The Top 10 Fairytale Towns and Villages in the UK

Our new research reveals the UK towns and villages that look and feel like they belong in a fairytale.

The UK is known for its rich history and breathtaking landscapes, and hidden among its countryside and coastlines are towns and villages that feel truly magical. From charming cottages to cobbled streets, some destinations look as if they’ve been pulled straight out of a storybook. But where can the UK’s most fairytale-like spots be found?

To find out, the team at Betway Casino analysed towns and villages across the UK based on a range of key ‘fairytale’ indicators. Each metric was chosen to reflect the elements that make a destination feel enchanting, from historic character to picturesque scenery. These included:

• Number of listed buildings: Indicating historicity and preserved architectural character.

• Distance from the closest castle (by road): Indicating scenic surroundings that feel like a fairytale.

• Distance to closest airport (as the crow flies): To measure noise pollution and remoteness.

• Number of forest walks within three miles: To measure access to woodland scenery and other natural landscapes.

• Population size: With smaller communities scoring higher for their quaint, village-like appeal.

What are the UK’s top 10 fairytale towns and villages?

If you’re interested in the destinations that offer the allure and escapism of a real-life fairytale, keep reading to discover which UK towns and villages made it into our ranking.

The top 10 fairytale towns and villages in the UK

1. Hawkshead

Hawkshead in Cumbria takes the crown as the UK’s most fairytale-like destination. Nestled in the heart of the Lake District, this tiny, car-free market village is home to just 519 residents, and, being over 75 miles from the nearest major airport (Manchester), it has a peaceful, close-knit feel that seems worlds away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Retaining its heritage, Hawkshead is full of whitewashed houses and narrow lanes, and boasts 69 listed buildings. With 124 forest walks within three miles and Wray Castle less than four miles away, the village has a landscape synonymous with a fairytale.

2. Beddgelert

Beddgelert ranks in second place, a hidden gem tucked away in Snowdonia National Park. Rich in Welsh history, the village is warm and friendly, with a population of 450, and 115 listed buildings among its medieval stone cottages and cobblestone streets.

Just over a mile away is Dinas Emrys, a hilltop fortress ruin woven into Welsh legend. Said to be the place where the red dragon triumphed, it is now a heraldic Welsh symbol. Also near the village are 53 forest walks, and being 56.5 miles from the nearest major airport (Liverpool), Beddgelert feels wonderfully picturesque and unspoilt.

3. Keswick

In third place is Keswick. Surrounded by dramatic fells and valleys, such as Skiddaw and Buttermere, the town is a gateway to some of the Lake District’s most spectacular scenery, with visitors able to experience this through one of the 115 nearby forest walks, the second-highest in the ranking.

While the closest castle is 21.7 miles away, the Gothic grandeur of Lowther Castle adds a touch of cinematic drama to the surrounding landscape, while Keswick’s own 51 listed buildings help it to retain a strong sense of heritage.

4. Oban

Oban, the ‘Gateway to the Isles’, takes fourth place. On the picturesque west coast of Scotland, Oban’s pastel-coloured waterfront, bustling harbour, and 555 listed buildings are distinct in character, all set against sweeping sea views.

Just 1.6 miles away, the 8,000-year-old ruins of Dunollie Castle tell tales of medieval Scotland, adding a sense of mysticism to the town. Located over 50 miles away from the nearest major airport (Glasgow), Oban feels wonderfully removed from the everyday, where rolling hills meet the sea, and coastal charm and history come together.

5. Tobermory

Tobermory follows in fifth place. A remote corner of Scotland, 81.9 miles from Glasgow Airport, with a small population of 1,045 residents, Tobermory’s brightly painted harbour houses give the Isle of Mull’s main town a playful and whimsical feel.

On the Northern tip of the island, five miles away from Tobermory, Glengorm Castle, now a hotel, overlooks the Atlantic and has breathtaking views over the Outer Hebrides. 12 nearby forest walks allow visitors to explore Mull’s enchanting landscapes, from rugged coastlines to serene woodland.

6. Plockton

Known as ‘The Jewel of the Highlands’, Plockton ranks in sixth place. Home to fewer than 470 residents, this tiny village sits on a sheltered bay overlooking Loch Carron. Picturesque cottages face the crystal-clear water, while nine nearby forest walks wind through its woodland and coastal paths.

