WHEN it comes to picking a holiday, the temptation to go abroad can be huge – but the UK has many spots that look and feel like you are in a different country.
If you want to avoid the chaos of long airport queues and delayed flights, we’ve named some of our favourite places across Britain that will transport you to being hundreds of miles away instead.
Swap Champagne in France for Balfour
Balfour Winery has mushroomed in size since it opened as a tiny winery
in 2002, in the Kent village of Staplehurst.
You can now enjoy an excellent bottle of wine on their gorgeous
verandah, accompanied by exceptional sharing platters or flatbreads
and more recently, hot meals, instead of heading all the way to the Champagne region in France.
It even rivals some of Kent’s better-known vineyards, such as Chapel Down.
But it has also kept a nice local touch – they have no problem with
guests taking a walk around the vineyard or the neighbouring woods on
the estate, in fact it’s encouraged.
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They mingle with the fabulously-dressed, down-from-Londoners, there
for a full day out in their floor-length dresses.
And if you squint on a sunny summer’s day after a rose or two, the
view from the restaurant could quite feasibly be somewhere more exotic
on the continent. – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Swap New Zealand for North Wales
New Zealand should be on everyone’s bucket list. But it’s a long and pricey journey from the UK, so how about just pocketing that cash and visiting North Wales instead?
The wild scenery is very similar – trust me, I’ve spent a decent amount of time in both destinations.
Both are known for their rugged, snow-capped mountains; untouched, rural landscape; and vast lakes that are so still they paint a perfect reflection of the skyline.
They are also both big on adventure – craggy hiking trails are in abundance in North Wales and adrenaline junkies will love whizzing along the fastest zip line in the world at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry.
I had buckets of fun white water rafting in Rotorua during my New Zealand trip – and you can do that in North Wales, too.
National White Water Centre has a whole host of options starting from £45. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Swap the French Riviera for the English Riviera
The English Riviera can be found in Devon and earned its name from feeling like the French Riviera with palm trees, big beaches and its very own microclimate.
The region is made up of three towns – Torquay, Paignton and Brixham – each of which has its own unique character.
In Brixham, you can spot fishing boats bobbing on the water with seals often swimming around them.
In Paignton, you can venture along the pier, testing out the different penny slot machines before heading to one of the many beaches with an ice cream in hand.
And last but not least is the queen of the English Riviera, Torquay.
It has a bustling town centre, picturesque harbour and a large beach ideal for paddleboarding and kayaking. – Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
Swap Thailand for Eilean Shona, Scotland
Scotland is home to hundreds of islands and most are vastly different from each other – but there is one tiny tidal island that’s so special because it feels like you’ve stepped foot in Thailand.
Eilean Shona is a tidal island in the Inner Hebrides with pristine beaches and crystal clear waters that can only be reached by boat.
In fact, the island is even more exclusive as you have to stay at the accommodation on the island to visit it.
While the temperature is chillier, the magic of the island makes up for it – having even inspired J.M. Barrie’s Neverland in Peter Pan. – Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter
Swap the Caribbean for Jersey
If I told you there’s an island an hour’s flight from the UK, with a
Caribbean-like coastline, that gets summer quicker than England and
you don’t need a passport – you’d think I was pulling your leg.
But such a unicorn does exist in the English Channel: Jersey.
When my family and I visited, every beach was outstanding, the weather
glorious, the food a fantastic hybrid of French and English tastes.
Jersey calls itself “curiously Brit . . . (ish)” and it sums up this
island, 14 miles from the coast of France, perfectly.
One of our best (of many best days) on our week away, was on a
wildlife RIB trip with Jersey Seafaris.
The company takes you to the stunning Les Minquiers sandbanks and
reef, which is often likened to the Maldives.
There was plenty of time for pure relaxation too, St Brelade’s Bay is
often billed as a rival to the Caribbean on a sunny day, thanks to its
palm tree-lined beach and clear turquoise waters.
From England to France, the Caribbean to the Maldives on one tiny
island that takes two hours to drive from top to bottom? That’s one
hell of a day out. – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Swap Spain for Hove
It’s not often I go to the English coast and feel like I’m in Europe.
