Ross on Wye has been named as one of the ‘can’t miss’ towns in the UK in a new list compiled by World Atlas, which praises the town for its ‘charm, historical significance, and scenic setting’.

Highlighting the town in its top eight unmissable UK destinations, the international website says Ross is 'the ideal choice if your idea of the picture-perfect English town involves cathedral spires soaring above the rooftops of a pastoral riverside townscape’.

Also getting a mention is the Parish Church of St Mary which it says ‘dominates the skyline and features notable artwork and sculpture’.

The entry also points visitors in the direction of the historic Market House, built in the 1650s which ‘stands at the centre of town on stone pillars and remains one of the most recognisable buildings in Ross on Wye’.

The ruins of Wilton Castle are also deemed worthy of a visit with the reporting saying that the ‘crumbling 12th-century fortification almost overrun by its own gardens, promises to fire the imagination with an air of mystery and historical gravity’.

The list also gives a nod to the town’s history saying ’it’s supposedly the birthplace of domestic tourism in England, and the subject of the first tour guide published in the country’s history’. The Wye Valley itself also is pick out for praise with the guide saying it ‘offers famously dramatic river scenery’.

“Whether they’re country scenes out of a pastoral landscape painting or medieval market towns straight out of a fairytale, these can’t-miss English towns have one thing in common: all of them offer a window into a long-gone past. Visiting any of these eight towns is a step outside of the rush and concrete of modern urban life, and a treat that’s not to be missed on any visit to England. And with most located only a short train ride or drive from London, there’s no reason not to fit an escape from modernity into your itinerary,” international travellers are advised by the popular tourist guide.

Other towns featured in the list include Aylesford in Kent which claims the title of England’s oldest village, boasting a medieval priory and Neolithic burial sites. Further west, the Cotswolds feature the picturesque Bibury, famous for its iconic 14th-century Arlington Row cottages, and Lacock, a crowd-free alternative lacking modern streetlights whose historic streets and abbey frequently double as film sets. In Essex, Finchingfield stands out as an exceptionally photogenic village complete with a central duck pond and summer lavender blooms.

Heading north to the Yorkshire Dales the guide highly recommend a visit to Grassington, a cobblestoned market town celebrated for its traditional agricultural charm and television fame while in Lincolnshire, Stamford shifts from cozy charm to stately grandeur, displaying five medieval churches and the magnificent Elizabethan Burghley House.

Finally, Rye in East Sussex offers coastal allure, captivating visitors with its steep, timber-lined Mermaid Street and medieval fortifications. Rich in heritage, each town offers a portal into England's pastoral past.