A beautiful English county, full of pretty towns, is often snubbed by tourists who don’t realise how similar it is to the Cotswolds . Located on the border with Wales, the county in the West of England is located just 25 miles from the Cotswolds, which is famous for its charming villages and incredible countryside views.

The Cotswolds offers classic English heritage, walking trails and artisan shops and markets. However, Herefordshire, despite arguably offering similar perks, receives significantly fewer visitors, at around six million each year versus the Cotswolds’ 25 million tourists. The West England county offers activities like kayaking and canoeing and is home to the fifth longest river in the UK.

Herefordshire is home to over 200 villages, which each offer a quintessential British charm. Weobley, a Herefordshire village which is nicknamed a ‘black and white’ village after its half-timbered houses, was recently transformed into Stratford-upon-Avon for the new Hollywood film, Hamnet.

Fans of Hamnet can see the exterior of Shakespeare’s family home in the film by visiting The Wobbly Badger café. It is predicted that the new film may attract more tourists to the tiny Herefordshire town. The county has also been home to a Netflix series set, with Sex Education being filmed in Symonds Yat East.

While the town includes very few shops, Weobley offers various cafés, historical architecture and charming tea rooms. The town’s most popular tearooms and cafés include Lucy’s Tearoom and The Wobbly Badger.

Herefordshire is also well-known for its cider production, which has been ongoing since the 17th century, with its acres of orchards that cover the countryside.Tourists can visit the Museum of Cider in the heart of Hereford or follow one of the county’s famous cider circuits, with dedicated cycling loops offering routes around the several orchards and breweries in the county.

At Westons Cider Mill in Ledbury, visitors can sample the latest flavours with tours of the cider mill costing adults just £15.

The county offers other small villages to visit like Pembridge or Eardisland, which sits on the banks of the River Arrow and resembles Bourton-on-the-Water. Other small areas include Dilwyn, Orleton and Leominster.

Pembridge, Herefordshire, offers stunning natural attractions like Westonbury Mill Water Gardens and the chance to visit the medieval St Mary The Virgin church, built in the 14th century. The village also features Dunkerton Cider Mill, a Tudor style barn that offers award-winning ciders.

Eardisland offers a quiet getaway with idyllic scenes for a riverside stroll and two charming pubs. Also home to Arrow Bank Country Holiday Park, visitors can book to stay in the heart of nature, by booking a lodge there or planning a glamping trip.

Tourists can also visit Leominister, praised for its antique shops. Leominister is ideal for those seeking a city break with rural beauty. For fishing aficionados, the village offers Docklow Pools, reportedly established as the oldest fishery in the country.