England and France Fairytale Destinations

Ludlow in Shropshire showcases medieval history with a partly ruined Norman-era castle, St Laurence’s Church, and restaurants and pubs in centuries-old buildings. Bibury in the Cotswolds was named the world’s most beautiful village by Forbes in 2025 and is famed for its buttery limestone cottages on the River Coln and storybook appearance. Burley in the New Forest is recommended as a cosy weekend getaway with traditional shops, roaming ponies and cattle, nearby walking trails and a local witchcraft heritage linked to Sybil Leek. Harrogate was named the UK’s top staycation spot in an AA analysis for its accommodation choices, attractions such as Betty’s Tea Rooms and RHS Harlow Carr, and a high local happiness rating of 7.8. In France, Corrèze’s fairy-tale villages — from red sandstone Collonges-la-Rouge to riverside Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne — offer preserved medieval architecture and tranquil landscapes, and Hotels.com recorded a 145% rise in searches for the area from 2024 to 2025.