Alternative destinations near Edinburgh.
Places near Edinburgh that score high on beauty and low on crowding, according to our data.
Stockton-on-Tees
A market town on the northern bank of the River Tees in County Durham, Stockton-on-Tees has a walkable centre dense with listed buildings, historic churches,…
Kendal
Known as the "Auld Grey Town" for its grey limestone buildings, Kendal is a market town in Cumbria just outside the Lake District, sitting on the River Kent.
Darlington
Darlington, in County Durham, is best known as the town where railway history was made in the 19th century — a heritage that still draws visitors today along…
Maryport
This small Cumbrian coastal town on the Solway Firth, Maryport grew around a harbour built at the mouth of the River Ellen in the mid-18th century and sits a…
Bowness-on-Windermere
This lakeside town in Cumbria's Lake District National Park serves as the main tourist hub for the South Lakes area, sitting directly on the shore of Winderm…
Warton
Warton's parish church of Saint Oswald carries a notable historical connection: the Washington family, ancestors of George Washington, the first president of…
Keswick
This pocket-sized Lake District market town on the shores of Derwentwater, Keswick has been a holiday destination for more than 150 years and packs a strong…
Blackburn
A Lancashire mill town with textile roots stretching back to the mid-13th century, Blackburn is also known for Blackburn Rovers and for a South Asian food sc…
Stainburn
This modest waterside settlement in the UK with easy access to upland country, a modest café and dining scene, and listed heritage architecture nearby, all w…
Hornby
This compact Lancashire village sits where the River Wenning meets the Lune, a short drive from Lancaster, with a heritage-dense centre and mountain terrain…
Vickerstown
A compact waterside town in Cumbria with a heritage-dense streetscape, a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size, and easy access to the upland…