Top Cotswolds Hotels

The Manor House – Castle Combe ££
The Castle Inn £
Lucknam Park Hotel ££
Wild Thyme & Honey £
The Lakes by YOO £
The Swan ££

10 Magical Places to visit in England in 2025 (that aren’t London!) ✨🕯️🍂⬇️

"Elegant interior of Thornbury Castle in Bristol, showcasing a luxurious Tudor-style bedroom with a canopy bed, ornate furniture, and detailed ceilings featuring decorative red and gold patterns. A vibrant green sofa and intricate wooden furniture enhance the royal ambiance, accompanied by warm natural light streaming through the windows. Text overlay describes Thornbury Castle as a historic destination once hosting King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, offering an immersive experience of royal living."

🏰 Thornbury Castle @thornburycastle, Bristol

If you’ve ever dreamed of living like royalty, England’s Thornbury Castle is your fairytale come true. Nestled in the English countryside, this historic Tudor castle once hosted King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. You can even stay in their suite like we did! It’s such an incredible experience!

Book Thornbury Castle here

Idyllic scene of Castle Combe in the Cotswolds, with honey-colored stone cottages lining a quaint street surrounded by lush greenery. A woman with red hair in a flowing white dress walks on a stone bridge at sunset, carrying a book, as the sky glows with vibrant orange and yellow hues. Text overlay describes Castle Combe as the 'prettiest village in England,' renowned for its picturesque charm and blooming gardens.

🏘️ Castle Combe, The Cotswolds

Welcome to one of my FAVOURITE places in England! Nestled in the Cotswolds, this picture-perfect village is all honey-coloured stone cottages, blooming gardens and greenery. No wonder it’s often called the prettiest village in England.

Don’t miss a peek at The Manor House Hotel just around the corner.

Hotels in Castle Combe

Scenic landscape of Corfe Castle in Dorset, featuring the dramatic ruins of the ancient fortress atop a grassy hill with panoramic views of the countryside. A woman with long red hair in a flowing white dress stands in the foreground, enhancing the enchanting, storybook ambiance. Text overlay describes the castle as a historic site rich with tales of royalty, sieges, and intrigue.

🏰 Corfe Castle, Dorset

Step into a storybook world of Corfe Castle, a dreamy ruin perched on a hill in the heart of Dorset. This thousand-year-old fortress is steeped in history with tales of sieges, royalty and intrigue whispering through its ancient stones. Don’t forget to explore the charming village below – it’s like something out of a fairytale.

Hotels in Corfe Castle

Stunning view of Chatsworth House in the Peak District, a grand stately home surrounded by rolling hills and autumn foliage. A woman with long red hair in a dark dress stands in the foreground, gazing at the mansion across a field scattered with golden leaves. Overlaid text invites Pride and Prejudice fans to experience the charm of this historic estate, describing it as stepping into a Jane Austen novel.

🏛️ Chatsworth House @chatsworthofficial Peak District

Hand flex at the ready (iykyk)! A must for my fellow Pride and Prejudice fans… welcome to the elegant Chatsworth House. Located in the rolling hills of Derbyshire. Chatsworth truly feels like stepping into a Jane Austen novel, it’s that dreamy!

Hotels near Chatsworth House

Interior of the John Rylands Library in Manchester, UK, showcasing a grand staircase with intricate Gothic architecture, arched ceilings, and tall stained-glass windows. A woman with long red hair in a flowing black coat ascends the stairs, adding a sense of mystery and magic. Overlaid text compares the library to Hogwarts and mentions it is free and open to visitors from Wednesday to Saturday.

📖 John Rylands Library, Manchester

It absolutely reminds me of stepping into the halls of Hogwarts Castle! And the library is also free to all visitors and open the the public from Wednesday to Saturday each week.

Hotels in Manchester

Interior of Christ Church College in Oxford, featuring a grand dining hall with long wooden tables, glowing lamps, and walls lined with historic portraits in ornate frames. A woman with long red hair, wearing a plaid skirt and tall boots, walks toward the hall’s impressive architectural details, evoking the magical ambiance of Hogwarts. Overlaid text highlights the college as a Harry Potter filming location and admires its blend of academic prestige and architectural splendor.

✨ Christ Church College, Oxford

Wandering through Christ Church College in Oxford is like stepping into a scene from Harry Potter! And it actually WAS a filming location too! This iconic college is just the dreamiest blend of academic prestige and architectural splendour. I only wish I could have attended here!

Hotels in Oxford

Enchanting scene at Rydal Hall in the Lake District, featuring a quaint stone building with a mossy slate roof nestled beside a cascading waterfall surrounded by lush autumn foliage. A woman with red hair, wearing a vibrant pink dress, stands near the building, gazing at the water, adding a serene and poetic touch to the hidden sanctuary. Overlaid text describes this spot as a charming and tranquil retreat in the heart of the Lake District.

💦 Rydal Hall, Lake District

Tucked away in the heart of the Lake District, Rydal Hall Gardens are a hidden gem brimming with charm. This enchaning spot feels like a little secret sanctuary. IT’s the kind of place where time slows down and every corn feels like a picture-perfect moment of poetry.

Hotels in the Lake District

Interior of Lacock Abbey in Chippenham, showcasing a stunning Gothic cloister with intricate vaulted ceilings and warm golden stone walls. A woman with long red hair in a flowing black dress walks down the sunlit corridor, evoking a magical and serene atmosphere. Overlaid text highlights Lacock Abbey as a filming location for Harry Potter and describes it as a place to imagine life in a wizarding world.

📚 Lacock Abbey, Chippenham

Another for Harry Potter fans! Parts of the Harry Potter series was filmed here. I’m sure you can see the inso! Wander through the cloisters, soak in the beauty of its serene grounds and imagine life if we all lived in a magical Wizarding World…!

Hotels in Chippenham

Charming view of The Shambles in York, a medieval street lined with crooked timber-framed buildings, cobbled lanes, and boutique shop signs. A woman with long red hair in a black dress walks down the narrow street holding a lantern, adding a magical and mysterious vibe. Overlaid text describes The Shambles as a bustling historical market turned cozy hotspot with shops, cafes, and unique finds like The Ghost Merchants.

🖤 The Shambles, York

This medieval street is all crooked timber-framed buidlings, charming shops and narrow cobbled lanes. Once a bustling marketplace for butchers, today it’s brimming with boutiques, cozy cafes, and magical finds – like the Ghost Merchants!

Hotels in York

Entrance of St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold, featuring a wooden north door framed by ancient, gnarled yew trees that evoke a magical and otherworldly atmosphere. A woman with long red hair in a flowing blue dress, holding a wicker basket, stands at the door, enhancing the fairytale-like setting. Overlaid text mentions the door’s resemblance to Tolkien’s Doors of Durin and describes it as a must-visit for history lovers and Tolkien fans.

🚪 St. Edward’s Church, Stow-on-the-Wold

Its iconic north door, framed by ancient yes trees, is said to have inspired Tolkien’s Doors of Durin – and standing before it, you’ll see why. Whether you’re a history liver, a Tolkien fan, or simply seeking a moment of quiet magic, you won’t want to miss a stop here.

Hotels in Stow-on-the-Wold

And I have SO many more places in England on my list to explore! You know I LOVE The Cotswolds but I’d really love to explore a bit more up north in 2025 as well.

Any magical recommendations travel for me?!

Kelly xoxox

10 Magical Places to visit in England in 2025 (that aren’t London!)