoriginal but I’m a sucker for limestone)
natural beauty - Pembrokeshire

Just hoping to hear about places I’ve never heard of.

Not wanting to offend at all. I LOVE the Pembrokeshire coastline but I’m sorry to say I found the buildings a little bit run down when I visited in Summer.

OP posts:
Swivelhead · 13/12/2024 18:14

Luton

Seashor · 13/12/2024 18:13

I love the villages in the Weald of Kent and Sussex. Beautiful architecture and so wooded with ancient trees. Stunning.
I love the mountains of Wales, they take my breath away.
The North Devon/ Somerset coast line is stinkingly beautiful, so rugged and wild.
We really do live in a beautiful country.

BreadInCaptivity · 13/12/2024 18:12

Yorkshire in general- but it's big if you consider all the counties so North Yorkshire specifically.

The Dales are beautiful so places like Hawes/Grassington/Malham/Kettkewell.

decorativecushions · 13/12/2024 18:10

Cambridgeshire.

I grew up there and when I've returned it's bloody lovely. The A14 is nice too.

I'd go back but we've been priced out of buying there.

mathanxiety · 13/12/2024 18:02

The Dales, Norfolk, Mourne mountains, Fermanagh, north Wales, Scotland in its entirety.

Whoarethoseguys · 13/12/2024 18:00

I love Yourksire, the Peak District, the lake district and Northumberland.

Crunchyqueen · 13/12/2024 17:58

Pretty wise definitely agree on the Cotswolds. Rye in Sussex fits the pretty brief, as do parts of Yorkshire. I always think Ripley in North Yorks and all the other wee villages between Harrogate and Ripon are definitely pretty. Bawtry in South Yorkshire is very pretty.

Crispynoodle · 13/12/2024 17:50

Easy! Northern Ireland! Can't beat it

Bluejacket · 13/12/2024 17:48

Ingleton, North Yorkshire. A lovely village perfectly located to get to other lovely places for days out. Hill walking area, half hour drive to the Lakes, or the coast.

oviraptor21 · 13/12/2024 17:47

Took three pages to get to Kent - thank you @dynamiccactus !
Cotswold.villages and Kent villages are the definition of pretty. And the North Downs and Weald of Kent are a great backdrop.
Plus easy access to London which, whilst not pretty, has some stunning parts. I'd be very sad to move too far away, for various reasons.

Funnywonder · 13/12/2024 17:43

North Antrim Coast, particularly the area around Dunluce Castle.
Silent Valley and the whole drive through the Mourne Mountains to get there.
The Lake District. We had our P7 school trip there and even at 11yo, I found it absolutely mesmerising.

Sharptonguedwoman · 13/12/2024 17:42

If you like Cotswold type stone, some of the villages in Wiltshire are beautiful. Personally, I love the downland of West Sussex.

flippertygibbet4 · 13/12/2024 17:41

Yorkshire. Just the most beautiful place on earth.

Bloom15 · 13/12/2024 17:40

Lake District and North Wales

Violinist64 · 13/12/2024 17:37

There are beautiful places all over the UK, but for me, one of the loveliest, most unspoilt and least known parts of the country is North East Essex, starting in Manningtree, the smallest town in England, and continuing down the coast until you reach Maldon. Tiptree and Harwich are part of this area, too. It is not far from Constable country and relatively close to London - there is a mainline station at Manningtree with a very regular service to London Liverpool Street and the journey takes around 45 minutes. You can also get to Norwich directly from Manningtree station.

Crikeyalmighty · 13/12/2024 17:37

@Madcats without the hills though !! Love looking at the lit up hills around us in Bath in an evening!! I would miss that -

Movinghouseatlast · 13/12/2024 17:34

I think so much of the UK is stunningly beautiful. Highlands of Sctland, Yorkshire Dales, rural Somerset around Taunton/ Glastonbury, Cheshire gets overlooked but the countryside around Knutsford and Chelford is glorious. The Cotswolds and Stratford upon Avon.

I used to live in Surrey and Box Hill, Ripley and Send are so pretty. Expensive though!

I live in Cornwall now and in my opinion the most beautiful parts are Fowey, St Ives and Polperro. The coastline is like the Med on a sunny day, and wild and dramatic in the winter.

Madcats · 13/12/2024 17:31

I think you'll find gems in just about every county.

We had a holiday up in Aberdeenshire at Easter - loved the area (so many daffodils on the verges), quiet roads. I might be less keen in the winter.

I've lived in Bath for over 30 years so I obviously like it here. It struck me that Stamford/Rutland would offer a similar lifestyle on the opposite side of the country.

Did you want a City/Town/Market Town/Village?

LaBarruci · 13/12/2024 17:22

Two for me: the Meon Valley in Hampshire: totally unspoilt, beech woods, chalk streams, ancient churches, little villages and market towns every bit as pretty as anything in the Cotswolds. The house prices can be steep though. The other is the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, near the Forest of Bowland: not as well known as the Peak District or Lake District, but not too far from Leeds, Manchester or Blackpool either.

dynamiccactus · 13/12/2024 17:13

Your OP title said pretty.

I think Scotland is majestic, beautiful, stunning (same goes for the Antrim coast).

But in terms of pretty I think the villages of West Kent fit that description.

There are some very pretty villages in Dorset and Somerset as well.

umdontdothat · 13/12/2024 17:07

Penzance

MikeRafone · 13/12/2024 17:04

SereneCapybara · 13/12/2024 15:12

This is true. Lancashire is absolutely gorgeous.

Show quote history

It is indeed a beautiful part of the country side and not overrun with people - as they go more to the west and the lake district

but the stone of the buildings/houses is dark. I think that is why I would favour the Cotswolds as the stone is much lighter, somehow it makes a difference

TenLittleLadybirds · 13/12/2024 17:02

North coast of Northern Ireland - absolutely gorgeous

Dreamingofgoldfinchlane · 13/12/2024 17:00

So many beautiful places but North Wales for me

fixingmylife · 13/12/2024 16:57

Shetland Islands.

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