A beautiful region full of rolling green hills, lakes with azure waters and charming villages that are the stuff of fairytales has been named England's most beautiful place for 2026.

The Lake District has long been attracting visitors from around the world, often featuring on rankings of the more scenic spots and picturesque landmarks across Britain. Now, it's been named one of the UK's most beautiful places, taking the silver medal in new rankings from Big 7 Travel.

"England’s largest national park, the Lake District, is surely one of the UK’s most beautiful areas," the team behind the research explained. "Whether it’s grass-covered fells, England’s highest mountain (Scafell Pike), beautiful lakes such as Ullswater and Windermere or quaint towns like Grasmere and Keswick, the Lake District has it all. Perfect for everyone from hikers to swimmers, photographers to artists and more, the Lake District is easily one of the most beautiful places in the UK."

While it's hardly a hidden gem, it's not difficult to see why the Lake District is so popular with tourists. There are plenty of breathtaking lakes to explore in the region - 16 in fact - with popular highlights including the likes of Lake Windemere, Derwentwater and Ullswater which boast a host of water sports facilities and attractions. (Families may particularly want to bookmark the World of Beatrix Potter which brings the stories of Peter Rabbit and his friends to life).

Then of course that lush green landscape is packed with everything from scenic strolls to epic hiking trails, depending on how far you want to cover in your hiking boots. Oh, and the region is renowned for the many, many brilliant pubs where you can warm up by a fire, tuck into a hearty roast and enjoy a well-deserved drink after a busy day of exploring.

As for where to stay, there's a plethora of accommodation to choose from, with the likes of Sykes Holiday Cottages and Holidaycottages.co.uk both offering up some brilliant options that look like the stuff of storybooks, or if you fancy treating yourself to a hotel stay, TripAdvisor has a handy guide to some of the best cheap Lake District hotels you'll want on your radar.

Meanwhile, if you're after more staycation inspiration then you could of course head to the UK's most beautiful destination in the rankings. That accolade went to the Queen's View in the Scottish Highlands, a picturesque viewing point that overlooks Loch Tummel. One of its most famous visitors, Queen Victoria, arrived at the site in 1866 and reportedly assumed that the location was named after her. (In reality, It is thought that it was named after Isabella, Robert the Bruce’s first wife, who lived more than 500 years before Victoria’s visit).

You can see the top 10 rankings below...

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Is there a destination you think deserved to be in the top 10 rankings? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com