Today I want to share my guide to the most magical places to visit in the UK with you. There are lots of mystical destinations in the United Kingdom, from fanciful villages to ancient stone circles. Whether you’re seeking a spiritual experience or just want to see someplace fun or awe-inspiring, there’s a trip that’s perfect for you. Read on for my top picks.
Magical Places to Visit in the UK
The best magical places to visit in the UK range from hidden urban spaces to remote spots on the coast or countryside. Some are home to famous landmarks, and others are renowned for their mystery or legends.
Whether you’re looking for human-made magic or natural wonders, these exciting places to visit in the UK are bound to get you in a mystical mood.
I’ve been to all these places, and I can personally attest to how otherworldly they are to experience in person. I hope my list inspires you to see one or more of them on your travels.
Some of these places can be visited independently by train or car. Others are easier to visit on small-group tours with companies like Rabbie’s and GetYourGuide. I’ve taken many tours through both companies, and I’ve always enjoyed them.
1. Stonehenge
Stonehenge tops my list of the most magical places to visit in the UK. The mystery, history, and heritage behind this site are enchanting. It never gets old to circle the stones and imagine how they got here and what they were intended for.
Once on site, there’s an audio tour to guide you around the stones. There are also Neolithic houses, a virtual tour, and exhibitions that bring the place to life.
You can drive from London to Stonehenge in around 2 hours, and you can buy your entry ticket here. Alternatively, you can visit on a guided tour. I’ve done tours with GetYourGuide and I’ve really enjoyed them. You can see their Stonehenge tours here.
2. Castle Combe
Nestled in Wiltshire in the southern Cotswolds, Castle Combe has a postcard-perfect high street, charming side streets, and shops with teapot signs overhead.
This place has everything I adore about an English village, and being here feels like stepping into another world.
Castle Combe is worth exploring for its chocolate-box houses and pretty bridge over the By Brook river. It’s one of the most beautiful villages in England.
If you don’t have a car, you can visit on a day tour from Bath with GetYourGuide. It’s a great way to see Castle Combe and other Cotswolds villages in one day. You can book a ticket here.
If you want to stay in Castle Combe, you’re in for more magic. The Manor House is set in a stunning 14th-century building with parkland all around it.
If you want to stay in a mews, the hotel has cottages in a mews street in the village, too. You can book a room or cottage here.
3. Isle of Skye
Next on my list of magical places in the UK is the Isle of Skye. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides, it’s also one of the most famous Scottish islands.
The Isle of Skye is a popular stop on many Scottish Highlands tours. Magical highlights of Skye range from enchanting fairy pools to powerful waterfalls. The island has amazing sunrises, too.
I’ve been visiting this Scottish island since I was a teenager. While it’s beautiful at any time of year, I particularly love the Isle of Skye in winter. There’s a magic to the landscape on the Isle of Skye in January.
If you want to visit the island on a tour, you can book one with Rabbie’s here. They offer lots of great tours on and around the Isle of Skye.
Tours are great ways to see the island and other parts of the Scottish Highlands. There are lots of magical places to discover here.
If you want to stay for a night or more on the island, there are lots of options. You can book accommodation here. I’ve stayed at the Sligachan Hotel and I loved my room and the hotel’s location right next to the famous Sligachan Old Bridge.
4. Leadenhall Market
Right in the heart of London, Leadenhall Market is another of the most magical places to visit in the UK. Why? It stood in for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies.
The street where Harry and his classmates bought their wands, wizardry books, and cauldrons is definitely one of the most otherworldly places in Britain.
If you want to get really into the magical spirit of London, you can take a Harry Potter tour. It will show you everything from the Ministry of Magic to the Leaky Cauldron. You can book one here.
Beyond books and movies, Leadenhall Market has a magic of its own. From rich colors to an airy feel and high ceilings, this Victorian iron-and-glass structure feels like a fairy tale.
I’ll always remember how awed I was the first time I walked into it. I’ve been a million times since then, and it never ceases to make me stop and stand in wonder of it.
If you need a magical place to stay while you’re here, you can take a look at my guide to the best quirky hotels in London. It has my top picks for unusual accommodation throughout the UK capital.
5. The Giant’s Causeway
Over in Northern Ireland, The Giant’s Causeway is one of the most mystical places to visit in the UK for its natural beauty and legendary history.
Interlocking basalt columns form a dramatic landscape on the coast here. They give the area a unique and mysterious atmosphere.
Myths and legends have sprung up around The Giant’s Causeway over the centuries, including one about a giant named Fionn mac Cumhaill. Whatever the truth is, this place is breathtaking to behold.
If you’re staying in Belfast, you can book a tour of The Giant’s Causeway here. It will show you the best of the area, including The Dark Hedges and medieval castles.
