I've been to the Cotswolds many times, but don't get the hype. As a Brit, I suggest visiting these 5 spots instead.

"When my husband and I were deciding where to go on our minimoon, we thought the Cotswolds would be perfect. The rural area to the west of England is known for its quintessential countryside charm: brown stone cottages, cosy pubs, and rolling hills. We'd both visited a few times and enjoyed it. But when we found ourselves struggling to move for tourists with selfie sticks (apparently still a thing) and paying £16 ($22) for a coffee and a very disappointing grilled cheese, we realized the area might have become a victim of its own success."

"We still had fun on our minimoon in the Cotswolds - walking through the quiet countryside was lovely, our hotel was fantastic, and we enjoyed the shops and cafes in Cirencester, one of the larger towns in the area. But the towns and villages that are now known as being chocolate-box-charming were far from it, in my opinion, because they were so busy. In my experience, there are plenty of other parts of the UK with equal appeal and without what felt to me like masses of tourists and inflated prices. Here are my favourite places to visit for rural British charm."

"Rutland and south Leicestershire in the East Midlands is known as "the Notswolds" for its Cotswold-esque charm - without as many tourists and high prices. Trust me, I grew up there. Less than an hour by train from London, Market Harborough in the region is a characterful town with lots of lovely shops and cafes (go to the Garage Bakehouse), and the countryside and villages around it are worth exploring too. Visit Great Bowden for brunch at Bowden Stores, sit in a pub garden s"

The Cotswolds attract wealthy Americans, including high-profile visitors such as Taylor Swift and JD Vance, and are often dubbed the "Hamptons of the UK." The area features brown stone cottages, cosy pubs, rolling hills and quintessential countryside charm. A minimoon can include pleasant countryside walks, a fantastic hotel, and enjoyable shops and cafes in Cirencester, but many villages feel overcrowded, with selfie-stick tourists and inflated prices such as £16 coffees and disappointing food. Quieter alternatives include the New Forest and Rutland and south Leicestershire, known as the "Notswolds," with Market Harborough and nearby villages offering lower crowds and charming local cafes.

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