When thinking about moving – whether it’s to retire somewhere new or simply for a change of scenery – most of us would prefer to go somewhere beautiful.
Luckily, the UK is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world – from snow-capped mountains to white sand beaches, and ancient woodlands to rolling hills. But you might be wondering which places in particular are some of the most inspiring to call home.
From the beaches of Cornwall to the remote isles of Scotland, here are nine of the most gorgeous (and unique) places to settle in the UK.
1. The Lake District
Of all the English counties, Cumbria might be most famous for its beauty. Home to glistening, mirror-like lakes, lush green valleys, and ancient woodlands, if you’re looking to settle in a place that consistently inspires you, it’s difficult to think of a better spot than the Lake District.
For particularly sociable individuals, a lively village rather than a more remote spot might be preferred (and you’ll be spoilt for choice here!).
Though Grasmere is best known for being the former home of William Wordsworth, this lovely village is surrounded by breathtaking countryside that’s a haven for hikers; from the beautiful woods of Coffin Route to the waterfalls and pools of Easedale Tarn.
If you love living near the water, you won’t be short of options. At five miles long and one mile wide, and surrounded by rugged fells, Coniston Water is remarkably beautiful, and Coniston Village has plenty to offer too.
Or perhaps you’re more drawn to the glacial blue Lake Windermere, which is the largest natural lake in England. The nearby village of Ambleside is one of the prettiest towns in the Lake District and is full of charming stone houses, cosy cafes, and independent shops.
Though Lake Windermere is very popular with tourists, locals can find solitude in the surrounding hills. Plus, if you’re into sailing, living here means you can take advantage of all the marinas and sailing and windsurfing centres along the lake. If you like the idea of living right on the water, the bustling villages of Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere provide a warm sense of community.
2. Pembrokeshire
Wales has some of the most dramatically beautiful natural scenery in the UK. And while the mountains and lakes of Snowdonia are undeniably breathtaking, Pembrokeshire’s spectacular coastline might give it a slight advantage – particularly if you’re drawn more to oceans and beaches than peaks and valleys.
Boasting rugged hills of volcanic rock, narrow inlets carved by glaciers, and limestone cliffs that soar above pristine beaches, Pembrokeshire’s beauty draws visitors from across the world.
If you’re into hiking you’ll be in your element here too. The 190-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of the most stunning walking trails in the country, and having it on your doorstep is a major plus. The beaches along the trail are all gorgeous – though Barafundle Bay, Whitesands, and Broad Haven are especially impressive.
If you’re looking to relocate to a lovely village, Amroth and St Dogmaels are perfect examples of just how charming Pembrokeshire life can be.
But it isn’t just natural beauty that sets Pembrokeshire apart from other places; it’s also its unique history and culture. This is a county that’s jam-packed with impressive buildings and mysterious ancient sites – so, if you live here, you certainly won’t be short of historical attractions to visit!
The mini-city of St David’s is famous for its fabulous cathedral. There are dozens of Celtic sites to explore, and if you want to get away from it all, the rugged cliffs of Ramsey Island beckon.
3. Cornwall
You can’t list the most beautiful places to live in the UK and not mention Cornwall. As the most popular holiday spot in the country, its beauty is no secret. And though this county might be most celebrated for its stunning beaches and shimmering turquoise waters, it’s incredibly diverse and has so much to offer.
If you prefer rugged, dramatic landscapes, West Cornwall might be the place for you. The windswept beaches, wild moorlands, and rocky outcrops provide locals with peace and solitude – and thanks to the narrowness of this strip of land, you’re only ever a couple of miles from the coast.
For people who like living in towns and villages, St Ives, Penzance, and St Just have all the amenities you’ll need, while still providing the benefits of being surrounded by tranquil countryside.
If you’ve ever watched shows like Doc Martin or Poldark and dreamed of moving to these idyllic places, North Cornwall might be well suited to you. This part of Cornwall is home to picture-perfect fishing villages, whitewashed cottages, rolling hills, and azure waters.
Port Isaac is known as the filming location for Doc Martin, and Tintagel, Boscastle, and Bude are just as pretty. If you’d like to live in a larger town, Padstow is a great choice – and with its excellent restaurants, it’s perfect for foodies.
South Cornwall is best known for the Lizard Peninsula, which is the most south-westerly point of the UK mainland. It’s an incredibly picturesque place with dramatic cliffs and lovely beaches like Kennack Sands, Coverack Beach, and Kynance Cove. The village of Helford in the northeast corner of the Lizard is the epitome of natural beauty, with thatched cottages, ancient oak forests, and secret creeks tucked away along the unspoiled Helford River.
