You don’t need to travel far to find a magical village in the English countryside with secret waterfalls, mystical attractions, unique bookstores and one of the UK’s first-ever drive-thru chippy
If you’re not a beach and sunbathing kind of person, the north of England could make for the perfect holiday destination.
Staycations have boomed in recent years, but the unpredictable rain can put Brits off spending a week in Cornwall or Devon, which are rather dependent on the weather to truly enjoy. Plus, it can sometimes work out cheaper to fly to Spain or Greece for a week of guaranteed sunshine than fork out on expensive coastal B&Bs and train tickets.
However, if a little rain and cold temperatures doesn’t scare you – there are loads of gorgeous villages in the English countryside that often go overlooked as a tourist destination.
Sandy, a travel influencer in London, recently took a visit to Lancashire and was left seriously impressed. She visited Downham, in Lancashire, a ‘sleepy’ town that she describes as being ‘frozen in time’ due to there being no road signs or TV satellites.
“It is also home to many mystical places such as the eerie Pendle Sculpture Trail, the haunted Samlesbury Hall, and the Harry Potter-esque bookshop, Halewood and Sons,” she added. “Another highlight for us was the secret Hatchbrook waterfall which really wasn’t easy to find.”
When it comes to food and drink, Sandy raved about the classic pub grub, local breweries, and afternoon tea on offer. She then headed to Banny’s Fish and Chips – one of the UK’s first drive-thru chippys – and enjoyed her dinner in bed.
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Hundreds of viewers took to the comments section to share their thoughts, with many shocked to see a destination so close to them go viral online. “A lot of people say Britain is plain but honestly it is so beautiful,” said one user.
Another agreed, commenting: “Lovely place and lots of cool stuff to see.” A third added: “The fact that I live like 45 minutes away and have never been.” While a fourth wrote: “Wow, I love it.”
Sandy recommended staying at the Mecure Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa in Blackburn, as you’ll only be a short drive away from all of the mentioned attractions. The four-star hotel has rooms starting from £84.55 per night, but cheaper accommodation is also available like The OYO Hotel Rafay – which is around £50 per night.
What’s your favourite staycation destination? Let us know in the comments section below…