23 Breathtaking Natural Wonders in England

This limestone formation, just outside the village of Malham in North Yorkshire, was formed thousands of years ago by a waterfall created at the end of the Ice Age. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, the sheer rock face and distinctive limestone pavement might look familiar as they featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1).

With dramatic cliffs reaching a height of 450ft, this Somerset spot is the biggest gorge in the UK. Climb to the top of Cheddar Gorge for jaw-dropping views across the South West of the country, or head underground and explore the spectacular Gough’s Cave.

This world-famous geological wonder with its giant rock arch can be found on Dorset’s breathtaking Jurassic Coast. Durdle Door has a picturesque beach perfect for relaxing with a picnic or even swimming, if you’re feeling brave.

Just off the coast of mainland England, you’ll find the picturesque island known as the Isle of Wight and at the western point of the island, you’ll find The Needles. Here, the sea and elements have eroded the chalk coast, leaving three distinct towers of chalk that rise 30m out of the sea. View this natural wonder from the sea, or take to the skies in the nearby chairlift ride.

Situated in the idyllic South Downs, the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs make up one of England’s most unspoilt coastlines. The cliffs peak and dip along the shoreline, making seven hills in total – hence the name. As the cliffs are left to erode, naturally they remain a beautiful white colour. For the best view of the Seven Sisters, head to Seaford Head, looking east across the River Cuckmere.

Set against the rugged backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, these wonderfully weird natural rock formations are as striking as they are unique. Owned by the National Trust and set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Brimham Rocks stand at around 30ft tall – a true wonder of the natural world.

In the heart of the beautiful Peak District, you’ll find Winnats Pass which is a steep-sided limestone valley, with towering cliffs on all sides. At first sight, it looks as though the cliffs have parted to make room for the single road that winds its way along the bottom of the valley. There are plenty of footpaths around Winnats Pass, so you can explore this wonder of nature for yourself.

Head to the Dales to discover one of the country’s most famous and awe-inspiring caves. Gaping Gill is 100m deep, so not somewhere you can just go and explore on your own. A couple of times each year, The Bradford Pothole Club and the Craven Pothole Club set up a winch above the shaft for members of the public to ride down to the bottom and back, to experience this wonder for themselves.

Coniston Water in the Lake District, is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. At five and a half miles long and half a mile wide, you’ll be blown away by this picture-perfect, peaceful lake. Surrounded by some of the best scenery England has to offer, Coniston Water is a place that will capture your heart.

At 978m high, Scafell Pike is England’s highest mountain and arguably its most beautiful, with exhilarating sweeping views that are very hard to beat. There are three routes to choose from if you decide to hike to the summit, with Hollowstones being the most straightforward. The rewards of that staggering view are definitely worth the effort.

Moorlands, mountains, lakes and waterfalls make up this enchanting northern English National Park. No wonder it attracts millions of tourists every year…

Recommended by Luke Abrahams.

One of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country, High Force really is a force of nature. From its source on the pretty heather covered fells of the North Pennines, the River Tees flows down towards the dramatic 21m drop of the main waterfall. A relaxing walk through scenic woodland will lead you to the perfect spot to witness High Force in all its glory.

A world of contrasts, the Isle of Skye is arguably one of the most surreal spots in the United Kingdom. Most come to get a glimpse of Old Man of Storr, an unusual, towering rock formation that tops a 20-mile ancient landslide.

Described by author Robert Louis Stevenson as ‘a hill for magnitude, a mountain in virtue of its bold design’, Arthur’s Seat is situated about one mile east of Edinburgh Castle and rises above the city to a height of no less that 250.5 metres above the Scottish metropolis. Once you’re up there you’ll be in awe of the views.

Most of these drop-dead amazing Scottish islands were formed from prehistoric metamorphic rocks. The 15 inhabited islands have a total population of about 27,000 people. Throughout, you’ll find loads of super old structures, many of which pre-date the first written references to the islands by Roman and Greek authors.

This beauty of a National Park has been a popular holiday spot for yonks. Known for its rugged mountains, ribbon lakes and historic literary past (this is where Beatrix Potter wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit!), you’ll find a load of fab market towns, traditional inns and lovely galleries in this glorious part of the world. Great for walkers too.

These – quite frankly – INCREDIBLE 15th-century ruins sit atop a stunning natural peninsula that juts out into the wild North Sea – don’t bother styling your hair before you visit, because it’s very, very windy here.

These otherworldly polygonal rocks are the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Fact of the day: The entire thing is made up of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns.

England’s very own Barbados. White sandy beaches, countless nature trails, fine restaurants and plenty of pubs and bars are waiting to be discovered on this truly unmissable holiday spot.

This golden patch of South West England is full of lush green valleys, charming limestone cottages, traditional pubs and river trails. Essentially, the Cotswolds are the very definition of quintessential and relaxed British country life.

These world-famous cliffs are the tallest in the entire country and attract thousands of tourists every year. Word of advice, if you suffer from vertigo, steer clear.

Game of Thrones fan? Well, you might just recognise these gorgeous trees then. The 200-year old beech tree tunnel features in the first episode of season two of the hit HBO series. Game of Thrones or not, we just think it’s pretty.

In short, Snowdonia is fairy land. Thick green moss covers nearly every rocky surface of the Llyn Dinas section (a must visit) of Snowdonia. The place is full of waterfall and incredible lakes too.