A gorgeous village on the British coast has been named one of the world’s prettiest villages in a new ranking. The ranking by Faraway Furniture looked at Instagram data to find the world’s most idyllic spots.
Unsurprisingly, the world’s most beautiful village was Cinque Terre in Italy, a top European holiday hotspot. Its colourful houses clinging to the cliff earned it the top spot on the list.
But British tourists won’t have to catch a flight to enjoy village life, as two UK villages made it on the top 20 list. While Bibury was the highest scoring UK village, a seaside destination took 17th spot.
Staithes, a gorgeous village on the North Yorkshire coast, was named the second prettiest village in the UK.
The breathtaking spot was once one of the largest fishing ports in the UK and it’s now an ideal staycation destination for families.
Staithes is full of character and tourists can get lost among its winding cobbled streets or head out one of Yorkshire’s cliff paths.
The seaside village is just 10 miles from Whiby and was once the home of the famous Royal Navy captain and explorer, Captain James Cook. Reports suggest the seamen first fell in love with the sea while living in Staithes.
Tourists can check out ‘Dog Loup Alley’, one of the world’s narrowest alleys, but it might be a squeeze after a fish and chip meal, as it’s just 18 inches wide.
Staithes is a fantastic destination for families as it’s the perfect spot for rockpooling. Children have a great chance of finding fossils and marine creatures among the beach’s rocks.
Walkers could base themselves in Staithes to explore the Cleveland Way National Trail, a 109 mile route across the breathtaking Yorkshire coast.
A tourist who visited Staithes Beach wrote on Tripadvisor: “This place is a little gem. I would definitely recommend it.”
Another visitor wrote: “We just love it here. It’s beautiful. It’s so nice to go somewhere that hasn’t been overtaken by the usual high street chains and it remains a little local community.”
Staithes doesn’t have a train station but tourists can catch the train to nearby Whitby or Saltburn and then catch the bus or take a taxi. Some accommodation has its own parking.
If Staithes doesn’t appeal, why not head to Bibury to explore one of the Cotswolds’ most charming villages?
When it comes to seaside towns, British staycationers are spoilt for choice with so many charming destinations on offer.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
