I travel the world in search of fairytale destinations – here are 12 of the most magical locations I’ve discovered
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Have you ever wished fairytale locations existed in real life?
Instagrammer Kelly Prins-Wright has news for you – they do! And she’s on a mission to help you discover some of the most magical places.
Kelly, from Hampshire, has built a following of 1.3 million people on Instagram thanks to posting magical clips of fairytale locations ‘that feel like they’re out of a storybook’.
She continues, “My goal is to create content that inspires people to travel to these locations.
‘During the pandemic I read a lot as a form of escapism. And I imagined these fairytale destinations in my head, wishing they existed in real life. But there really are so many fairytale destinations around the world – so when travel was safe again, I made it my mission to seek them out.”
Here we showcase some of Kelly’s most enchanting clips and images, from an enchanting English village to a ‘swoon-worthy’ village. Oregon beach and forests in Ireland with a beautiful ‘dark fairytale aesthetic’. Scroll down and discover your next fantasy getaway…
THORNBURY CASTLE, ENGLAND: See the real castle near Bristol where King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed. “Thornbury Castle is one of my favorite magical places,” says Kelly. ‘I’m obsessed with castles and can I ever stay in one? Sign me up!’
Kelly is pictured above strolling along Circus Lane in Edinburgh. If she could star in any fairytale movie, what would it be? “Well, The Princess Diaries 3 has been officially confirmed, so I’m definitely available,” she said
BALLINASTOE WOODS, IRELAND (LEFT): “Ireland is one of my favorite places to keep visiting,” says Kelly. ‘I’ve even worked on Castle Crawl road trip guides across Ireland – creating itineraries to help readers plan trips around castles on the island of Ireland and see all the magic it has to offer. But I particularly like Ballinastoe Woods because it has more of a dark, fairytale aesthetic.’ EGUISHEIM, FRANCE (RIGHT): “Wow, Alsace is full of fairytale towns and villages,” says Kelly. ‘Eguisheim specifically has a fountain in the town center that reminds me of the opening scenes of Beauty and the Beast when Belle wanders through her village. It’s such a friendly, beautiful place too. We spent the night at a local hotel and loved it’
WIBLINGEN ABBEY, GERMANY (LEFT): “A big part of my mission to visit fairytale destinations around the world includes beautiful libraries,” says Kelly. ‘Books are such a source of inspiration to me, which is why magical libraries are essential on my travels. I could spend hours in this library.’ LACOCK ABBEY, WILTSHIRE (RIGHT): This location was used for several Harry Potter film shoots. “So many magical places inside,” says Kelly
MANOR HOUSE HOTEL, CASTLE COMBE, ENGLAND: ‘It’s considered one of England’s most beautiful villages and you can see why,’ says Kelly. ‘The village has a beautiful bridge over a stream, streets lined with houses and super cozy pubs. The Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe is another fairytale place to stay. The great thing about Castle Combe is that it is beautiful all year round. My recommendation is to visit early in the morning or late at night as it can get quite busy here in the middle of the day’
RYDAL HALL, THE LAKE DISTRICT (LEFT): Kelly is pictured here taking a ‘pleasant autumn walk’ at a small stone house near Rydal Waterfall, in the grounds of Rydal Hall. CANNON BEACH, OREGON (RIGHT): “Oregon may not be your usual first thought when it comes to fairytale destinations,” says Kelly. ‘But the scenery here is breathtaking! Cannon Beach is iconic for its mystical sunrises and sunsets. It also reminds me a lot of Twilight!’
THE DARK HEDGES, COUNTY ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND (LEFT): This beautiful row of beech trees is called the ‘Kingsroad’ in Game of Thrones. Kelly recommends visiting in the fall when the colors are “so beautiful.” She notes that cars are prohibited here. She adds: ‘If you’re visiting there’s a car park at the end of the road and it’s a super easy walk down.’ CASTELFALFI, TUSCANY (RIGHT): Kelly took this photo at the Castelfalfi resort and described it as ‘dreamy’
GOODWIN’S COURT, LONDON: In reference to the Harry Potter location, Kelly captioned this image with the question: “Knockturn Alley, anyone?”