If you need a place to stay in Belfast, you can book a hotel here. I’ve stayed at the Malmaison Belfast and I like its beautiful exterior and city center location. You can book a room here.
6. York
York is another of the most magical places to visit in the UK. This city in the north of England is beloved for many things, but my favorite is the Snickelways, a network of narrow historic passages, hidden lanes, and enchanting alleys and footpaths.
One of my favorite enchanting places in York is The Shambles. This street is lined with timber-framed medieval buildings, some of which date back to the 14th century. Many have quaint shops on the ground floor, and upper floors overhanging the street.
I once took a day trip from London to York and I was in awe of how beautiful the walled city was. It’s truly enchanting. You can even take a Witches and History Old Town Walking Tour of York to get into the magical spirit.
If you want to stay in town for a night, there are lots of great accommodation options in the city. You can book a hotel in York here.
7. Isles of Scilly
Next on my list of the UK’s most magical places are the Isles of Scilly. These islands off the southwest coast of Cornwall are some of the most remote places in England.
The archipelago is a treasure trove of natural and human-crafted wonders alike. From pristine beaches that look like they could be in the Caribbean to harbors dotted with colorful boats, this is a great place to get into Britain’s mystical side.
Tresco Abbey Garden is home to enchanted ruined arches, and Bryher has a lone red phone box redolent of a bygone era. These isles are truly some of the most enchanting islands in the UK.
If you want to visit, you’ll need to stay for at least a night or two. You can book a hotel here. I stayed at the St. Mary’s Hall Hotel, a townhouse with classic decor and a sense of history. You can book a room here.
8. Durdle Door
Durdle Door is another of the most mystical places in the UK. Down in Dorset, it’s a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast. Seeing it from the cliffs is nothing short of breathtaking.
Durdle Door is one of the most iconic landmarks in England, and one of the best places to watch a sunrise. If you time it right in mid-December and early January, you can see the sun peeking through the keyhole in the rock. It’s pure magic.
The nearby rounded bay of Lulworth Cove is pretty, too. The white pebble beach and clear water make it feel like paradise on the English coast.
I visited both places on a small-group tour with Rabbie’s. It was a great way to see the highlights of the area as well as magical places like Bath, Stonehenge, Dartmoor, and Glastonbury. You can see the details here.
If you want to go independently and stay a night in Lulworth Cove, you can book a hotel here. It’s a great place to base yourself near Durdle Door.
9. The New Forest
The New Forest is another magical place to visit in England. This wooded area in southern Britain is full of everything from cozy pubs to the area’s signature ponies.
The ponies can be spotted all over the national park, and they’re exciting to come across on country walks.
The New Forest is magical because its heathland, woods, and glades are enchanting. Seeing ponies emerge through the mist is one of my favorite memories from this part of Britain.
Given its proximity to the UK capital, the New Forest is an easy day trip or weekend trip from London, too.
If you want to stay the night, you can book a hotel here. I’ve stayed in the New Forest a number of times, and I highly recommend an overnight trip.
10. Glastonbury Tor
Next on my list of magical places in the UK is Glastonbury Tor. This hill in Somerset is known for St Michael’s Tower, the only remaining part of a 14th-century church that once stood atop its crest.
But it’s the hill itself that’s mythical. The Tor is mentioned in Celtic mythology, particularly in myths linked to King Arthur and the Holy Grail. It also has other popular mythological and spiritual connections.
As an added bonus, Glastonbury Tor offers stunning views across the English countryside.
Back down the hill, the town of Glastonbury is full of shops selling all kinds of mystical treasures. From crystals to broomsticks and chocolate-themed aphrodisiacs, you can find it on the high street.
If you want to stay the night in Glastonbury, you can book a hotel here. There are lots of good options for accommodation. You can also book the tour I went on here.
If you only want a day tour from London, you can see Stonehenge, Glastonbury, and Avebury in one trip. Given they’re some of the most magical places in England, it’s a great way to see them all in the same day. You can book the tour here.
11. Rosslyn Chapel
Next on my list of magical places to visit in the UK is Scotland’s legendary Rosslyn Chapel. Da Vinci Code fans will remember this place from Dan Brown’s best-selling novel.
But the chapel isn’t just part of a fictional narrative; it’s a mystical landmark in its own right.
The symbolism in the carvings and artwork rivals the mysteries Brown came up with in his story, and the exterior of the building is as attractive as the interior is intriguing.
This is one of the best day trips from Edinburgh (or half-day trips, as it’s so close to the city). If you don’t have a car, you can take a guided tour with transportation. You can book one here.
