You asked: I know you went to some really famous landmarks and other "not so touristy" places. Were the tourist locales simply one-in-a-million or do you think more travelers should check out the places less-traveled?

First off, I should say that many of the touristy places are so well visited for a reason. Many of these hot spots are interesting landmarks that every traveler to the UK should check out, either for their beauty, their cultural or historical significance, or simply because when you returned home no one would understand why you didn’t see it. For example, you would have a hard time explaining why you skipped Stonehenge and traveled instead to the village of Avebury, 45 minutes north of Stonehenge, to see the stone circles there. It doesn’t matter that the stone circles are bigger at Avebury, and that visitors can walk right up and stand next to the massive stones, where as at Stonehenge you’re kept behind a rope a distance away from them. Stonehenge is what everyone knows, and what everyone wants to see. 

Another key factor at play in the more touristy destinations is their proximity to London and other key cities. Windsor Castle is just outside of London, and Blenheim Palace lies only an hour away. Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, is less than two hours away from the capital, and though I found it less interesting than many of the other villages we visited throughout the UK, I would recommend that London tourists afraid of venturing further afield check it out just to get a sense of the architecture and surroundings of a smaller English town.  

 

However, if you’re willing to do the research, the intensive planning required, and are courageous enough to hop aboard trains and buses, or even braver still to slide behind the wheel on the “wrong” side of a car, then a trek to the less “touristy” landmarks around the UK is absolutely worth it. And I have a feeling you will discover that your favorite destinations are, more often than not, located down the path less traveled. You’ll feel freer to explore, to indulge your senses and your imagination, and you’ll meet more Brits true to their locale. You’ll be allowed to fully immerse yourself in the culture, and as long as you do it with a smile and the ability to laugh at yourself, the people will happily overlook any mistakes you might unintentionally make. The landscapes are less crowded, less trampled, and far more beautiful and intriguing. 

All of my favorite destinations—the coast of Cornwall, Dartmoor, the Lake District, Inverness, Northumberland—were, more or less, off the beaten path. Commercial touring companies stop at some of these locales, but only for a very short time, and only at the most “touristy” of spots already flooded with other travelers. The touring companies also book your overnight accommodations in large chain hotels, often far from city centers, denying you the chance to experience a bed-and-breakfast, which were by far our favorite overnight stops on the trip, and often located just a few blocks from the heart of the action.  

In short, I recommend that you check out the more famous landmarks that interest you, and then set out on your own to tour the less well-known castles, palaces, prehistoric sites, and natural beauty of Great Britain. You’ll be glad you did.