Planning a road trip to mark the end of summer? It turns out you don’t have to leave the UK to visit some of the world’s most famous international destinations (kind of).
Many Brits are opting for UK-based staycations or caravanning or camping adventures due to airport chaos and cancellations.
To help make choosing a destination easier (and a little more exotic), the team at LeaseElectricCar.co.uk have identified some must-see British locations that share their name with international hotspots.
Of course, don’t expect these locations to bear any resemblance to their international counterparts beyond their name. However, they are still definitely worth a visit and offer a change of scenery from other popular UK holiday destinations.
From Barcelona in Cornwall to Columbia in Tyne and Wear, why not make an international road trip the theme of your next touring adventure?
Here are seven UK destinations with international counterparts.
Moscow, Ayrshire
Sharing its name with Russia’s largest city, it’s been suggested that this Scottish hamlet got its name due to the prisoners and refugees that lived there during the Crimean War.
Combine a visit to Moscow with a road trip around Scotland, and don’t forget to check out some of the delightful beaches around the coast.
Barcelona, Cornwall
Nothing like the vibrant and lively cosmopolitan city in Spain, Cornwall’s Barcelona got its name due to a Spanish native who saved a famous resident from a shipwreck disaster in the 1800s.
As one of the most picturesque counties in the UK, a trip to Barcelona is easily paired with a road trip along the Cornish coast.
Egypt, Bradford
Located in West Yorkshire, just a short distance from its North African counterpart, Egypt is thought to have been named in commemoration of Napoleon’s 18th-century invasion of its namesake.
Although there’s not much to see in this tiny hamlet, the Yorkshire Dales is an area of outstanding beauty.
Florence, Staffordshire
Although you’ll find no Renaissance masterpieces here, Florence is a charming suburb that’s well worth the visit.
However, it lies near the Peak District, which offers quite another kind of beauty.
Combine your visit with some hiking or even wild swimming if you’re feeling adventurous.
Palestine, Hampshire
It doesn’t have much in common with Jerusalem, and its name remains a mystery to this day, but this charming village is worth visiting if you’re heading to the south of England.
California, Norfolk
This quaint seaside town gets its name from some 16th-century gold coins that were discovered on its shores. The lovely beach is a great spot to take the whole family.
Columbia, Tyne and Wear
Columbia is located in the town of Washington in the north of England, which was home to George Washington’s ancestors. Other areas in England that have transatlantic connections include New York in Tyneside and Cleveland in County Durham.
Image credit: Hamish Duncan / Unsplash