If you want to stay overnight, you can book a hotel in Edinburgh here. I’ve stayed in the city many times and my favorite is the Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile Edinburgh. It’s in a great location right by Edinburgh Castle. You can book a room here.
12. Loch Ness
Also in Scotland, Loch Ness is one of my favorite magical places in the United Kingdom. Famous for its legendary monster, Nessie, this lake in the Scottish Highlands near Inverness is a treat to visit.
It’s fun to peer out across Loch Ness in search of the monster, or to get up close and search for it on a boat tour. You can book a ticket for a cruise on the loch here.
Given how many sightings there have been over the years, the myth is still alive and well (although I’ve been visiting since I was a child and I still haven’t spotted her).
There’s also plenty of Jacobite history and classic highland scenery to see around Loch Ness. It’s hard not to feel the magic here. In fact, you can see Loch Ness and places like Glen Coe on a day tour from Edinburgh. You can book a ticket here.
If you want to stay the night, you can book a hotel in Inverness here. If you want to stay on the other end of the loch, you can book a hotel in Fort Augustus here.
13. Dartmoor National Park
Back in England, Dartmoor National Park is another of the most magical places to visit in Britain. Located in Devon, this place is known for its dense fog, stone bridges, rolling hills, and famous prison.
Dartmoor’s haunting beauty is the stuff of legends. Its wild expanse is dotted with ponies, and every time I visit I half expect a prisoner from a Dickens novel to materialize out of the mist. It’s truly otherworldly here.
If you want to stay the night in Dartmoor, you can book a hotel here. There are plenty of options for accommodation. You can also book the tour I went on here.
14. Warner Bros Studio Tour
If cinematic magic is more your thing, the Warner Bros Studio Tour is another of the most legendary places to visit in the UK. This is where the Harry Potter movies were filmed, and you can see all the sets from his world of wizardry here.
Located near London, the Warner Bros Studio Tour is a great place to get into all things magical from Harry’s world.
From the Gryffindor common room at Hogwarts to Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Diagon Alley, and Dumbledore’s office, you can see the highlights.
If you want to visit this magical place on a day trip from London, you can book a combined bus-and-entry ticket here. It’s worth getting transport included with your ticket, as it can save you time and hassle.
15. Fingal’s Cave, Isle of Staffa
Back up in Scotland, Fingal’s Cave on the small island of Staffa is another of the most mythical places in the UK. It’s known for its haunting acoustics and black basalt columns.
Popular belief has it that this place is linked to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. According to legend, the two geologically-similar spots lie at the opposite ends of an ancient bridge built by the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill.
It’s amazing to see Fingal’s Cave up close. I saw it on a sailing trip in the Hebrides, but there are tour boats from Mull and Oban you can take as well.
16. Lunga
Not far from Staffa, Lunga is another magical place in Scotland. This pint-size island is one of the Treshnish Isles in the Inner Hebrides. It’s known for its puffins and guillemots, among other bird species.
I visited Lunga in spring when bluebells carpeted the island. Puffins walked all over the cliffs, oblivious to the fact that I was lying on the grass just a few feet away from them.
It was magical to watch the birds waddle about and fly in from the sea, their mouths full of fish.
Lunga also has great views over the water and of ships, boats, and ferries below. It’s a great island to visit if you love natural wonders.
As with Staffa, I visited Lunga on a sailing trip, but you can also take a tour boat from Mull or Oban to get here.
If you want to stay in the area, you can book a hotel in Oban here, or a place to stay on Mull here. There are a lot of choices for accommodation in both places.
17. Avebury
Back in England, Avebury is another of the most magical places to visit in the UK. This village in Wiltshire is famous for its stone circles.
I visited on a British road trip, and I discovered the area’s Neolithic heritage, admired the village’s thatched-roof cottages, visited the gardens at Avebury Manor, and walked by the stone circles in and around the village.
Unlike Stonehenge, which feels remote and isolated in the countryside, Avebury’s stones feel like they’re part of the community. They lend the place a truly magical feel.
If you want to stay a night in Avebury, you can book a room here. There are several places you can call home for an evening in the village.
If you just want to visit for a day, you can take an Avebury and Stonehenge tour from London. It’s a great way to see both mystical places in one trip. You can book a ticket here.
18. Killeter Forest
Back in Northern Ireland, Killeter Forest is another of the most magical places in the United Kingdom. Why? Because there are holy wells and legendary bogs galore.
I took a tour here once with a local paleao-ecologist named Martin Bradley. He drove me to all kinds of mythical places in and around this forest at the western edge of County Tyrone.
These included Father McLaughlin’s Well, which is said to cure everything from toothaches to addictions. Judging from the number of items left above the well, there must be something to it.