But when I hopped down to Hove for a weekend trip last summer, I did feel like I was on holiday in the Mediterranean.
Given, it was during the July heatwave, so I did have the glorious weather on my side.
But still, on a beautiful summer’s day, I was at Rockwater sipping on an Aperol Spritz by a huge open window staring out at the promenade and glittering water feeling like I was in Italy or Spain.
The food is another thing that has a Mediterranean seaside vibe, especially if you dine on fish dishes like mussels, crab linguine or catch of the day.
But to really make the most of the sun, the crown of Rockwater is the rooftop bar which has sun umbrellas, and it’s enclosed with a glass balcony to lessen the sea breeze. – Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
Swap Provence for Heacham, Norfolk
You don’t have to fly all the way to Provence, France, to stroll through rolling fields of bright purple lavender.
Norfolk Lavender in Heacham, north-west Norfolk has 100 acres of fragrant lavender fields that stretch as far as the eye can see.
There’s even an on-site restaurant where you can sip a lavender-infused tea, or sip something a little stronger and watch the sun set over the fields – no passport needed.
A visit to the site also makes for a fantastic family day out – there’s a farm where kids can meet alpacas, chickens and goats, as well as popular soft play barn Farmer Fred‘s.
To make the most of your trip, try a slice of lavender cake in the cafe, or treat yourself to some handmade lavender balms and creams in the gift shop.
As well as the fields, there’s manicured gardens with a bridge over a gentle stream, a peaceful gazebo and the historic Heacham Watermill building – which look like something out of a French countryside estate. – Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter
Swap Spanish Islands for Margate
An Aperol Spritz, lo-fi music and uninterrupted views of the ocean – you’d think I was on some beautiful Spanish island.
But no, it’s a rooftop bar in Margate that transported me abroad, found on top of No42 by GuestHouse hotel.
When the sun is shining and the music is playing, you’ll forget you’re on the Kent coastline.
The chic interiors rival even some of London’s top bars – just with a golden sand beach just steps away. – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Swap the Norwegian fjords for Boscastle Harbour
Boscastle, a small and quaint village located on the north coast of Cornwall, can feel a bit more like the Norwegian fjords thanks to its dramatic, rocky landscape.
The town’s harbour sits between a large valley and a number of local shops and even The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic – home to the world’s largest collection of witchcraft items.
The beauty of Boscastle is often forgotten beneath its history, with blue waters and dark, that really do make you feel as if you are in the rugged landscapes of the Norwegian fjords.
I love Boscastle harbour because it is embellished by nothing but the nature that surrounds it, as well as being a quiet and picturesque escape without the hustle and bustle of larger beaches. – Katy Bright, Travel Writer
Swap Bondi Icebergs Pool in Sydney for Tinside Lido, Plymouth
I’ve always been jealous of people who have made it to Australia, chilling on the beach and the famous Bondi Icebergs Pool in Sydney.
But there is one in the UK that I think rivals it – enter Tinside Lido.
The Plymouth pool is one of the most beautiful Art Deco lidos in the UK, jutting out over the ocean where visiting on a hot day and relaxing on the side of the water will make you feel like you are thousands of miles away.
You can even grab a glass of Australian Chardonnay or Shiraz to enjoy after your tanning sesh from the sun terrace. – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Swap the French Riviera for Salcombe
I instantly felt attached to Salcombe on my first visit. It stirred up a feeling of nostalgia, reminding me of childhood holidays to France and the French Riviera.
Back then, days were spent building sand castles on peaceful shores and wandering through flower-filled villages to gather up a dinnertime feast from the local fishmonger.
And that’s pretty much how my Devon visit went, too.
I’m probably a little too old for sandcastles, now aged 33, but Salcombe’s North Sands beach would be the perfect place to build one.
It has that laissez-faire, village vibe to it, too – positioned a 30-minute walk away from the central hub and with a cute cafe that’s popular with locals.
The setting feels similar to that in southern France, too – old stone houses facing a shimmering sea and a busy town with a delicatessen whose foodie window displays draw you in.
Local catches are dished up in the seafront restaurants, just like they are in the French Riviera.
Swing by The Crab Shed which serves a limited menu of fishy delights – the star dish is its whole cracked crab. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor