Browse our 'Top 10 Recommendations' lists for South West England to find hotels and weekend breaks, places to visit and things to do. Ideas include museums, rainy days out, parks, galleries, views, cathedrals and railway journeys.
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South West England, Visitor & Tourism Guide
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Counties:
Devon,
Cornwall,
Somerset,
Dorset,
Wiltshire,
Gloucestershire,
Bristol
National Parks:
Dartmoor,
Exmoor,
New Forest
AONB:
South Devon,
Cornwall,
Isles of Scilly,
North Devon,
East Devon,
Dorset,
Tamar Valley,
Blackdown Hills,
Quantock Hills,
Mendip Hills,
North Wessex Downs,
Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs,
Cotswolds
Select Cities:
Bristol City,
Bath,
Exeter,
Plymouth,
Salisbury
Select Towns:
St. Ives,
Lyme Regis,
Dartmouth,
Padstow,
Salcombe,
Sidmouth
Select Villages:
Castle Combe,
Clovelly,
Beer,
Sennen,
Dunster
UK holiday hotspot
Tens of millions of UK residents holiday here every year and millions travel from abroad to experience its coastline and countryside. From high moors to huge Atlantic facing beaches, rolling downland to rugged coastline, there's landscape for all. Its attractions are second to none, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites and world class historical buildings, superb museums and extraordinary railway journeys. There are some of the UK's leading hotels in which to stay and superb self-catering properties. It's a top place for a holiday or weekend break.
Unsurprisingly, the region's in the south west corner of the UK. The Atlantic Ocean's to the west, the English Channel to the south, the
West Midlands to the north and
South East England to the east.
South West England contains the counties of
Cornwall,
Devon,
Somerset,
Dorset,
Wiltshire,
Gloucestershire and the city of
Bristol which has a population of about half a million people. Its other cities include
Bath and
Exeter,
Salisbury and
Plymouth. Click on the links to learn more about these destinations and to read our 'Top 10 Recommendations' for each.
Two National Parks and Twelve AONBs
The region's home to two
National Parks.*
Dartmoor National Park is fringed with exceptional wooded valleys cut by rivers which flow from the high moors. Famous for its tors, the Park is particularly stunning in Spring when the wild flowers are out.
Exmoor National Park is smaller with similar moorland and steep wooded valleys but it has a magnificent coastline with views across to the
Wales coast. Both Parks are perfect for those into outdoor life. PictureTheUK is partly based in
Devon and we think
Dartmoor National Park and
Exmoor National Park are ideal for young families.
There are also twelve
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If you're looking for sea and sand, we'd point you in the direction of the
South Devon and
Cornwall, the
Isles of Scilly and
North Devon. Try the coastlines of
East Devon and
Dorset, too. If you're more interested in rolling countryside and exceptional English villages we'd recommend the
Tamar Valley and
Blackdown Hills, the
Quantock Hills and
Mendip Hills. There are the
Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs and
Cotswolds as well. We've researched and photographed all of them extensively and would recommend any for a holiday.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and world class attractions
Some world class attractions can be found in the South West including four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The
City of Bath is internationally famous. Our summary guide outlines its various attractions. The
Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site is a less well known UK UNESCO World Heritage Site but, especially down on
The Land's End Peninsula (The Penwith Peninsula), it's superb. The
Jurassic Coast is a treat and
Stonehenge/
Avebury Stone Circle are stunning.
Then there's
The Eden Project and
St Michael's Mount, the
SS Great Britain and
Longleat Safari Park. Check out our 'Top 10 Recommendations' lists for other ideas.
If you're into
castles there are
Corfe Castle and
Castle Drogo and Gardens , if you're into
cathedrals there are
Salisbury Cathedral and
Wells Cathedral.
For walking, we'd recommend sections, or all, of the
South West Coast Path.
Dartmoor's the last great wilderness in southern
England, the
Cotswold Way takes you through some of the UK's most popular countryside. Over in the east of the region, walk to see
Wiltshire's many
white horses.
Beaches and coastline
Most people head down to this region of the UK for its beaches and coastline. Clearly, the best way to discover the coastline is via the
South West Coast Path. Highlights, for us, include
Sennen Cove Beach and
Perran Beach,
Rock Beach and Dunes and the area around
Beer Beach. Again, browse the 'Top 10 Recommendations' lists to discover more.
Towns and villages
For towns in which to base yourself for a weekend break or holiday, we'd recommend
Lyme Regis and
Dartmouth,
Salcombe and
Padstow. Inland, try
Cirencester and
Marlborough.
St. Ives is essential UK visiting,
Swanage is in a superb location.
For something a little more intimate,
Castle Combe is generally considered to be one of the UK's most beautiful villages. We'd recommend
Lacock and
Dunster,
West Lulworth and
Lynmouth.
Clovelly is a peach of a place, the location of
Sennen a joy.
Click on the links within this guide to learn more about the various counties and destinations within South West England.
*The
New Forest National Park runs into
Wiltshire, so it's possible to include that National Park, too.
By James Penman
Top 10 Recommendations
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Selected from the best Hotels in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Travelodges in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Weekend Breaks in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Places To Visit in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Things To Do in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Beaches in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Tors in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Towns in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Villages in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Museums in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Views in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Rainy Days Out in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Castles in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Cathedrals in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Railway Journeys in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Gardens in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Country Houses in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Churches in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Bays in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Walks in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Zoos And Wildlife in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Selected from the best Honeymoons in South West England we've listed our top 10.
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Local Map
Photo Gallery
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Located in Exeter, Devon, South West England, England
Approximately 3.8 miles away.
National Trust property to the north east of Exeter. Part of a large agricultural estate, Killerton House and Gardens were gifted to the National Trust in 1944. The gardens, in particular, are a joy. Look out for 'The Be...
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© Owner
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Approximately 1.5 miles away.
Total Rooms: 16; Rates: £60 - £175 Per Night
One of Devon's most beautiful wedding venues and bed and breakfast breaks, this 14th century castle nestles in a valley surrounded by 30 acres of lush green land...
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© Owner
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Approximately 1.5 miles away.
Total Rooms: 4; Rates: £50 - £85 Per Night
This village inn with an award-winning restaurant rests in the picturesque village of Thorverton in Devon...
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© Owner
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Approximately 4.4 miles away.
Rates: £304 - £593 Per Week
Set in lush Devon countryside this well appointed barn conversion is an ideal location for enjoying the charms of Tiverton a fine market town with great walks and horse drawn boat cruises along the canal. Boasting its ow...
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