Travel inspiration post lockdown: Top 10 destinations you would not believe are in the UK

From old castles steeped in legend to quaint towns bursting with colour, Britain is rich in stunning destinations. It’s no surprise then that as international travel continues to stay under review, travel guide publisher, Lonely Planet, saw a significant rise in people staycationing; as well as an increase in interest in travel to off the beaten track destinations throughout 2020.

Sony Mobile and Lonely Planet have paired up to publish a photo series revealing the top 10 unfrequented destinations in the UK for 2021 so travellers can escape the mundane of lockdown once measures have been fully lifted and reignite the sense of wonder and discovery – including the pristine sandy shores of Holkham Beach and the sub-tropical Tresco Abbey Gardens, home to exotic plants and foliage from around the world.

Too often, these lesser-known tourist spots are forgotten, with staycationers opting for the bigger cities to satisfy their wanderlust, with only 3 in 10 Brits saying they try to find places that are off the beaten track rather than opting for the bigger tourist spots, such as London and the Lake District. Perhaps more shockingly, of those polled, 10% admit to never travelling within the UK. With 2021 now underway, this photo series gives inspiration for the future to encourage Brits to explore their own shores; along with photography you can easily recreate yourselves.

Top 10 off the beaten track destinations from around the UK –

Craigievar Castle, Alford, Scotland
Portmeirion, Wales
Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isles of Scilly
Oundle, Northamptonshire, England
Benmore Botanic Garden, Strath Eachaig, Scotland
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) from the quieter Rhyd Ddu Path, Wales
Howtown & Martindale, Cumbria, England
Lincolnshire Wolds
Holkham Beach, Norfolk, England
Marshwood Vale, Dorset