Known for its scenic landscapes filled with mountains and lakes, the Lake District in Cumbria takes the top spot for luxury destinations in Great Britain. This National Park is for adventure-goers who wish to seek out the natural British landscape, with over 32 highly rated walks over woods and waters to discover and 23 National Trust locations to see including Grasmere, Fell Foot and Wray Castle. 

The Lake District is far from the only National Park in the Defender Destination’s overall top 20 for Great Britain. Other National Parks, such as the Peak District in the north and the New Forest in the south, have an extraordinary number of trails perfect for those seeking a more active holiday.

There may be no better escape for a music fanatic than to the legendary Glastonbury festival. Located around Pilton in Somerset (also featured among the top destinations), the contemporary music and arts festival offers luxurious camping packages and is sure to wow those looking for a harmonious trip. As the official vehicle partner of Glastonbury Festival, it’s no surprise it sets the tone as a Defender Destination.

Of course, traditional choices of British holiday destinations are also seen in the results, with the Cotswolds coming in third, a hotspot particularly known for Michelin-rated restaurants and luxury spa and wellness retreats located among its charming towns and villages. You’ll also find Cornwall on the southwestern coast a tempting Defender Destination, with 58 hiking trails, 17 five-star hotels and 47 National Trust locations.

For a trip with plenty of options, consider the secluded coastal destination of Argyll and Bute in Scotland, which includes plenty of National Trust properties to adventure out to, including the mountain of Ben Lomond and small uninhabited islands around Loch Lomond. If you’re more interested in a tipple or two, Argyll and Bute are known for their whiskey industry, with over twenty different distilleries alongside five-star hotels and high-end restaurants.

With remoteness in mind, isolated locations are available too, and it’s worth diving into Orkney, an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland. With over 5,000 years of history across the islands, these islands are the perfect getaway for those interested in hiking and history, with Neolithic National Trust monuments and many trails to uncover.

Not all destinations have to be so secluded; the capital city of Edinburgh has the most five-star hotels, Michelin-rated restaurants, and wellness retreats among our Scottish destinations.

If you’re looking for a new port of call for golfing, Scotland appears frequently in the top ten for luxury golf resorts. Take a trip to Aberdeenshire, with ten five-star golf courses to spend hours over, including the traditional Royal Aberdeen Golf Course founded in 1780. With Scotland ranking six times in the top ten for golf courses with the highest density of golf courses per population, top scorers include the areas of Aberdeenshire, Shetland, Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, and Fife.

With mountains and valleys to explore in the mainland and a coastline scattered with quiet seaside towns, Wales offers several Defender Destination for those looking to get off the grid. Consider Pembrokeshire in the south-west of Wales, a hotspot for National Trust locations, including the rugged cliffs of Strumble Head and St. Davids, the smallest city in the UK. Escape to this coastal county for a selection of five-star hotels and a handful of spa and wellness retreats, making it the top Defender Destination in the Welsh countryside.

Stop off in the west at Ceredigion, take in the Irish Sea and drive to the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Alternatively, explore the rich island of Anglesey – protected in the UK as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – which is rich with Welsh speakers and five-star hotels to unwind at. 

If a hiking trail appeals to you, consider Gwynedd in the northwest. With 14 unforgettable hiking trails, the Snowdonia National Park and the highest mountain in England and Wales, Mount Snowdon.

The capital city of Cardiff also features in our top ten, with over 34 spa and wellness choices as well as six Michelin-featured restaurants to explore whilst you take in the bustle of the city centre. 

For the gourmands who love to travel, there’s a complete range of Michelin Guide Defender Destinations likely to tickle your tastebuds as well as satisfying your adventurous disposition. 

Taking the top spot is the overall British Defender Destination favourite of the Lake District, which has 18 Michelin Guide restaurants. Highlights include Askham Hall, a Grade I listed 13th-century building with a cosy, Michelin star restaurant. Or dive into Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume – famous for its three Michelin stars – with a seasonally changing menu and a nearby farm supporting local produce.

Not too far from London, you’ll find the Cotswolds, with 25 Michelin Guide restaurants. Here, you will find the tiny village of Castle Combem, which hides two Michelin restaurants despite a population of only 350 people. Bybrook, which holds a Michelin star for its tranquil and opulent country manor eatery, and the Castle Inn, located in a 12th Century pub, both feature in the Michelin guide and make the perfect pitstop in any Cotswolds getaway.

Other Michelin-featured restaurants worth exploring are in the Buckinghamshire town Marlow, the Peak District National Park and Cornwall, which has a vast 37 Michelin-featured eateries. 

The Defender Destination Guide analysed districts and subdivisions within England, Scotland and Wales with local population data to create a rank of the best destinations in Great Britain. Population data for each area was collated from the Office of National Statistics and the City Population Index. 

Using data from TripAdvisor, the National Trust, and the National Trust for Scotland, we calculated the number of specific types of amenities in the areas of each local district. 

Each amenity was ranked individually by 'population per amenity' and then combined to measure the overall index score, to find the most remote locations which contain the highest number of high-rated amenities. 

Amenities considered included 5-star hotels, 5-star golf clubs, Michelin-rated restaurants, spa and wellness facilities rated 4 stars and over, hiking trails rated 4 stars and over and the number of local National Trust locations.