9 of the best places to avoid the crowds in England

10.09.2023 - 11:21 / lonelyplanet.com

Despite its famously sepia-toned skies, England remains a perennially popular destination.

From iconic sights like Big Ben and the London Eye to quaint chocolate box villages in the rolling hills of Yorkshire or the Cotswolds, this seductive country has a certain appeal across all generations. 

But its allure also means some attractions and locations suffer from high concentrations of visitors, which can often affect the overall travel experience. However, there are plenty of less crowded options that may hold just as much delight, should you seek them out. 

Here are a few ideas for quieter escapes in England.

Characterized by caramel-colored stone cottages wrapped within a bucolic English countryside setting, the Cotswolds are an ever-evocative slice of old Albion that attract huge numbers to their quaint cobblestone streets. 

Hugging the Welsh border a few miles to the west, Herefordshire is notable for its languid apple orchards, and its dreamy towns and villages are equally pretty, with far fewer visitors. The black-and-white timber townhouses of Ledbury, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye are wonderfully charming and there are some magnificent walks in the surrounding Wye Valley landscape (with plenty of rustic riverside pubs to unwind in afterward). 

Planning tip: Autumn/fall is a great time to visit, as the harvest brings a gaggle of gregarious cider festivals

Completed in 1710, St Paul’s Cathedral is an enduring symbol of England and Christopher Wren’s masterpiece is still hugely popular. Unfortunately, its cavernous dome is somewhat overshadowed these days by the City of London’s ever-expanding collection of glassy skyscrapers nearby.

There’s no danger of that happening with Lincoln Cathedral, 130 miles north of London. The monstrous Gothic cathedral towers over Lincoln’s patchwork of redbrick houses and was the tallest building on Earth when completed in 1311, a title it held for 237 years until a storm blew its spire down in 1548. The walk up Steep Hill to the cathedral is pleasant too, with its cobblestoned streets flanked by traditional sweet shops and tea rooms.

With its coastal castle ruins, wind-whipped landscapes, cutesy fishing villages and golden beaches, Cornwall is an enchanting corner of England and it’s little surprise so many wealthy Londoners have second homes lining its bays. 

Sitting just 28 miles from Cornwall’s mainland western tip, the Isles of Scilly are an Atlantic archipelago with pristine sands and almost no cars. They’re a window into a slower, easier way of life and the summer months are wonderful for shoreline strolls and lazy pub lunches of fresh seafood. And just to add to the islands’ unusual nature, you can travel here direct by helicopter in 15 minutes from Penzance Heliport.

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