4. Isle of Skye
If you yearn for a simpler, quieter life, far away from the hustle and bustle of fast-paced cities, the Isle of Skye might be the ideal place to relocate.
Famous for its strikingly beautiful natural scenery, Skye is the largest of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides and is home to some of the country’s most iconic, mystical, and breathtaking landscapes.
At 50 miles long, Skye’s deeply indented coastline boasts various impressive geological features – such as the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, and the Cuillin ridge. The jagged peaks of Cuillin dominate the skyline, and when the famous mist closes in (the Vikings called Skye ‘cloud island’), you’ll understand why so many people are drawn to this dramatic, historic, and remote island.
The diverse wildlife of Skye makes it an even more attractive place to live, and locals have an excellent chance of spotting eagles, otters, seals, whales, dolphins, and red deer. The mountains, velvety moors, sparkling lochs, and miles of towering cliffs mean there are excellent hiking trails too – and if you want adventure (as well as peace and tranquillity), you’ll find that here.
The capital of Skye is Portree; a fishing village that overlooks a sheltered bay with all the pubs, shops, and restaurants you’ll need to stay busy. Though, if you fancy getting away from it all, just head to the surrounding hills – Ben Tianavaig to the south and Fingal’s Seat to the west.
If you prefer smaller villages, Dunvegan, Edinbane, and Staffin in the north, and Broadford, Armadale, and Elgol in the south, are all situated in truly breathtaking surroundings.
5. Northumberland
While some of the places featured in this article (like Cornwall and the Lake District) are widely celebrated for their beauty, others aren’t quite so recognised. A prime example of this would be Northumberland, which has the least populated national park in the country.
Known as ‘England’s last great wilderness’, Northumberland boasts miles of dramatic coastline, vast valleys, and wild moorland. So if you’re drawn to peaceful places away from the crowds, it certainly ticks the box.
There are many lovely places to live here, from the pretty fishing village of Seahouses to the village of Ingram in the gorgeous Breamish Valley – and, of course, the beautiful market town of Morpeth.
If you’re a history buff, living in Northumberland has another bonus: it’s home to more castles than anywhere else in England. Plus, it’s a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. Northumberland’s Farne Islands have the honour of being Sir David Attenborough’s favourite place in the country and are home to 23 different types of seabirds, seals, and dolphins.
But the Farne Islands are by no means Northumberland’s only enchanting island range, and if you love visiting remote places (or even living in them) the Holy Island of Lindisfarne will surely be calling your name.
Though there’s a thriving community here with shops, pubs, and cafes, Lindisfarne is most known for its spectacular nature reserve. Here, you can admire sweeping sand dunes, marshes, mudflats, and striking sea views.
6. The Cotswolds
Another region of England that’s widely celebrated for its beauty is the Cotswolds. Encompassing six counties and hundreds of picture-perfect villages, the Cotswolds is one of the UK’s most visited areas for a reason. If you love village life and enjoy a community feel while being surrounded by pristine countryside, it’s difficult to think of a more idyllic spot.
There are so many beautiful and historic Cotswold villages that selecting the loveliest is tricky – but Gloucestershire’s Bourton-on-the-Water is often voted one of the prettiest villages in England. Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, it’s home to honey-coloured cottages, quaint tea rooms, gorgeous gardens, and elegant stone bridges that arch over the photogenic River Windrush.
Vying for Bourton-on-the-Water’s ‘prettiest village in England’ crown is Wiltshire’s Castle Combe. The beauty of Castle Combe is no secret (it’s been featured in the Hollywood movies Stardust and War Horse), and its winding streets can get crowded with wide-eyed tourists. But the surrounding woods are peaceful and pristine, and the Bybrook River is popular with locals enjoying a quiet stroll.
For some, the touristy nature of the Cotswolds can be a bit off-putting, especially if you prefer a quiet life. But, while places like Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford do get busy, there are plenty of other more peaceful, quintessential Cotswolds villages that are just as beautiful.
The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter might be small, but they’re home to some of the most romantic streets in the country – and the unspoilt countryside and landscaped gardens that surround them will likely take your breath away.
7. County Antrim
Another place that’s just as beautiful – though perhaps more ruggedly so – is Northern Ireland’s County Antrim.
This is a land of dramatic coastlines, towering cliffs, sandy beaches, and awe-inspiring rock formations that’ll have you feeling as though you’ve fallen into a fantasy novel. Antrim is steeped in history, myth, and legend, and its spectacular scenery is like nowhere else in the world.
