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The UK's most beautiful places
We survey Which? members to find the best Areas of Natural Beauty, National Landscapes and Scottish Scenic Areas
In this article
- The best National Landscapes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- What's the difference between an AONB, a National Park, a National Landscape and a Scenic Area?
- Top-rated National Landscape in England
- Top-rated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland
- Top-rated National Landscape in Wales
- Best National Scenic Areas (NSAs) in Scotland
- Top-rated Scottish National Scenic Area
- Wester Ross 94%
The best place in England to visit if you want spectacular scenery, the chance to spot wildlife, and a bit of peace and quiet, is Northumberland.
The Northumberland coast came top, with a score of 89%, in our latest survey of what used to be called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) - but which are now called National Landscapes.
In Northern Ireland, the famous Causeway Coast (86%) came top.
In Wales, the equivalent winner is the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley (81%), just west of Wrexham.
For Scotland - in our table of Scottish Scenic Areas - the top-rated region this time was Wester Ross, the spectacular stretch of mountains in the north-west Highlands (94%).
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The best National Landscapes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Northumberland Coast (158) | 89% | ||||||||
Dorset (123) | 87% | ||||||||
Causeway Coast (56) | 86% | n/a | |||||||
Isles of Scilly (63) | 85% | ||||||||
North Pennines (92) | 85% | ||||||||
Cornwall (149) | 84% | ||||||||
Norfolk Coast (142) | 83% | ||||||||
North Devon (102) | 82% | ||||||||
Shropshire Hills (93) | 82% | ||||||||
South Devon (104) | 82% | ||||||||
Clwydian Range and Dee Valley (70) | 81% | n/a | |||||||
Nidderdale (80) | 81% | n/a | |||||||
Quantock Hills (53) | 81% | n/a | |||||||
Suffolk Coast and Heaths (95) | 81% | ||||||||
Cotswolds (146) | 80% | ||||||||
Forest of Bowland (80) | 80% | n/a | |||||||
Gower (91) | 80% | ||||||||
Isle of Wight (111) | 80% | ||||||||
Wye Valley (93) | 80% | ||||||||
Antrim Coast and Glens (40) | 79% | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||
Tamar Valley (44) | 79% | n/a | |||||||
Anglesey (106) | 78% | ||||||||
Surrey Hills (105) | 78% | n/a | |||||||
Cranbourne Chase (37) | 77% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||||
East Devon (97) | 77% | ||||||||
Malvern Hills (97) | 76% | ||||||||
Solway Coast (56) | 76% | n/a | |||||||
Chilterns (97) | 75% | n/a | |||||||
Llyn (78) | 75% | ||||||||
North Wessex Downs (34) | 75% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ||||
Arnside and Silverdale (84) | 74% | n/a | |||||||
Blackdown Hills (49) | 72% | n/a | |||||||
Howardian Hills (71) | 71% | n/a | |||||||
Kent Downs (77) | 71% | n/a | |||||||
Dedham Vale (44) | 69% | n/a | |||||||
High Weald (75) | 69% | n/a | |||||||
Lincolnshire Wolds (69) | 69% | ||||||||
Chichester Harbour (88) | 67% | n/a | |||||||
Mendip Hills (49) | 66% | n/a | |||||||
Cannock Chase (58) | 65% | n/a |
In August 2025 we surveyed 1,995 Which? Connect members about National Landscapes / AONBS. Star ratings from one to five. n/a means too few responses to give a rating in that category. Only areas with a sample size of at least 30 are included in the table. Area score combines overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.
What's the difference between an AONB, a National Park, a National Landscape and a Scenic Area?
AONBs were created in the 1950s to protect areas such as the Cotswolds or Cornwall that were just as pretty as the National Parks, despite being more developed.
However, the different regions of the UK can’t agree on what to call them.
In Scotland, they’re known as National Scenic Areas.
In Wales and England, since 2023, they’ve been called National Landscapes. Northern Ireland has decided to stick with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Top-rated National Landscape in England
Northumberland coast 89%
The Northumberland coast received a destination score of 89% and the full five stars for scenery, walks, attractions and peace and quiet. 'Not only was the area incredible, ' one visitor told us, 'but the people were so friendly.'
Outside of the peak summer season, there's still plenty of space to walk along those seemingly endless beaches, with castles such as Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh providing an epic backdrop.
The sea may be too nippy for a dip, but there is the tidal island of Lindisfarne with its castle to explore, and boat trips to the Farne Islands to spot seabirds.
The small towns of Seahouses and Alnmouth can get busy at weekends, but it’s easy to escape the crowds.
Inland Northumberland is also our top-rated National Park, and the small town of Bamburgh has long been the top-rated seaside town in the UK
Top-rated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland
Causeway coast 86%
Unsurprisingly, the extraordinary polygonal basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway are the main attraction on this spectacular stretch of the North Antrim coast. Managed by the National Trust, the site can get busy at peak times, which accounts for its two out of five-star rating for peace and quiet.
The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, 15 minutes drive from the Giant's Causeway, is also hugely popular - but not for the faint-hearted. It spans a chasm 30 metres deep and 20 metres wide and is known to sway in the wind. Also worth visiting is one of the country's most picturesquely ruined castles - Dunluce, magnificent on its rocky outcrop. Finally, whiskey lovers will appreciate the village of Bushmills - and the world's oldest distillery.
Top-rated National Landscape in Wales
Clwydian Range and Dee Valley 81%
The largest AONB in Wales, south of Prestatyn and an hour's drive west of Chester, is a dream for walkers and cyclists. Whether you're rambling along the Offa's Dyke National Trail or zooming past Iron Age hillforts, castles and medieval abbeys by bike, there is a huge amount to see.
A narrow boat trip from Llangollen to Chirk – which goes over the engineering marvel that is the Pontcysyllte aqueduct– is also well worth a detour.
Off on a walk in one of the best-rated AONBs or NSAs? You'll need a decent waterproof jacket, pair of walking trousers or sturdy walking boots for your trip
Best National Scenic Areas (NSAs) in Scotland
Wester Ross (31) | 94% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||
Shetland (33) | 91% | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||
Deeside and Lochnagar (37) | 90% | n/a | n/a | ||||||
South Lewis, Harris and North Uist (37) | 86% | n/a | |||||||
Cairngorm Mountains (84) | 83% | ||||||||
Ben Nevis Glen Coe (79) | 81% | ||||||||
Trossachs (77) | 81% | ||||||||
River Tay (Dunkeld) (35) | 78% | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||||
Loch Lomond (85) | 72% |
In August 2025 we surveyed 658 Which? Connect members about Scottish Scenic Areas. Star ratings from one to five. n/a means too few responses to give a rating in that category. Only areas with a sample size of at least 30 are included in the table. Area score combines overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.
Top-rated Scottish National Scenic Area
Wester Ross 94%
If you want to get away from it all, is there anywhere better than this corner of the north-west Highlands?
Here jagged peaks rise up next to deep glens and sea lochs. On the coast, you may spot seals and whales. Head inland, and red deer roam the remote moors.
Wester Ross's most popular attraction is the Maree Loch - so big that some of its 54 islands have their own lochs, with islands inside them as well.
If you are keen to visit Scotland, why not also take a look at our the results of our Scottish islands survey?