Epic Places in England Even Brits Don’t Know About

The family-owned Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly, is relatively tourist-free
The family-owned Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly, is relatively tourist-free | © duncan phillips / Alamy Stock Photo

Freelance Travel and Music Writer

From puffin spotting in the Farne Islands to visiting a ghost town in Dorset and a blue lagoon in Derbyshire, there are plenty of secret destinations to discover where the tourist just don’t go. Here’s our round-up of lesser-known destinations in England.

Tyneham, south Dorset

The village of Tyneham was evacuated in World War II and has remained uninhabited ever since. During the war, it was used as a military training base that residents would be able to return to – but that was not the case, as the army bought the land. You can visit this deserted Jurassic coast village when the Lulworth Ranges opens it up to the public.

Today, Tyneham is a ghost village

Blue lagoon, Buxton, Derbyshire

Farne Islands, Northumberland

The Farne Islands, a collection of rocky islands off the northeast coast of England, are home to puffins and seals, including more than 43,000 pairs of breeding puffins. Depending on the tide, you can see as many as 20 islands. You can explore them by boat, with regular trips leaving from the nearby Seahouses.

The Farne Islands, in Northumberland, comprise 20 islands, though some aren’t always visible

Lud’s Church, Staffordshire

Lud’s Church, also known as Ludchurch, is a secret chasm supposedly used by Robin Hood and his Merry Men when hiding from authorities. Caused by a huge landslip, this Peak District passageway, just under 18m (60ft) deep, is often overlooked by weeping trees and hanging vines that seep into its crevices.

The Drowned Village, Mardale, Lake District

In the 1930s, the village of Mardale Green vanished after it was flooded by the nearby lake to make way for a new reservoir to serve Manchester. However, in recent years, parts of the drowned village have resurfaced. While churches, graveyards and houses were demolished or removed before the flood, original structures, including walls, fences, tree stumps and farm gates, are occasionally visible.

Mardale Green was flooded to create a reservoir

Gaddings Dam at Todmorden, West Yorkshire

Officially the highest beach in Britain, Gaddings Dam, also known as Todmorden beach, is 97km (60mi) inland and c238m (780ft) above sea level. This secret stretch of sand is a 40-minute uphill walk from its nearest village, so come equipped with suitable footwear.

Tresco Island, Isles of Scilly

Just a 30-minute boat ride away from Cornwall is Tresco, a luxury resort island with beautiful scenery. This family-owned retreat offers private beaches, coves, forts, spas, fine dining and the Tresco Abbey Gardens, a must-visit 19th-century exotic plant garden that’s home to more than 20,000 plants. The extraordinary thing about these species is that they wouldn’t thrive on the mainland of Cornwall.

Tresco Island is family owned

Lansallos, Cornwall

Lansallos, in south Cornwall, is home to one of the most secluded beaches in the country, with miles of unspoilt walks surrounding it. Take the Lansallos coastal and woodland walk, and expect to discover secret coves and hidden stretches of sand en route.

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

St Michael’s Mount is a fascinating Cornish island with a history stretching back to at least 495CE; island residents and gardeners have been said to unearth ancient artefacts by chance. It’s accessible on foot when the tide is out, otherwise you can get here by boat.

At low tide, you can walk to St Michael’s Mount
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