I should probably admit that I am exactly the sort of person who falls for a tourist trap.Show me a picturesque harbour, a headline declaring somewhere 'Britain's prettiest village', or an Instagram Reel featuring somebody twirling around a cobbled street, and I'll probably be halfway to booking my tickets. The problem is that reality doesn't always match the fantasy. I've lost count of the number of times I've arrived somewhere after a three-hour drive feeling ridiculously excited, only to spend the next hour trying to find a parking space, wondering why my hotel room costs the same as a weekend in Rome and queueing behind 50 other people to take the same photo.In Cromer, I remember paying so much for fish and chips that I genuinely checked the receipt twice because I was convinced there had been a mistake. On a trip to Roslin to visit the world-famous Rosslyn Chapel, I spent so long sitting in traffic that by the time I arrived, I was ready to turn around and go home again.Ironically, some of my favourite places in Britain have been the ones I discovered completely by accident. The harbour town I stopped in because I needed a coffee. The village I visited because every hotel in the famous hotspot was fully booked. The beach I found after taking a wrong turn. They're often prettier, friendlier and considerably cheaper than the destinations splashed across every travel supplement and social media feed where the locals look at you with a mix of loathing and disgust.So before you spend a small fortune squeezing into Britain's most over-hyped hotspots this summer, might I recommend these hidden gems instead? The Wharf street view and Sloop Inn medieval pub in St Ives, CornwallAvoid: St Ives, Cornwall Instead, go to Porthleven. The picturesque town of Porthleven near Helston in Cornwall This might be controversial but you couldn't pay me to spend a weekend in St Ives, especially on a 34C June day. Yes, the water is beautiful, but getting there can feel like an endurance event. The traffic is legendary and, once you've arrived, you find yourself shuffling shoulder to shoulder through narrow streets, wondering why you're stressed on what is supposed to be a relaxing break.Porthleven, meanwhile, feels like Cornwall before everyone discovered Cornwall. Fishing boats bob in the harbour, the restaurants are excellent, and there is still a delicious sense that you've stumbled across somewhere that belongs to locals first and tourists second.Avoid: Padstow, Cornwall Instead, go to Fowey. A view of the Cornish town of Fowey I have never quite understood the hysteria around Padstow.These days, it can feel as though you're paying a premium simply because someone famous once cooked there; accommodation prices are eye-watering, restaurant reservations can require military-level planning, and there is a slightly performative feel to the whole experience.Fowey has all the romance, the pretty waterfront views and the fabulous food of Padstow, but somehow feels infinitely more genuine. It is elegant without being self-important and chic without trying too hard.Avoid: Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds Winchcombe is what people imagine the Cotswolds will be likeInstead, go to Winchcombe in Gloucestershire. At times, Bourton-on-the-Water can feel like someone created a Disney version of an English village. Everyone has their phones pointed at the same landmarks, gift shops seem to outnumber locals, and there are moments when you wonder whether anybody actually lives there at all.Winchcombe is what people imagine the Cotswolds will be like. Honey-coloured cottages, lovely independent shops and beautiful countryside, all without feeling as though you've walked onto a film set.Avoid: Brighton, East SussexInstead, go to Rye. Mermaid Street in Rye is one of England's most picturesque cobbled lanes Brighton devotees may never forgive me for saying this, but I think the city is massively oversold as a romantic seaside escape.It is fun and full of character, but it can also be noisy, hectic and, in parts, rather scruffy. If you're dreaming of a glamorous coastal weekend, the reality can be somewhat less sophisticated than the brochures suggest.Rye is another story entirely. It is the sort of place where you half expect to spot Kate Winslet walking around a cobbled corner carrying a basket of flowers. It is impossibly pretty, wonderfully atmospheric and almost aggressively charming.Avoid: Bath, SomersetInstead, go to Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire is well-known for its canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurantsI know Bath is considered one of Britain's most beautiful cities, but sometimes it can feel as though you're paying London prices to visit an extremely pretty museum.Hotel prices can be eye-watering, restaurants don't come cheap, and there is a slightly polished, almost stage-set quality to parts of the city. You tick off the Roman Baths, admire the Georgian crescents and then wonder what exactly you're supposed to do next besides spend more money.Bradford-on-Avon, in contrast, feels like the sort of place people think they're booking when they reserve a weekend in Bath. There are golden buildings, lovely riverside walks, and independent cafés where you can happily while away an afternoon. It has all the charm and none of the pressure to optimise every minute of your itinerary.Avoid: Windermere and Bowness, Lake DistrictInstead, go to Cartmel in Cumbria. The River Eea flowing through Cartmel, Cumbria People head to Windermere dreaming of peace, tranquillity and long walks in nature. The frustrating reality can sometimes be traffic jams, packed pavements and queues for boat trips.During peak season, it can feel surprisingly commercial. There are moments when you're looking at souvenir shops and waiting for parking spaces and wondering where exactly the serenity of the Lake District has gone.Cartmel is everything I want from a Cumbrian escape. It is sophisticated but not flashy, foodie without being pretentious and surrounded by breathtaking countryside.There are beautiful stone cottages, fantastic restaurants and a wonderfully relaxed pace of life. You leave feeling rested rather than as though you've spent a weekend navigating logistics.Avoid: Salcombe, Devon Instead, go to Dartmouth. Bayard's Cove, in Dartmouth pictured on a sunny daySalcombe increasingly feels like the Hamptons of Devon - which is wonderful if you happen to own a yacht and don't mind spending extraordinary sums of money on lunch.For everyone else, it can feel slightly intimidating. Accommodation prices are astronomical, parking is expensive, and there is an exclusivity to the place that can make you feel as though you've accidentally wandered into a members' club.Dartmouth has all the maritime glamour but none of the snobbery. The waterfront is gorgeous, the food scene is excellent, and the whole place has a quietly elegant feel. It manages to be chic and welcoming at the same time, which is a surprisingly rare combination.Avoid: Edinburgh, Scotland Instead, go to North Berwick in East Lothian. A view over the East Lothian town of North BerwickI adore Edinburgh, but I have to confess that I find it exhausting during the Fringe festival. Hotel prices seem to enter another dimension, restaurants become difficult to book, and the historic centre gets so busy that even buying a coffee can start to feel like an administrative task. There is so much happening that you can end up needing a holiday to recover from your holiday.North Berwick, on the other hand, is worth every bit of the detour. Half an hour from the capital, it has beautiful sandy beaches, colourful shopfronts, fantastic seafood and one of the most spectacular coastal settings in Britain.Watching the sunset over Bass Rock with an ice cream in hand is one of those simple moments that remind you why you booked a staycation in the first place.