10 Pretty Fairytale Towns in the UK

It’s no coincidence that the UK, with its beautiful landscapes, ghostly castles and hidden misty moors, sits at the centre of countless myths and legends. Fairytale towns here have fuelled the imaginations of authors, artists and visitors for centuries.

In this guide, I’ve brought together 10 of my favourite fairytale towns in the UK, from postcard-perfect Cotswold villages to a Welsh village that looks like it’s wandered in from the Italian Riviera.

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At a glance

Map of the best fairytale towns in the UK

Use my map below to see where each of these fairytale towns is located.

1. Castle Combe, The Cotswolds

Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Castle Combe is a perfectly preserved medieval village with a history going back to the 11th century.

Complete with a medieval market cross, an ancient church and honey-coloured Cotswold stone houses, it really does feel as though time has stood still here.

By day, stroll around the village and stop for a drink at one of its two old pubs, The Castle Inn and The White Hart. Come evening, settle in for a meal at The Bybrook, which still holds its Michelin star.

👉 Before you visit, have a read of my guide to things to do in Castle Combe.

2. Rye, East Sussex

There’s nothing quite as fairytale-like as Rye, a seaside village in East Sussex with labyrinthine cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and oil lamps hanging from old posts.

I love wandering down Mermaid Street and spotting houses with names like “House with Two Front Doors” and “The House Opposite.”

Rye’s turbulent past has left it with a set of iconic medieval gates, including the Landgate, Strandgate, Baddings Gate and Postern Gate. If you’re visiting during the warmer months, it’s worth hopping on a short bus to nearby Camber Sands for its huge golden beach.

👉 Discover more of my favourite medieval towns in the UK.

3. Clovelly, Devon

Clovelly is an old fishing village perched on a 400ft wooded cliff in North Devon, with royal roots that go back further than most.

It appears in the Domesday Book as held by Matilda of Flanders, William the Conqueror’s wife and England’s first crowned queen, and it stayed in the Cary family for over 600 years afterwards.

There are no cars here, just steep cobbled streets, whitewashed cottages and tiny fishing boats bobbing against an ancient stone quay.

Walking through Clovelly, with the sound and smell of the Atlantic all around you, is the closest thing I know to stepping back in time.

👉 Discover more of the best seaside towns in Devon.

4. Lacock, Wiltshire

Just half an hour from Bath, Lacock is known for its quintessentially English village appeal. Its name means “little stream” in Old Saxon, a nod to the Bybrook River that cuts through the village.

You may already recognise its historic lanes and quaint cottages without realising it, since they’ve featured in film and TV productions including Pride and Prejudice and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

5. Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby

Cradled between Scarborough and Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay is an impossibly pretty fishing village of red-roofed sandstone cottages, surrounded by breathtaking coastal views.

Narrow cobbled streets, lined with stone cottages that have stood here for centuries, make for an absorbing wander.

While you’re here, visit the National Trust’s Old Coastguard Station for a look at the local geology, wildlife and the area’s smuggling history.

In the evening, join the Ghost Walk for a dose of age-old tales and spooky stories.

👉 Discover my pick of the most charming coastal towns in Yorkshire. 

6. Polperro, Cornwall

On the south Cornwall coast, Polperro is a fairytale huddle of whitewashed cottages hugging steep, lush hillsides around a tiny harbour.

It’s a maze of worn stone cottages and old bridges dating back to Saxon times, and it’s long been a haven for artists drawn to its tall cliffs, hidden coves and cerulean waters.

As a traffic-free village, Polperro is easy to explore on foot, with plenty of antique shops and cosy pubs to duck into along the way.

👉 Discover more of the best towns in Cornwall or read my guide to things to do in Cornwall when it rains.

7. Hawkshead, Lake District

If you’re visiting the Lake District, add Hawkshead to your itinerary. This medieval market town offers an unspoilt glimpse of the past, from its cobbled squares and courtyards to its stone cottages and the green hills that surround it.

The beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter once roamed these streets, and her husband’s former solicitor’s office is now the Beatrix Potter Gallery, a small pilgrimage site for her devotees.

👉 Discover more of the best towns and villages in the Lake District.

8. Portmeirion, Wales

Overlooking the Afon Dwyryd as it flows out towards Cardigan Bay, Portmeirion is an Italian-style village in Gwynedd, known for its colour-washed buildings and romantic Baroque-style architecture.

It’s been featured in countless films and TV shows, most notably the 1960s cult classic The Prisoner.

Wandering its alleyways among Riviera-inspired houses and abundant gardens, then browsing the souvenir and book shops, is a complete change of scene from the rest of Wales.

👉 Discover more places in the UK that look like they’re abroad or read my guide to the best UK castle stays.

9. Portree, Isle of Skye

Nestled between Ben Tianavaig and Suidh Fhinn, Portree is the Isle of Skye‘s capital, known for its colourful harbour, dramatic landscapes and cultural heritage. 

Its name comes from the Gaelic Port Righ, or “king’s port.” While people have lived here for centuries, the town as it looks today was largely shaped by the MacDonald family, who developed it as a planned fishing port from the 1770s.

Portree is a great base for exploring the rest of Skye, with a handful of good restaurants and cafes, though I mostly come here for the views.

Drive north out of town for windswept terrain, dramatic cliffs and the Old Man of Storr, a striking 160ft rock formation near Loch Leathan.

10. Staithes, North Yorkshire

Once a busy fishing port, Staithes sits between two headlands and has a rich maritime history of fishing, boat-building, smuggling and piracy going back to the 15th century.

Today, it’s something of a living museum of that heritage, but there’s still plenty to do here beyond the history.

Start at the Staithes Heritage Centre, where you can learn about a young Captain Cook, who worked as an apprentice shopboy in the village before going to sea. 

Afterwards, wander the colourfully cobbled High Street and try to spot the eight painted optical illusions hidden around the town.

Pairing towns on one trip

FAQs

Which fairytale town in the UK is best for a first visit?

Castle Combe is the easiest starting point if you’re new to this kind of trip, since it’s compact, well connected to Bath and Bristol, and has real places to eat and stay rather than just pretty streets to look at.

Are these towns easy to visit without a car?

Some are. Rye and Staithes are both reachable by train and a short taxi or bus, but a car makes life much easier for most of the others, especially Clovelly, Polperro and Portmeirion.

How do I get to Portree on Skye without a car?

It’s not the easiest of the 10 to reach. The nearest airport is Inverness, around two hours away by road, so most visitors fly into Inverness, Edinburgh or Glasgow and then either hire a car or take the train to Kyle of Lochalsh, which is a short bus or taxi ride across the bridge onto Skye.

Once you’re there, though, a car makes exploring the rest of the island far easier.

Which is the most unusual fairytale town on this list?

Portmeirion, without question. Its Italian-style architecture in the middle of the Welsh countryside makes it look nothing like anywhere else on this list, or in the UK more broadly.

Continue planning your trip

These 10 towns are the ones I find myself recommending most often when people ask where to find that classic storybook feeling in the UK, from cobbled Cornish harbours to a Welsh village that looks airlifted in from Portofino.

For more UK inspiration, you may also like:

• 30 ideas for your UK travel bucket list
• 12 must-visit hidden gems in the UK
• 12 amazing foodie breaks in the UK
• 9 three-Michelin-star restaurants in the UK