If you love hiking, you’ll be glad to know that Antrim is home to some of the most unique hiking scenery in the country. On the Gobbins Cliff Walk, you can explore secret sea caves, scale ancient stairways carved into the rock face, and test your nerves on the precipitous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge which hangs 100 feet above the churning North Atlantic Ocean!
Antrim houses many mysterious sea caves – including the ancient and alluring Cushendun Caves, which were featured in Game of Thrones. And the Dark Hedges – a twisted line of beech trees that look like something from The Lord of the Rings – is yet another example of the county’s natural beauty.
But despite all these natural phenomena, it’s the Giant’s Causeway that Antrim is most famous for – an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that were formed 60 million years ago by an erupting volcano. If you enjoy watching the sunset, this is a stunning place to do it.
Antrim’s villages are just as charming. If you love pretty seaside hamlets where you can take advantage of the gorgeous coastline, then Ballycastle, Glenarm, Portrush, and Portstewart are all wonderful places to live. The latter two have some of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Ireland, as well as the best golf courses.
8. North Yorkshire
While all of Yorkshire is undeniably beautiful – and the rolling Yorkshire Dales are arguably most famous – North Yorkshire is home to some of the wildest and most wonderful scenery in the UK. And if you’re looking to move here, you’ll get to choose from an astonishingly diverse range of locations and landscapes.
The windswept, heather-clad moorland of the North York Moors National Park is a paradise for hikers, and its trails will take you through some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in England.
The vertical inland cliff of Sutton Bank was formed in the Ice Age. From the top, you can admire “the finest view in England”, and gaze out over the Vale of Mowbray, Hood Hill, and Gormire Lake. But North Yorkshire has much more to offer than its moors and valleys; its coastline is just as beautiful.
The atmospheric coastal town of Whitby is famous for its magnificent seventh-century Gothic abbey, Georgian old town, and soaring cliffs. The historic seaside resort of Scarborough is another lovely place to live, particularly if you love ancient castles, sandy beaches, and gorgeous gardens.
The vast countryside of North Yorkshire is home to countless villages and towns. So if you prefer being near forests, moors, and valleys rather than the sea, you’ll have plenty of options.
From the pretty village of Goathland to the market town of Helmsley, and pretty Thornton-le-Dale to historic Rievaulx (with its ruined Cistercian abbey), there are countless inviting places to relocate to. Choosing one may be difficult, but you can rest assured that all are surrounded by charming countryside.
9. The Shetland Islands
With just over 20,000 residents, the Shetland Islands aren’t exactly the place for people looking for hustle and bustle. But if you want to move somewhere peaceful, rugged, and with breathtaking natural scenery, then the UK’s most northerly point might be for you.
Located between Norway and mainland Scotland, the Shetland Islands are made up of around 100 islands, 16 of which are inhabited – each with its own wonderful, individual character.
There are larger islands like ‘the Mainland’ that boast beautiful scenery and wildlife. They’re also home to some interesting and unique towns that are steeped in culture and history. If you want to live somewhere even further off the beaten track, you could check out some of the outer-lying islands like Unst and Yell.
If you’d like to live near the sea, the Shetland Islands are a top choice as you’re never more than four miles from the shore. Home to some fantastic beaches like St Ninian’s (a sandy tombolo that connects the small isle to the mainland) and Breckon Sand’s on the island of Yell, they’re a delight to explore – even when the wind is howling.
Lerwick, the Shetland Islands’ capital, is an obvious choice if you’re looking to make the move to this windswept archipelago. With a population of around 7,500, it’s the largest settlement and as it’s home to a handful of museums and Mareel (the Shetland Islands’ premier arts and entertainment centre) it’s also the unofficial cultural capital.
Final thoughts…
The UK is home to so many pretty places that choosing the most beautiful will always be difficult and different for everyone. But the locations on this list aren’t only stunning, they’re also remarkably varied and wonderfully unique.
From the geographical wonders of County Antrim to Cumbria’s gleaming lakes, and the dramatic mountains of the Isle of Skye to Pembrokeshire’s picturesque coastline, these parts of the UK all offer something different.
So whether you’re seriously thinking about moving somewhere new or you just enjoy daydreaming about making a move, we hope these places have inspired you – and perhaps helped you gain a new appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the UK.
For more ideas and inspiration on places to live and home improvements, you might like to check out the home and garden section of our website. Here, you’ll find articles like 20 happiest places to live in Great Britain and 14 of the best places to retire in the UK.
Alternatively, if you aren’t looking to move but are feeling inspired to explore more of the UK, you can browse top staycation holiday deals using the button below.
Are you lucky enough to live in any of these lovely places? Or do you have any other suggestions for the UK’s most beautiful places to live? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
