Your short-haul destination not on the Green List?
Don’t assume you’ll need to give up your holiday dreams entirely.
Instead, replicate your location’s feel with these hidden spots in the UK, that feel like they’re far abroad.
From Norfolk to Lincolnshire, these are all well worth a visit.
Here’s how to get a little taste of Europe in the UK.
Cley Next The Sea, Norfolk… aka Dutch canals
With centuries of trade linking Norfolk and the Netherlands, it’s almost no surprise that you can find a slice of the latter on the Broads.
Look out for traditional Dutch gables and the picturesque Cley windmill, which now operates as a B&B and restaurant. cleywindmill.co.uk
Portmeirion, Wales… aka Portofino, Italy
Pastel-coloured villas, elegant colonnades and panoramic sea views are all part of Portofino’s charm… sorry, Portmeirion’s.
Built by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, this seaside village in North Wales has been transporting visitors to the Italian Riviera for nearly 100 years. portmeirion.wales
St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall… aka Normandy, France
Rising out of the water like something from Arthurian legend, Cornwall’s St Michael’s Mount can only be rivalled by its French cousin, Mont St Michel, in Normandy.
Reachable at low tide across a causeway, the island is home to a turreted medieval castle, a chapel and sub-tropical terraced gardens. stmichaelsmount.co.uk
Belton House, Lincolnshire… aka France, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland
This impressive National Trust property offers a whistle-stop tour of continent with its French-style chateau, Italian and Dutch formal gardens and magnificent orangery.
There’s even a miniature Swiss chalet nestled in the woods. nationaltrust.org.uk/belton-house
Little Venice, London… aka Amsterdam, Netherlands
It might be named after the Italian city but this idyllic section of the Regent’s Canal feels more like Amsterdam’s Herengracht than the Canale Grande.
Cycle
along the towpath and sit in the Rembrandt Gardens for a true Dutch experience.
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