Five British Towns With the Strangest Histories
- jamiecrow2
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Britain is full of beautiful towns—but some come with histories so strange they sound completely made up. From plague villages and smuggling hideouts to towns built on superstition and scandal, these places prove that the UK’s past is anything but boring.
Here are five British towns where the history is every bit as fascinating as the scenery:
1. Eyam — The Village That Locked Itself Away
In 1665, when the bubonic plague arrived in Eyam, the villagers made an extraordinary decision: they quarantined themselves to stop the disease spreading to nearby communities.
For over a year, no one left. Food was left at boundary stones and disinfected with vinegar coins. Hundreds died, but the sacrifice likely saved thousands more across the region. Today, the village still carries traces of that haunting history, from plague cottages to isolated graves on the hillsides.
2. Whitby — Dracula, Whaling and Gothic Chaos
Whitby already had a dramatic history before vampires entered the picture. Once a booming whaling port, the town grew rich from the dangerous trade before reinventing itself as a seaside destination.
Then came Bram Stoker, who used Whitby as inspiration for Dracula. Its abbey ruins, misty harbour, and gothic atmosphere turned the town into literary legend. Today, it’s a strange (but wonderful) blend of fish-and-chips nostalgia and full-blown vampire culture.
3. Rye — Britain’s Smuggling Capital
With its cobbled streets and postcard-perfect houses, Rye looks charmingly peaceful—but in the 18th century it was notorious for smuggling gangs.
The town’s hidden passages, secret cellars, and proximity to the coast made it ideal for illegal trade. Tea, brandy, and tobacco were moved through the town under cover of darkness, often with the help of corrupt officials. Some old inns still claim to have tunnels once used by smugglers escaping the authorities.
4. Todmorden — UFOs and Mystery
Todmorden has one of the strangest modern legends in Britain. In 1980, local man Zigmund Adamski was found dead under deeply mysterious circumstances after disappearing for several days.
The unexplained case became linked with UFO theories and paranormal speculation, giving the town an enduring reputation for the unusual. Add in ghost stories and eerie moorland surroundings, and Todmorden has become something of a magnet for mystery hunters.
5. Portmeirion — The Fantasy Village That Shouldn’t Exist
Unlike the others on this list, Portmeirion’s strange history is entirely intentional. Built by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between the 1920s and 1970s, the village was designed to look like an Italian coastal town—despite being in North Wales.
Bright colours, Mediterranean-style buildings, and surreal architecture make it feel oddly unreal. It later became famous as the filming location for the cult TV series The Prisoner, adding another layer of eccentricity to an already bizarre place.
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