WHILE the Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful places in the UK, that also comes with expensive trips and lots of crowds.
But there are some villages in the north of the county that are rising in popularity thanks to their charming chocolate-box look and celebrity visitors.
One coastal spot in particular that’s been dubbed an ‘alternative Cotswolds’ is Blakeney.
The village has pretty grey flint cottages that sit on the seafront and quaint colourful homes in the streets behind the quayside.
There are small bakeries, a delicatessen, little cafes, craft shops and like with the Cotswolds there are plenty of opportunities for pictures.
The Cotswolds is known for having celebrity residents like the Beckhams who own a home in Chipping Norton.
Jeremy Clarkson and American presenter Ellen DeGeneres have also set up camp there.
However Norfolk has its own powerhouse, specifically, the Royal Family.
For many years the Royal Family have been seen on Holkham Beach which is close to the family’s Sandringham estate.
Last spring, Prince William and Princess Kate paid a visit to the Bakers & Larners food hall in Holt – which is just 12 minutes away from Blakeney by car.
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The Cotswolds has award-winning hotels too like Lords of the Manor and The Slaughters Manor House. Well, Blakeney also has its own one.
Earlier this year, The Manor Coastal Hotel & Inn picked up a Travellers’ Choice Award on Tripadvisor for being one of the ‘Best of the Best Hotels’ in the country.
It was also the only one in Norfolk to make the top 25 – on Tripadvisor it has a rating of 4.7 out of five and 466 reviews.
One visitor wrote: “This was our first time at the Manor and it certainly won’t be our last. We felt so relaxed staying at the Manor. We stayed in a garden room, perfect!”
Another simply wrote “truly coastal. A very relaxing stay.”
The luxury boutique hotel has relaxing bedrooms with calming coastal colours ranging from a Deluxe Suite to a Classic Single Room.
It also offers food from brunch and lunch to afternoon tea and cocktails – including a Blakeney Collins.
Another similarity between the two locations, while it won’t affect your holiday is the house prices.
The Cotswolds are known for having big price tags on properties – but north Norfolk isn’t too far behind with homes selling on average around £365,000 in the last year.
There is one glaringly obvious difference between the Cotswolds and Norfolk which is the location.
One is in the rolling countryside hills and the other is by the coast.
But one thing you’ll get in Blakeney, and not in the Cotswolds is the chance to do some seal spotting.
Blakeney Point is home to England‘s largest grey seal colony. If you want to see a sweet Grey Seal pup then you’re best chance is to visit between late October and mid-January.
Travel Writer Jenna Stevens who was born and raised in Wells-next-the-Sea reveals some more great Norfolk spots.
For quiet havens that have less crowds than Sheringham and Cromer, visit Holme and the nearby Thornham Beach.
She added: “If you’re looking for a solid pub with great food where you can bring your pet along, the Rose and Crown in Snettisham has a dog-friendly bar and restaurant, as well as a cosy, walled beer garden.
“But perhaps my favourite corner of the coast is Old Hunstanton Beach Café.”
Here’s another alternative to going to the Cotswolds..
The county of Bedfordshire isn’t on most people’s travel list just at yet – but with Universal’s arrival in a matter of years, its popularity is set to rise rapidly.
Sun Travel spoke to one local who said tourists should start visiting now to see what Bedfordshire has to offer – including pretty Cotswolds looking villages to it’s own “Little Italy”.
Lydia Pettet has lived in Bedford for almost all of her life, having a brief interlude in London and Leeds, but she promptly returned to her home county.
Bedfordshire is in the East of England, probably known mostly for the towns of Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard – and the fact that it’s set to be the home of the UK’s first Universal.
There are a number of villages in Bedfordshire that have even been compared to the Cotswolds.
The Telegraph even said “Bedfordshire has a secret equivalent to the covetable villages of the Cotswolds” – so they’re worth a visit.
Lydia explained: “I am a North Bedfordshire girl at heart and we have plenty of beautiful villages from Harrold to, Carlton and Sharnbrook.”
Not only do they have the classic chocolate-box houses, but also great pubs too – Lydia suggested The Oakley Arms in Harrold.
Lydia added: “You can have a really nice weekend away at one of these villages – the Cotswolds has been a tourist spot forever, so the villages around here don’t have as much going on, but they all still have so much to offer.”
Check out this quaint ‘under the radar’ English town that feels more like the Cotswolds but is much cheaper.
And this alternative Cotswolds town is a ‘jewel in the crown’ with very famous queen buried there.