Best Places to Visit in the UK to Improve Mental Health in 2025

If you have ever felt like running away from your own brain for a bit, you are not alone. Sometimes one of the best things you can do for your mental health is not another app or productivity trick, but a change of place. A different view. Some fresh air that does not smell like public transport.

More and more people are searching for things like places to visit in the UK to improve mental health, calming places in the UK, and wellbeing breaks in nature, and there is a good reason for that.

Research shows that spending time in nature boosts mood, reduces stress, and helps with anxiety and depression symptoms. Even a short dose of outdoor time can make a difference.

Below are some of the best places in the UK for mental wellbeing, from wild mountains to gentle rivers and cosy countryside retreats. Some are perfect for deep calm, others are great if your brain likes a bit of stimulation as well as rest.

You do not need to do anything ambitious at these destinations. You can walk, sit, stare at water, eat snacks, write in a journal and call it a mental health retreat. That absolutely counts.

Why places matter for mental health

Before we get into locations, it is worth saying this clearly: going somewhere beautiful will not magically cure depression or anxiety. But it can give your nervous system a break and remind your brain that calm is possible.

Studies in the UK have found that:

• People who feel connected to nature tend to report better overall well-being and lower levels of depression and anxiety.

• Spending as little as fifteen minutes in nature can improve mood, focus, and stress levels.

• Biodiverse landscapes, with trees, water, birds and varied textures, are especially good for mental health.

So yes, your brain is allowed to feel lighter when you leave the group chat behind and go somewhere with trees, sea air or big views. That is not being dramatic. That is your nervous system doing its thing.

You can also use trips like this in conjunction with other tools, such as therapy, community support, and journaling. If you want a travel-friendly way to process thoughts on the go, the Discovery Journal makes a great mental health companion. It is guided, structured and portable, so you can sit by a lake, sea or park bench and actually unpack what you are feeling instead of just doom scrolling.

Best Places to Visit in the UK to Improve Mental Health:

Lake District, Cumbria Lakes, mountains and a full reset for a busy brain

The Lake District appears in a lot of lists of the most relaxing places in the world, and it is easy to see why. There are mirror-like lakes, huge skies and hills that make your daily stress feel very small in the best possible way.

Popular wellbeing activities in the Lakes include:

• Slow lakeside walks and gentle hikes rather than summit missions • Forest bathing in quiet wooded valleys • Wild swimming in monitored spots for a cold water reset • Yoga, meditation and wellness retreats that use the landscape as a backdrop

If your mind feels cluttered, this is a brilliant place for a mental health walk.

For anxious or overwhelmed brains, there is something very regulating about repetitive movement in a large open space. One foot, then the other. Breath in, breath out. No notifications.

Scottish Highlands and Cairngorms

Big skies, quiet valleys and serious digital detox energy

If you want to feel tiny in a soothing way, head to the Scottish Highlands. A recent travel study ranked the Highlands as one of the most relaxing destinations in the world, with high scores for peacefulness, nature and an easy digital detox.

Here you will find:

• Wide open glens and mountain views that go on for miles

• Dark skies for stargazing, which can be strangely grounding

• Long, quiet walks where you might see more deer than people

• Space to feel feelings without anyone asking what your plans are next year

If your nervous system is fried from constant noise, notifications and decisions, a few days here can feel like pressing reset.

It is also a good place to practise being present. No need to think about five years ahead, just notice the air, the colour of the hills and the sound of your boots on the path. If you take a journal like the Discovery Journal Neurodiverse Version, it can help you map which surroundings make your brain feel most relaxed, especially if you live with ADHD or autism and need calmer sensory environments.

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Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales

Sea air, coastal paths and moving meditation

If water soothes your mind, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales is a wonderful mental health destination. It has dramatic cliffs, long sandy beaches and a coastal path that runs for more than one hundred and eighty miles.

You do not have to walk the whole thing to feel the benefits. Even a short section gives you:

• Fresh sea air and long horizons

• The repetitive rhythm of waves and footsteps

• Wildlife to notice, from seabirds to seals, if you are lucky

• Plenty of quiet coves to sit and simply be

Research shows that time near blue spaces like the sea can be particularly calming and is linked with lower stress levels and improved mood.

If you struggle with overthinking, try turning a section of the coastal path into a moving mindfulness practice. For example, walk for ten minutes focusing simply on sound, then ten minutes focusing on colour, then ten minutes on physical sensations like breeze or warmth. You can note anything that came up later in your journal once you sit down with a snack. Snacks are very important.

The Cotswolds and gentle countryside retreats

Slow living, rolling hills and cosy calm

Sometimes you do not want wild cliffs or big mountains. You just want soft fields, pretty villages and somewhere that feels safe and slow. The Cotswolds are ideal for that.

The area is full of quiet lanes, walking routes, farm shops, cosy cottages and wellness-focused stays. Many retreats here mix nature, yoga, meditation and simple comfort, which can be especially helpful if you feel burnt out rather than adventurous.

