IT IS easy to assume that you’d need to head abroad to have your breath taken away while on holiday.
However, there are some secret spots in the UK that could give Italian destinations and Indian landmarks a run for their money.
From St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall to Dean Village in Edinburgh, this country is home to many otherworldly hidden gems.
So, before you book your next plane fare, pay a visit to one of these on home soil…
You’ve probably seen the iconic images of Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France – which was originally a monastery founded in the 8th century.
Well, you might be surprised to learn that the UK has an almost identical version of its own, St Michael’s Mount.
It is located near Penzance, Cornwall, and is also a tidal island with an imposing structure.
The striking similarity between the two is because they are linked – the French monastery, in the 12th century, created its UK counterpart.
You can reach St Michael’s Mount, now maintained by the National Trust, by foot at low tide or boat at high tide.
It is possible to visit the medieval church and castle, the latter of which has been home to the St Aubyn family since the 1600s.
Additionally you can take in the subtropical terraced garden and incredible views of Mount’s Bay.
Remember Jack the Giant Killer? The island is the origin of the legend about a gruesome beast who terrorised the land.
As the story goes, a young man from the mainland called Jack was brave enough to take on the monster.
Adding further to the mystery, in the late 19th century, the real-life skeleton of a 7ft 8in man was dug up during renovation work…
Incredibly, nestled within the Scottish capital, is a quaint area that looks like it is something straight out of the French countryside.
The suburb of Dean Village lies 20 minutes walk northwest of Edinburgh’s city centre.
A World Heritage site dating back to the 12th century, it used to be an epicentre for grain milling thanks to its proximity to the river.
Indeed, running through the pretty historic houses is the Water of Leith, beside which you can take a picturesque stroll.
In a nod to its carb-based past, you’ll also see many commemorative plaques in the area bearing bread and pies.
Many visitors like the area thanks to its serenity away from the hustle and bustle of thoroughfares like nearby Princes Street.
It has also become particularly known for well-kept charming stone buildings that give it the feel of an authentic rural village.
Be sure to visit Well Court, an iconic building built in the 1880s that housed mill workers.
The Dean Bridge is a 30-metre-high viaduct over the river, designed by Thomas Telford, which overlooks the village.
Keen for some culture? Modern Two is a gallery in the area – operated by the National Galleries Scotland – that houses modern art.
You’d be forgiven for thinking, upon arriving at the Minack Theatre, that you’d accidentally stumbled upon Italian amphitheatre ruins.
The famous landmark is positioned on rocky granite, jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean sea, by the village of Porthcurno in Cornwall.
However, despite its ancient appearance, the world-famous open air theatre is actually less than a hundred years old.
It was created by a woman called Rowena Cade, who lived in an adjacent property and wanted to create a place for locals to perform.
She built the stage and seating with the help of two craftsmen over six months in 1932, and its first performance was Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
The Minack Theatre still puts on a show today, with theatre and music performances running from Easter through to October.
Tickets booked in advance are priced at £10 for 2025, or are available for £12 on the door.
However, when there are no shows on, you can still visit the striking spot for free.
Additionally, there’s plenty more to do in the area – including visiting Porthcurno Beach, considered one of the most beautiful in the UK.
Then, just a few miles along the coast is Land’s End, which is the southwestern-most point of England.
The colourful private tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales, lies on the River Dwyryd.
Its pastel-coloured buildings, set on a waterfront, resemble a seaside town in Italy – which may have been the point.
Portmeirion was designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and constructed between 1925 and 1975, and is believed to have been inspired by the Italian Riviera.
When it first opened its doors in 1926, the on-site Hotel Portmeirion was intended to be the focus.
In the past, the village has been used as a filming location for the TV series Dr Who and The Prisoner.
Today, it is owned by a charitable trust and is a major Welsh tourist attraction thanks to its eye-catching architecture.
There is an admission fee charge for most visitors, although children under five go free.
You will now find two hotels and several self-catering cottages, as well as shops, a spa, cafés and restaurants.
Want to stretch your legs? The Gwyllt is ten acres of wild Edwardian garden with Himalayan flowering trees and exotic plants.
Additionally, Minffordd Station is just a mile’s walk from Portmeirion – with connections to the revered Cambrian Coast railway.
The annual World’s 50 Best Beaches uses both their “own experiences and insights” as well as “the collective expertise of countless travel professionals”.
Along with thousands of votes from experts, the study looks at eight different criteria – uniqueness, local wildness, how untouched it is, the “soundtrack of nature,” ease of access, water calmness, lack of crowds and how “frequently idyllic” it is.
The top spot went to Trunk Bay in the US Virgin Islands and only one UK spot made the list this year Kynance Cove in Cornwall.
The study said: “Famed for its rugged beauty and serpentine rock formations, this stunning cove in Cornwall features a striking landscape with water a shade of turquoise usually seen in the Caribbean.
“The combination of turquoise waters and white sand makes it a remarkable standout, especially given its more northern location.”
Those visiting the seaside city on the coast of East Sussex can’t miss this striking landmark in its centre.
Also known as The Royal Pavillion, it is a Grade 1 listed building designed in the Indo-Saracenic style that was prevalent in 19th-century India.
Construction began in 1787 when it was initially meant to be a royal residence, and it became the seaside retreat of George, Prince of Wales who was eventually crowned King George IV in 1820.
During this period, it was thought that sea water had therapeutic health-enhancing properties, and Brighton had become a fashionable spot with the rich and famous for this reason.
The Brighton Pavillion was also used by successors King William IV and Queen Victoria – however the latter decided to make Osborne House on the Isle of Wight the royal seaside retreat instead.
As such, the complex was sold to the city of Brighton in 1850 when it first had its origins as a tourist attraction.
During the First World War it was converted into a military hospital, where Indian Army soldiers who were supporting British troops were treated.
These days, an estimated 400,000 people visit the Brighton Pavillion – and its surrounding gardens – per year.
Those dropping by shouldn’t miss the Saloon and the Banqueting Room as well as the impressive Regency Garden.
It is also a licensed wedding venue, and in 2014 was one of the first to hold legal same-sex marriages following the passing of the 2013 Same Sex Couples Act.
