From the home of the Brontë sisters to the world’s first modern suspension bridge, here are five places worthy of a visit in 2026
With a New Year stretching ahead of us, thoughts turn to making travel plans and ticking off destinations you might not have been to before. You might be planning a European getaway for the summer or organising a once in a lifetime trip to a distant land.
Yet there’s many amazing and delightful places to visit right on our doorstep which can be easily visited in a day or for a weekend away. The UK is home to a diverse range of locations, from incredible landscapes to unique attractions.
In 2026 many of the UK’s attractions will celebrate big anniversaries. The Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh marks 200 years, while London’s Southbank Centre celebrates 75 years.
It will be a big year for several places near Greater Manchester. In the Lake District events will be held to celebrate 160 years since Beatrix Potter’s birth and another literary destination, Haworth, will be put on the map thanks to Emerald Fennel’s new Wuthering Heights film. Read on for some of the best places to visit near Greater Man.
Haworth, Yorkshire
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights may have been published more than 150 years ago, but it’s about to have a major cultural moment in 2026 thanks to Emerald Fennel’s hotly-anticipated adaptation starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Given her last film Saltburn divided viewers, it’s not sure how much her film will stick to the original text – however without a doubt it will introduce the book to new audiences.
To celebrate the release of the film, why not make a pilgrimage to the home of the Brontë sisters in Haworth, West Yorkshire. Here you can visit the house where Emily grew up with her sisters Anne and Charlotte, along with their brother Branwell, which is now the Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Dive even deeper into the world of Wuthering Heights and embark on a hike to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse, said to be the inspiration for the Earnshaw home in the novel. You’ll have to head further north to see any filming locations, though, as scenes for the new Wuthering Heights were shot in the Yorkshire Dales.
The Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
Covering an area of 300 square miles, the Forest of Bowland is a beautiful stretch of rolling fells, rugged moorland and ancient woodland. In recent years it’s been having a bit of a moment; it’s regularly featured in round ups of the best places to visit in the UK and given the fact it’s within easy reach of Greater Manchester, it would be a shame not to pay it a visit.
Formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a term created in the 1950s to protect areas considered just as pretty as National Parks despite being more developed, it’s now a National Landscape, the term used since 2023 in Wales and England. Among its notable landmarks are the Pendle Hill, found in a detached part of the site known as the Forest of Pendle, and infamous for the witch trials of the same name.
It’s home to several picturesque villages, including Downham and Chipping, as well the scenic driving route the Trough of Bowland. While you’re heading there, be sure to stop off at Blackburn Cathedral along the way, as this year it makes its centenary with special plans made to celebrate.
Menai Bridge, Anglesey
The Menai Strait separates Anglesey from mainland Wales, and it’s crossed by two impressive bridges, one of which is Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge, which celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2026. It was the first iron suspension bridge in the world, reaching 1,265ft long with a central span of 579ft.
The Telegraph has even included the bridge in its article of the 10 most underrated places to visit in Britain in 2026. The second bridge which crosses the strait is the Britannia Bridge, which opened in 1850. Originally built to carry rail traffic, it was converted into a double-decked structure following a fire in 1970 and now carries both rail and road traffic.
The town itself features a range of shops, pubs and restaurants, with many serving up local seafood. It’s also the gateway to the island of Anglesey which has an incredible coastline and amazing beaches.
Hill Top, Lake District
From Wordsworth to Wainwright, the Lake District has produced many literary figures, but it’s Beatrix Potter who’s perhaps the most beloved of all, with her much-loved characters like Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggy Winkle starring in many people’s childhoods. 2026 marks 160 years since the writer’s birth, which makes a visit to her house in the Lake District even more poignant.
Run by the National Trust, Hill Top is located in Near Sawrey, nestled between Esthwaite Water and Windermere. The converted farmhouse, which she purchased in 1905 with the profits from her first illustrated books, is a time capsule of the writer’s life and you can even see the garden which inspired many of the scenes from her books.
Plas yn Rhiw, Llyn Peninsula, North Wales
This stunning manor house has undergone significant renovations including a major re-roofing project which started in 2023. While the gardens and tea room have remained open, the house has been temporarily closed but it is due to reopen again this July.
Bought by the Keating sisters in 1938, they lovingly restored this 17th century house and rescued it from ruin. It overlooks an ornamental garden with flowering trees and shrubs, framed by box hedges and grass paths. The wider grounds include a woodland, meadow and orchard, and both the grounds and gardens boast spectacular views across Cardigan Bay. It’s the perfect place to stop off if you’re exploring the Llyn Peninsula this summer.
