Undesirable holiday locations, please!

[WouldBeGood]

I’m far too scared to book a wholesome staycation in a beautiful tourist area, lest I be run out of town by angry locals; or refused service in the extortionately priced local farm shop.

So, I’m planning to go to places that are not holiday destinations, where they might be pleased people are visiting. Or, even better, not notice.

My sole requirement is a nice hotel.

Any recommendations?

Northamptonshire. But only if you like the countryside (especially country houses) - the towns are generally best avoided! I honestly think the county as a whole is a hidden gem. People drive through on the motorway and think it's a county of warehouses, but stop and have a look around, you'd be surprised.

www.northamptonshiresurprise.com/

We used to go to Bewdley, near Kidderminster, to visit relatives. You see it on TV whenever the river Severn floods. It's a beautiful Georgian town, with riverside pubs, fishing, a good museum, lovely walks and a steam railway that goes to Bridgnorth, which is also a really interesting town that would be better known if it was in the south. Bridgnorth reminds me of Rye in Sussex - a lovely old town on the top of a hill, but with the added attraction of a funicular.

Shropshire is lovely- massively underrated imho

Another vote for Shropshire! We stayed near Telford a couple of years ago. There is a lovely open air Victorian museum and the Iron Bridge area is beautiful.

Kids and I had a lovely long weekend in Ely a couple of years ago - beautiful cathedral with stained glass museum, gorgeous barges along the canal, some great National Trust places nearby (Wicken Fen, Anglesey Abbey) and you could do a day trip to Cambridge

Shh, we're going to Shropshire this summer and don't want everyone else piling in

@MegBusset

Shh, we're going to Shropshire this summer and don't want everyone else piling in

Oops sorry @MegBusset 🤦🏻‍♀️

It is so lovely and I couldn't believe how deserted it was!

Can’t believe Whitby has been mentioned on here - went last year and it was HEAVING. Undesirable and unpopular as a tourist destination it is not. Ditto northumberland
Coast.

Someone mentioned Portsmouth. Not sure how touristy it is or isn’t but the historic ships are amazing!

I watched a salvage hunters episode set in Hastings once and have been keen to go ever since. Antique shops looked fantastic and I found a lovely-looking guesthouse. I guess it must be undesirable, as nobody will agree to go to Hastings with me

My children love the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Hull has wonderful museums, a lovely Minster, and a lot of handsome old buildings. Also The Deep
aquarium.

And Beverley, mentioned upthread, is gorgeous.

@Susannahmoody

Is there actually anything to do at the scotch corner?

They were supposed to be building an outlet mall there but covid has probably got in the way. It's quite close to Barnard castle I believe.

I’m so glad I asked! Thanks, great suggestions

Stay somewhere like Crathorne Hall at the edge of North Yorks and Teesside, loads of lovely towns near by- Great Ayton, Yarm, Stokesley, Thirsk.

Go up Roseberry Topping, across to Saltburn for fish and chips, climb Lord Stones and walk round Cod Beck.
Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall aren’t far, nor is Lightwater Valley.
Teesside Park a short drive for cinema and bowling.
Lovely restaurants close by such as the Tomahawk and Chadwicks plus many country pubs.

Bit embarrassed how many of these undesirable places I have holidayed in I second Hull (though we stayed at the Premier Inn so perhaps not what you are looking for) and Halifax.

@lastqueenofscotland As much as I love to see Greenfield advertised, I'm afraid there are many pitchfork wielding locals who will drive you out of town moan all over Facebook if you dare to visit the local beauty spots

Herefordshire is gorgeous. Every inch of it.

True @LyraBelaqua. My best friend lives in nearby Powys and that's lovely too. The Elan Valley is amazing if you like walking etc. Wales is generally quiet compared to say, Cornwall. I used to go camping in Rhossili a lot which has miles and miles of beautiful deserted beach and dunes.

DancetotheMusic, have you heard the saying "Hell, Hull and Halifax, from all these three, may the good Lord deliver us?!" Your post made me laugh. Halifax was included due to a notorious workhouse there.

(Disclaimer: love Halifax. Come from a few miles away. Very little current knowledge of Hull but it sounds good).

We always have a lovely time in Sheffield

Lovely walks, bike rides, not many tourists

People think we are mad

@Leapyleaffrog

Given the likely absence of hoards of foreign tourists, Chinese tour groups etc I’ve decided this is the perfect year to go to London, Oxford, Cambridge, Stratford, York or Edinburgh. Basically I’ll be avoiding countryside or coast.

That's a very good point. Might see you there 😃

The Old Hall, Ely.

Looks like a hotel but is technically a B&B. Staff mind their business though, which I like because that usually puts me off B&Bs. Plenty of places nearby to get takeaway if restaurants aren’t open. Great breakfasts, great rooms, lovely location.

Am also planning to avoid causing any stress or worry to all the Devonians and
Cornwallians who have been so anxious Londoners stay away........city breaks all the way while the foreign tourists are absent and after that maybe back to the Lakes and Peak District, where folk have been lovely throughout Covid and their economy will soon need a big boost.

If you go to Hull and there's a sunny day, I recommend the Humber Bridge Country Park.

@Halmo

Surrey Hill’s. Beautiful countryside, lots of walks and cosy pubs and come the summer the locals seem to all be in Cornwall or Dorset!

Good point actually, I live near there and everyone disappears to Cornwall, as you say.

Goodness knows why this year, given how hostile they are to all the covid virus shedders east of Plymouth, it would be the last place I'd visit - I'll definitely take my holiday cash somewhere else. But as it's already full for this summer, clearly other people are more forgiving than I am.

Loving all the Hull love on here as it's likely to be ds' university insurance option :)