The turreted Duncraig Castle is just 3.2 miles away, offering accommodation since becoming a bed and breakfast. Inverness Airport is 61.8 miles away, helping Plockton feel like a hidden destination where Highland beauty, history and tranquillity thrive.

7. Clovelly

Clovelly takes seventh place. On the side of a 400ft cliff above Bideford Bay, this ancient Devon fishing village is the smallest in the top 10, with just 445 residents. Renowned as one of the UK’s only privately owned villages, visitors must pay an entrance fee that helps preserve its heritage.

Cars are not permitted, so the village’s 106 listed buildings, timber-framed homes, and famously cobbled streets feel trapped in time, unhindered by modern traffic. Less than 50 miles away from the closest major airport (Exeter), Clovelly’s cliffside location and carefully maintained streets feel uniquely timeless.

8. Hay-on-Wye

Hay-on-Wye ranks eighth. Often called ‘the town of books’, it has winding streets of cosy bookshops, cafes and historic cottages that give it an old-world charm. The surrounding scenery is equally enchanting, with six nearby forest walks offering views of the Black Mountains, the Brecon Beacons, and the River Wye.

At the heart of the town is Hay Castle. Once a formidable medieval stronghold, it now hosts the Hay Literary Festival and is a major centre for culture, arts and education. Together, the castle, idyllic streets and rolling landscapes make Hay-on-Wye feel like a fairytale town where history, nature and literature intertwine.

9. Rye

In ninth place is Rye, a hidden gem on the Sussex coast. 42.2 miles from London Gatwick Airport, it has almost 300 listed buildings, while medieval half-timbered houses and ancient landmarks line its famous cobblestone streets, giving the town a timeless, fairytale feel.

Overlooking the town is the 14th-century Rye Castle, also known as Ypres Tower, which was once part of the town’s defences against invaders. Today, it houses the Rye Castle Museum, which features an array of paintings and exhibits on local history.

10. Helmsley

Completing the top 10 is Helmsley. On the doorstep of the North York Moors National Park, with 46 nearby forest walks for those wanting to explore, Helmsley is one of North Yorkshire’s most popular market towns, with a population of 1,686 and wonderful community spirit.

The town is dominated by Helmsley Castle, a 900-year-old medieval fortress which has evolved over the centuries from a Tudor mansion to a Civil War stronghold. Full of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, and 72 listed buildings, the town blends historic character and natural beauty.

The UK’s smallest fairytale locations

Some of the UK’s most enchanting destinations are tiny, and often, it’s their small size that makes them feel truly magical. Cushendun in County Antrim is the smallest village in the whole ranking, with just 115 residents. This quaint coastal village is nestled in the mouth of the River Dun, where its sheltered harbour and serene beach create a picture-perfect setting. Wandering its quiet streets to find charming shops and cosy pubs, it’s easy to imagine you’re lost in a fairytale.

Edensor in Derbyshire has just 131 residents. Located close to the famous Chatsworth Estate, the village’s stone cottages and historic architecture are among its 50 listed buildings, while its flower-filled gardens give the village a fairytale feel. In Northumberland, Bamburgh, home to just 324 people, combines its small community with sweeping beaches and the iconic Bamburgh Castle to create a storybook-worthy setting.

Castle Coombe in Wiltshire has 347 residents and 107 listed buildings, and, with nothing new being constructed here since the 1600s, the village has a special timelessness. As with the UK’s other tiny towns and villages, its compact size allows visitors to step into a world that feels like a fairy tale.

Each of these destinations, whether tiny and tucked away or larger and lively, shares a touch of magic and mystique. From cobbled streets and colourful cottages to historic castles and enchanting woodlands, they prove that the UK is full of places that feel straight out of a fairytale, just waiting to be explored.

Methodology and sources

To identify the UK’s fairytale towns and villages, we created a seed list of 40 places based on travel and news articles. We then ranked them based on the following metrics to establish the top 10 most fairytale-like destinations:

• Distance to closest airport (as the crow flies) – How Far Is It Between

• Distance from the closest castle (by road) – Google Maps

• Number of listed buildings – British Listed Buildings

• Number of forest walks within three miles – Komoot

• Population size – with smaller communities scoring higher for their quaint, village-like appeal – Parish ONS Data / City Population

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