From dense woodland and chalk hills to glittering beaches and colourful countryside, England is home to some truly incredible landscapes that have been designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) for their protection. But which is the best? Here we reveal the nation’s most breathtaking places, ranked according to a study by consumer rights company Which?.
Just a few miles from the city centre, Chichester Harbour is one of the most spectacular sailing destinations in Britain. Its peaceful and sheltered waters make it a haven for wildlife: over 55,000 waders and waterfowl are thought to visit the area each year including five internationally important species. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the South Downs National Park, around 25,000 people enjoy its waters each year for racing, cruising and fishing.
Love this? Follow our Facebook page for more UK and global travel inspiration
Home to some of the most enchanting landscapes of southern Britain, the Kent Downs trails between the famous White Cliffs of Dover and Folkestone and the Surrey border. Shaped like an eyelid, a large chalk arch forms the backbone of the Downs, providing dramatic panoramas across the scenery. The North Downs Way follows some of its most breathtaking sights, passing by ancient villages, grand stately homes and glorious countryside before ending at the striking white cliffs overlooking the English Channel.
Rising high above the Somerset countryside just south of Bristol, this gorgeous limestone ridge dates back thousands of years. Punctuated by dry valleys, gorges and rocky outcrops with panoramic views across the nearby Chew Valley, the Mendip Hills are a special sight. They are also home to the incredible Cheddar Gorge which, at 450 feet (137m) high, is Britain’s biggest gorge and is where the country’s oldest human skeleton (around 10,000 years old) was found.
A pretty expanse of pristine sandy shores framed by calm waters, you can’t get much more peaceful than the Solway Coast in Cumbria. Covering 68 miles (110km) of coastline between Rockcliffe and St Bees, its low-lying landscape and narrow coastal strip has created a unique English wilderness of beaches, rocky cliffs and ancient farmland, home to an abundance of wildlife habitats. Its remote location and sweeping coastal views across to the Isle of Man, are what makes the Solway Coast so special and why it's been an AONB since 1964.
Situated in the heart of southeast England, High Weald is one of the best surviving medieval landscapes in northern Europe. Dating back centuries, the landscape was once a wild, wooded area with grassland and heathland, hence the name “Weald” which means wilderness or forest. Encompassing Kent, Sussex and Surrey, its rolling hills are studded with sandstone outcrops, small fields, farmsteads and ancient routeways. Today, High Weald boasts one of the largest portions of ancient woodland in the country, making it a leafy paradise.
Described as ‘the cornerstone of southern England’s ancient chalk landscapes', the North Wessex Downs spans everything from rolling downland to colourful postcard-worthy villages. Straddling four counties, the landscape stretches over 668 square miles (1,730sq km) and features some of the rarest species-rich chalk grasslands and streams in the country. The area’s most stunning sights include the Kennet and Avon Canal, Wilton Windmill and Avebury, the largest ancient stone circle in the world.
Discover more about the world’s most mysterious stone circles
Dotted with lush hills, woodland walks and grand houses, the Chilterns are a pretty patch of countryside just outside of London. Stretching from the River Thames between Wallingford and Marlow to Hitchin in Hertfordshire, the Chilterns are filled with spectacular views, charming villages and gorgeous landscape. A wildlife haven, birds like the red kite, firecrest, green woodpecker and blackcap all thrive here while badgers, foxes and muntjac deer call the dense forests home.
The only designated AONB in Essex, Dedham Vale looks like a dreamy scene from a romantic painting. With the River Stour at its heart, the beauty of this lowland landscape has inspired many of England’s famous 18th- and 19th-century landscape painters such as Thomas Gainsborough, and John Constable who lived and painted in the area. One of Dedham Vale’s biggest draws is its namesake village. With its vibrant independent shops, Georgian houses, charming tea rooms and the River Stour winding through it, Dedham is one of the most attractive villages in Essex.