What makes the Cotswolds good for mental health breaks:

• Gentle landscapes that feel comforting rather than intense

• Lots of short walks and circular routes rather than challenging hikes

• Spa and wellness options if you want massages, along with meadow views

• A general sense of slow living, which is often the opposite of everyday life

If you go, try building in at least one morning where you do nothing structured. No sightseeing, no rushing. Just wake up, make a drink, and write. Use your journal as a place to ask very simple questions, such as What do I actually need more of? Or what do I need less of? What would feel kind to myself this month?

Sometimes you need quiet surroundings before your brain feels safe enough to answer honestly.

Norfolk Broads and slow water escapes

Boats, birds and a different pace of life

The Norfolk Broads are another excellent option if you are looking for calming places in the UK that support mental health without needing hiking boots. This national park is made up of rivers, lakes and wetlands, with plenty of options for boat trips, gentle walks, and spa stays nearby.

Why the Broads work well as a mental health-friendly destination

• Moving slowly along water is naturally regulating for the nervous system

• Wildlife spotting pulls your attention gently into the present moment

• Cosy cottages and houseboats give you a little nest to retreat to

• There are spa hotels and quiet stays in the surrounding countryside if you want extra comfort

If anxiety makes you restless, a boat-based break can be surprisingly soothing. You have something practical to focus on, like steering or mooring, but you are also surrounded by nature and slower rhythms.

Bring a notebook or your Discovery Journal and use the evenings to track how your mood shifts across the trip. Many people notice that racing thoughts ease once they are away from main roads and bright lights. Writing that down can be a good reminder later when life speeds up again.

Wye Valley and forest retreats

Green therapy for overloaded minds

The Wye Valley, on the border of England and Wales, is an officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has become a quiet favourite for people seeking forest-based wellbeing. There are retreat centres here that focus on yoga, nature connection and simple living among the trees.

If your mental health suffers from constant noise, long commutes or screen overload, a forest retreat can feel like someone has turned your brain volume down.

You might:

• Join guided forest bathing sessions

• Walk woodland trails with no particular destination

• Sit by a fire and notice how your thoughts slow down

• Spend time offline without feeling guilty about it

There is growing evidence that spending time in varied natural environments, especially forests, is linked with lower stress and better mood.

If you enjoy journaling, the woods are a great backdrop for reflective writing. Use prompts like "what feels heavy that I can put down here? " What do I want to take back home from this feeling of calm?"

Writing outdoors rather than at your usual desk can unlock completely different thoughts.

Sidmouth and the slow seaside, Devon

A calmer coastal town when you are tired of noise

If big loud resorts are your idea of stress, try somewhere gentler like Sidmouth in East Devon. It is an old seaside town with dramatic red cliffs on the Jurassic Coast, a relaxed pebble beach and a calmer atmosphere than a lot of busy seaside spots.

What makes Sidmouth good for mental wellbeing

• Coastal walks with beautiful cliff views and fresh sea air

• A quieter seafront without arcades blaring at full volume

• Plenty of tearooms and small shops for pottering rather than rushing

• Easy day trips to nature reserves and a famous donkey sanctuary if you need donkey therapy, which frankly we all do at some point

This is the kind of place where you can sit with a hot drink, listen to the waves and actually hear yourself think. Again, the combination of gentle movement, water, and time away from daily responsibilities can give your mind space to reset.

City-based calm: green spaces, culture and short nature breaks

Not everyone can head off to mountains or coasts, and that is completely valid. The good news is that you can still improve your mental health without going far, especially if you live in or near a city.

Research shows that even short visits to urban parks or small green spaces can significantly boost mood and reduce stress.

Some ideas for mental health-friendly city breaks in the UK

• Bath: Thermal spa culture, walkable streets, river paths and surrounding hills. Great if you like a bit of history and architecture with your self-care.

• Norwich: A relaxed small city that sits close to the Broads National Park, combining urban comforts with easy access to walks and water.

• London parks: Even in the busiest city, places like Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath or smaller pocket parks give your brain a real dose of green. Bring your journal, sit under a tree and let your thoughts catch up with you.

Do not underestimate small doses. Fifteen minutes in a park can genuinely help reset stress levels, especially if you leave your phone in your bag and give your senses something real to focus on.

A few gentle reminders

Travelling for your mental health is a privilege, and not everyone can afford big trips. If you cannot reach the Lakes or Cotswolds, remember that the principles are the same wherever you are

• Seek out nature, even if it is a small city park

• Look for water, trees, birds, or open skies

• Permit yourself to slow down

• Take something like the Discovery Journal with you so your thoughts have somewhere to land

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If your mental health is really struggling, places help, but people help too. Charities like the Hub of Hope directory and NHS mental health support are there for when you need more than a walk and a view.