He also took me to the Slievedoo Bog, one of six or seven bogs in the area. He told me they were places of significance to the ancient people here, and he used a long pole to show me how deep the water was under the mossy ground we stood on.
Beyond Killeter Forest, he also showed me fairy trees, standing stones, and sacred landscapes full of ancient myths that have been passed down since prehistoric times.
When I visited the area I stayed in Derry / Londonderry. If you want to follow in my footsteps, you can book a hotel here. I stayed at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel, and I liked the friendly staff, decor, and central location. You can book a room here.
19. Glen Coe
When it comes to nature, one of my favorite magical places in Britain is Glen Coe. This valley in the Scottish Highlands is known for waterfalls, dramatic peaks, and great trails like the Pap of Glencoe hike.
Glen Coe is both historic and hauntingly romantic. Ancient and mysterious geological phenomena created one of the most unique landscapes in Scotland.
The mists and fogs lend it an otherworldly feel, and the scenery is straight out of a legend. It’s no wonder everything from James Bond’s Skyfall to the Harry Potter movies was filmed here.
You can learn more about how to visit and what to do in Glen Coe on my 4-day itinerary for Scotland and my Scotland road trip itinerary.
If you want to stay here, you can book a room here. I’ve stayed at several places over the years, and my favorite is The Isles of Glencoe hotel in Ballachulish.
You can also book a tour with Rabbie’s. They do great small-group tours of Scotland that include time in Glen Coe. You can see all their Glen Coe tours here.
20. Portmeirion
Out in Wales, Portmeirion is another of the most magical places in Britain. An Italian seaside town climbing a hillside on the Welsh coast, this village is an architectural fantasy world created by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis.
With towers in bright hues and antique treasures dotted throughout, Portmeirion is his masterpiece.
From bright buildings to historic treasures and a larger-than-life chess set, its hodge-podge of styles makes for a fairy-tale experience. And that’s to say nothing of the coastal trails and beaches around it.
Best of all, you can stay right in the village. If you want the full experience, you can book a room here. I stayed here once, and it was amazing.
21. Abbotsford
Up in the Scottish Borders, Abbotsford is another of the most magical places in the UK. Once the abode of famous writer Sir Walter Scott, this romantic castle-like country house is straight out of a fairy tale.
Situated right on the banks of the River Tweed, Abbotsford is as legendary as the books its owner wrote. With a swoon-worthy library inside and lush walled gardens outside, this 19th-century Scottish Baronial mansion is worth a special trip.
You can see Abbotsford on a day trip from Edinburgh. If you go by rail, you can even take a scenic 20-minute walk to get here from the train station in Tweedbank.
If you want to go on a guided tour, you can see the house and Rosslyn Chapel in one trip with GetYourGuide. You can book a ticket here.
It’s worth staying longer to see the surrounding area, though. If you can spend a night in the Borders, you can book a hotel here. My favorite place to stay is the SCHLOSS Roxburghe, which looks like a castle in its own right.
22. Roman Baths, Bath
Next on my list of magical places in the UK are the Roman Baths in Bath, Somerset. A temple was constructed in what’s now the heart of the city between 60 and 70 AD. It became one of the great religious spas of the ancient world.
In those times, visitors worshiped the goddess Sulis Minerva at the temple and bathed in the natural thermal springs. Those springs still flow with hot water, and today’s visitors can tour the baths and learn about the legendary deity.
If you want to combine the Roman Baths with Stonehenge, you can take a day tour from London to see them both in one day. You can book a ticket here.
If you want to take a city break, you can book a hotel in Bath here. I’ve stayed at The Yard in Bath and I love its stylish atmosphere. You can book a room here.
23. Edinburgh
When it comes to capital cities, Edinburgh is the most magical place to visit in the UK. You need only stand in Princes Street Gardens and look up at the castle to be enchanted.
This city is so magical it inspired the Harry Potter novels. A walk through the 16th-century Greyfriars Kirkyard will show you headstones with names J.K. Rowling used for characters in the books. You can see it on a Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour.
The same churchyard is famous for Greyfriars Bobby, a legendary dog who guarded his late master’s grave for 14 years until he himself died.
Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is steeped in magic, too. From the warren of streets in The Real Mary King’s Close to the little alleys and stairways leading down the hill, there are a lot of legends to be found here.
Add to that the fairy-tale atmosphere in Dean Village, and there’s magic all around.
If you want to stay in the city, you can book a hotel in Edinburgh here. As I mentioned before, my favorite is the Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile Edinburgh. You can book a room here.
Magical Places to Visit in the UK
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the most magical places to visit in the UK, and that it’s inspired you to get out and discover some of the most mystical and otherworldly spots in the country. Happy travels!
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