LET’S face it, there is a lot of things going on abroad that might be making you apprehensive about travelling right now.
Thankfully, the UK is home to some amazing destinations which can transport you to somewhere further afield.
From the south of England all the way up to Scotland, you can find white sandy beaches and Med-like villages along the way.
So we’ve rounded up five of the best places which are often said to look more like abroad.
Swap Spain for Lusty Glaze, Cornwall
Cornwall‘s Lusty Glaze is often compared to Spain, with its Ibiza-liked beach restaurant.
The aptly named Lusty Glaze Beach Restaurant overlooks the sandy cove and is the best place to watch the sunsets.
The beach even hosts a number of events such as Ibiza Club Classics, as well as Sundowner Sessions.
One person even said on Tripadvisor: “It’s like your own mini Ibiza in Cornwall.”
Swap Italy for Portmeirion, Wales
The village of Portmeirion in Wales doesn’t just look like Italy by chance – but was entirely designed that way.
Designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, inspired by Italy as he once said: “How should I not have fallen for Portofino?”
The multicoloured houses certainly resemble the famous Cinque Terre.
It might be a stretch to call it a seaside… but sits on the Dwyryd Estuary, which has its own tidal beaches.
Swap Thailand for Isle of Harris, Scotland
The Scottish isles are often compared to destinations very far away, such as the Carribean.
Yet some of the sandbanks on the Isle of Harris could be something from Thailand.
Luskentyre Beach is a dead ringer for the beach of Nang Yuan island.
The weather, however, might not be as warm so this is definitely a beach to visit in the summer…
Swap France for Durdle Door, Dorset
The famous arch of Durdle Door might soon be one of the few in the world, after Italy’s Lover’s Arch collapsed earlier this year.
Thankfully, one in France remains and looks just like the Dorset beach.
Etretat Beach on the north coast of France is famous for the Porte d’Aval arch.
If you did want to see it, you can get there without hopping on a flight – ferries travel from the UK to Le Havre which is just over half an hour by car
Swap America for Camber Sands, Sussex
Camber Sands is often called the Hamptons of the UK, and even the beaches are alike.
The American comparison to the Essex seaside comes mainly from the The Gallivant hotel, built in the shaker style and also with a “Hamptons air”.
However, the dune-backed beaches of Camber Sands are a spitting image of the ones in Montauk, a hamlet in East Hampton.
Here’s how to find the best UK beach for the least rain.
And here are five beaches that are better to visit in winter.