Top Five Hidden Gem Villages to Visit in the UK This Summer

As summer hits its stride and the big tourist hotspots fill up, it’s the perfect time to go off the beaten path. The UK is scattered with picturesque villages where cobbled lanes, ancient inns, and blooming gardens offer a slower, quieter kind of magic.

Here are five hidden gem villages to explore this July — charming, crowd-free, and full of summer beauty:

🏘️ 1. Clovelly, Devon

Best for: Storybook charm by the sea

Perched on a steep hillside overlooking the Bristol Channel, Clovelly feels frozen in time. Its whitewashed cottages tumble down a cobbled path to a tiny harbour, where fishing boats bob in the sun. No cars are allowed in the village, adding to its unique, peaceful atmosphere.

Don’t miss: A cream tea with a sea view at the Red Lion and a wander through the donkeys and flower-lined lanes.

🧱 2. Castle Combe, Wiltshire

Best for: Fairytale Cotswolds beauty

Often dubbed "the prettiest village in England," Castle Combe is a vision of honey-coloured stone, roses climbing over doorways, and a trickling stream running under a stone bridge. Despite its good looks, it’s usually quieter than nearby Cotswold stars like Bibury.

Don’t miss: A slow stroll through the market square and a pint at The White Hart Inn, dating back to the 14th century.

🏞️ 3. Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire

Best for: Coastal adventure with character

This hidden village clings dramatically to a cliffside and winds down to a sandy bay. Once a smuggler’s haven, it’s now a peaceful mix of winding lanes, quirky shops, and fossil-rich beaches — ideal for a summer’s day of slow exploring.

Don’t miss: The beach at low tide, when rock pools and sea creatures are revealed, and fish & chips by the sea.

🌸 4. Portmeirion, Gwynedd

Best for: Mediterranean flair without the flight

This colourful, Italian-style village on the Welsh coast is like nowhere else in the UK. Designed in the 20th century by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion boasts pastel buildings, subtropical gardens, and estuary views that shimmer in the July sunshine.

Don’t miss: Ice cream by the piazza, or a scenic woodland walk in the surrounding Gwyllt gardens.

🎨 5. Kirkcudbright, Dumfries & Galloway

Best for: Artsy escapes in southern Scotland

Nicknamed the “Artists’ Town”, Kirkcudbright is full of character and creativity. Pastel-painted houses line the River Dee, and its galleries, studios, and street art give the village a colourful summer buzz — without the crowds.

Don’t miss: The Tolbooth Art Centre, the harbour walk, and one of the many summer art and music festivals.