Check out more of the UK’s prettiest small towns and villages
This little-known slice of Somerset traverses between Taunton and Bridgwater towards the Bristol Channel. With its awe-inspiring landscape of ancient oak woodland, open heathland and rugged coastline, it’s easy to see why Quantock Hills was the first place in England to become an AONB in 1956. Many of the great poets of the Romantic Movement drew inspiration from its scenery including Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, who enjoyed exploring the hills and coastline. Literature fans can visit Coleridge’s cottage in Bridgwater, which was the poet’s home for three years from 1797.
Sandwiched between the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire Wolds and the Vale of York, the Howardian Hills are a gorgeous spot in the middle of Yorkshire. The hills are named after the landowners whose impressive mansion still dominates the landscape. Jurassic limestone gives the area its distinct character, with wooded hills, valleys and farmland alongside dramatic views across open greenery. The region’s most famous attraction is Castle Howard. Set within 1,000 acres of parkland, the lavish palace was built in the 18th century for the Howard family and is home to an incredible collection of artwork.
Bridging together Devon and Cornwall, the Tamar Valley is home to some of the most picturesque scenery in the British Isles. Around 75 square miles (194sq km) of open moors, and wooded valleys make up the landscape that has been shaped by mining and the River Tamar. Mining thrived here during medieval times, particularly for silver and gold, while copper dominated in the 19th century. At its peak, there were over 100 mines along the Tamar River, and traces of its past are scattered across the landscape. It's not surprising then that Tamar Valley forms part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.
Rising high above the Severn Plain in Worcestershire and the grassy slopes of Herefordshire, this dramatic series of hills are famed for its enchanting springs. During the 1840s, an alternative treatment called Hydropathy (also known as ‘the water cure’) was all the rage among the wealthier Victorian classes. With its plethora of springs dotted across the region, by the end of the 19th century, the hills were a popular spot for the treatment and Great Malvern was the go-to spa town. Today, people travel from all over the UK and beyond to drink from the springs and wells that still flow through the gorgeous landscape.
Described as the ‘Switzerland of England’, the Forest of Bowland is a breathtaking series of rolling fells on the western edge of the Pennines. Nestled on the eastern side of Lancashire and seeping into North Yorkshire, Bowland is 312 square miles (808sq km) of deep valleys, forest-clad hills and open moorland studded with charming villages. Downham is one of the prettiest towns, unchanged for decades, its narrow streets lined with stone houses feels like stepping back in time. Some may recognise Downham as the filming location for the popular BBC TV series Born and Bred.
With its rural charm, grassy hills, bustling market towns and postcard-worthy villages, the Cotswolds is often named the most picturesque region in the UK. Covering nearly 800 square miles (2,072sq km) across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, the “wolds” or rolling hills are the biggest AONB in England and Wales. The Cotswolds is best known for its quintessentially English villages and towns. Probably the most famous is Castle Combe, with its honey-hued cottages, winding streets and historic market square, it’s often crowned ‘the prettiest town in England’.
Characterised by its award-winning beaches and vibrant seaside towns, it’s almost impossible not to find a perfect spot on the Norfolk Coast. Around 56 miles (90km) of the AONB encompasses Norfolk’s famous coastline of yellow sand, soaring cliffs and the finest of its marsh coastlands. Here you’ll find Holkham Beach, which is often named one of the most breathtaking beaches in England and Wells-next-the-Sea, a charming harbour town and stretches of sand dotted with colourful beach huts.
Shaped over 250 million years, East Devon is a captivating landscape of wooded combes, vast heathland, hills and lush river valleys. Representing the most westerly end of England’s famous Jurassic Coast, its beaches and cliffs are rich in prehistoric fossils which offer a glimpse into the Earth’s incredible geological history. Traversing 40 miles (64km), the East Devon Way is the perfect route for exploring some of the best sights. Starting at Exmouth, the scenic footpath weaves through pretty hamlets, valleys, prehistoric hill forts and villages before reaching Lyme Regis, dubbed the 'Pearl of Dorset' on the coastline.
In the heart of North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this scenic stretch covers around 66 square miles (171sq km) of coastline. From Marshland Mouth on the Cornish border to Combe Martin on the fringes of the Exmoor National Park, the area’s defining feature is Braunton Burrows, a sprawling sand dune system home to a plethora of flowers, plants and wildlife and the site for the designated Biosphere Reserve. Its landscape varies from wooded combes, steep valleys, pretty farmland and dune-lined beaches bordered by peaceful waters.
