Great Britain isn’t short of great places. Whether you’re looking to venture off the tourist trail or discover another side to the isle you call home, you’re in luck: there’s plenty more to see than London and the Lake District. Why not leave the crowds behind and give these lesser-known gems a little love? You can thank us later.

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What may seem like an unassuming corner of the country promises an impressive foodie scene. The Ribble Valley, a picturesque pocket of Lancashire, is home to numerous fine dining spots and foodie gems. Cheese is the area’s most famous export, but there’s a lot more on offer here too: pop in to one of the many gastropubs for a meal to remember or visit in August to taste the full array of local produce at the Clitheroe Food Festival. Need to walk off all that food? Take a hike up Pendle Hill or wander through the Forest of Bowland.

John Constable made the pastoral landscape of Essex and Suffolk famous in the 19th century, frequently painting its rolling fields and babbling brooks. Though the scenery is now etched in England’s memory, this peaceful corner remains just that: peaceful. Take a stroll along the River Stour, passing through the gentle Dedham Vale and, like Constable, you’ll likely leave artistically inspired.

Independent boutiques tucked away on cobbled streets, up-and-coming chefs serving local produce, small music venues keeping the city dancing til dawn: welcome to Norwich. Norfolk’s indie city is a hotbed of fresh talent, but it’s also a treasure trove for history lovers. After all, this is Britain’s best-preserved medieval centre, hosting a brooding 12th-century castle and a Norman-era cathedral. It’s an easily walkable city too, so you can get your fill of old and new in a day.

Swap Skye and Orkney for the Outer Herbrides and you’ll be well rewarded. This western archipelago features some of Scotland’s best beaches (hello sweeping white sands on the Isle of Harris) and ancient sites (spot the Neolithic standing stones on the Isle of Lewis). It’s also a haven for cyclists. Why not join forces with fellow two-wheelers along the Hebridean Way, a route that takes you from the southern island of Vatersay all the way up to Lewis? Your legs may be aching by the end of it, but it’s more than worth it for the epic views and edge-of-the-world pit-stops.

For a quintessential taste of the British countryside, head to the Chiltern Hills. Just outside London, this verdant area is home to poppy-peppered fields, undulating hills and bluebell-buttered woods. Well-marked paths criss-cross the picturesque landscape, dropping walkers off in warm and welcoming pubs along the way. It’s the Cotswolds, but without the crowds.

While holidaymakers descend on Cornwall’s coast, why not venture beyond the shoreline? Marooned in the middle of the sea, the idyllic Isles of Scilly may not be Great Britain’s most accessible destination, but that’s what makes them so special. Here, shimmering sands lace the bays, promising uncrowded beach days and crystal clear waters. The lush Tresco Abbey Garden is also a highlight, with around 20,000 plants flourishing in its subtropical oasis.

Edinburgh’s cooler cousin is mistakenly overlooked by tourists, despite being less than an hour’s train away. Art fans are well looked after here: stroll the historic streets to glimpse Victorian stunners and modern architectural marvels, or enter the city’s galleries to gaze at the celebrated work of local designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. As the evening draws in, slink into one of Glasgow’s secret cocktail bars to clink glasses with the locals.

No, before you ask, we don’t mean the Isle of Wight. Give this lesser-visited gem a visit and it might just take you by surprise. The Isle of Man is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, hosting breath-stealing cycling routes, spectacular climbing areas and ample opportunities for wildlife spotting (basking sharks, whales, dolphins and seals all lie beneath the waves).

Northumberland National Park may be best known for Hadrians’ snaking ancient wall, but venture beyond these Roman ruins and you’ll discover there’s a lot more on offer. Go wild swimming around Linhope Spout, a spectacular wild waterfall; discover the Drake Stone, a huge boulder the Druids believed had healing powers; or hike up The Cheviot, an extinct volcano that marks the highest point in Northumberland. The park is also one of the best places in England for stargazing, so pack your binoculars and head back out when the sun goes down.

The UK’s very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is just a short drive from Swansea and it’s home to one of Britain’s best beaches (Rhossili Bay). But despite its pedigree, this wild crag of coast is yet to welcome crowds like Cornwall’s. Take a stroll along the blustery bay and you’ll meet local dog walkers and windswept surfers; pick the right time of day and you could easily have the sands to yourself.

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