From sweeping moors and tumbling rivers to Roman ruins and dense woodland, there is a reason why the North Pennines holds the double accolade of being an AONB and a UNESCO European and Global Geopark. As one of the most remote places in the UK, the region contains some of England’s wildest and most jaw-dropping landscapes. Some of its most impressive natural wonders include High Force, England’s biggest waterfall and High Cup Nick, a deep near-perfect U-shaped chasm on the Pennine fellside.
With its miles upon miles of unspoiled coast and postcard-perfect countryside, South Devon is the best of both land and sea. At its heart and the main reason for its AONB status is its wild and rugged coastline. Lined with long golden stretches of sand and secluded coves, the coast provides the perfect backdrop for swimming, sailing and surfing. There are plenty of pretty seaside resorts to explore too, like the lovely town of Brixham on the English Riviera and peaceful Torquay.
Lying just off the south coast of England, with its soaring cliffs, swathes of yellow sand and sparkling waters, the Isle of Wight is the UK’s little island paradise. At around 72 miles (189sq km) in size, the AONB covers about half of the entire island with its incredible beaches, meadows, grasslands and coastline. Its floral-rich chalk grasslands, major water habitats and southern cliffs make the landscape a considerable scientific and ecological area of interest too.
Bordered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Nidderdale contains some of the most gorgeous scenery in Yorkshire. Shaped by centuries of mining, farming and quarrying, the narrow valley with the River Nidd zigzagging through it is a pretty mix of man-made and natural landmarks. Nidderdale is filled with historic parks and gardens such as Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal – one of the best-preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A mix of heathland, wetland, woodland and coastline, the Suffolk Coast and Heaths is one of the most diverse areas in the UK. Trailing between the seaside resort of Lowestoft and the Essex border, the AONB covers around 50 miles (80km) of the coast, rich in golden stretches of sand, crumbling cliffs and soaring dunes. The lack of coastal through-road means its towns and villages are relatively remote, adding to their tranquil charm. Lowestoft is the UK’s easternmost town, famed for its epic sunrises and Dunwich, once a thriving medieval port is now an eerie ghost town.
Check out more of abandoned Britain: ghost towns you don’t know about
Encompassing nearly half of the county from Lyme Regis to Poole Harbour along the coastline, Dorset’s AONB is the fifth-largest in England. A living, breathing landscape, its famous UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast was formed by 185 million years of geology and is one of the richest sites in England for prehistoric remains. Alongside its impressive coastline, Dorset AONB is often considered the wildlife capital of the UK, home to over 80% of the country’s bird, butterfly and mammal species, making it even more impressive.
Situated on the southwest tip of England, this AONB represents some of Cornwall’s loveliest sights. From the craggy headlands of Tintagel and Pentire to the lovely blue waters and white sands of the Lizard Peninsula, the Cornwall AONB is certainly not short on natural beauty. The area is home to several picturesque fishing towns too, like Polperro, a charming fishing village and Mevagissey, a harbourside town that was once the centre of Cornwall’s pilchard fishery.
From sandy beaches and dunes to incredible castles and isolated islands, the Northumberland Coast is teeming with impressive scenery and historic attractions. Characterised by its low-lying landscape and breathtaking views, the narrow coastal strip extends between the towns of Berwick-upon-Tweed and Amble. With its rocky coves and spectacular seascapes, Northumberland’s coastline serves as a dramatic backdrop for the castles of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh, two of the area’s best-known landmarks.
Snagging the top spot, this string of sparkling islands just off the Cornish coast is unlike anywhere else in England. At just six square miles (16sq km), the Isles of Scilly is the smallest AONB in the UK. Looking like a cluster of pretty ocean jewels, its rugged headlands, glittering bays, hidden coves and peaceful lagoons are an enchanting sight. The archipelago provides a unique environment for wildlife to thrive, its Atlantic grey seals make up one of Europe’s most important breeding populations.
Want to know more? Explore the Isles of Scilly with our guide