Advertisement
Have you ever wished that fairytale places existed in real life?
Instagramer Kelly Prince-Wright has news for you: they have it! And it has the mission of helping you discover some of the most magical places.
Kelly, from Hampshire, has gained 1.3 million followers on Instagram by posting magical clips of fairytale locations “that look like they’ve been taken straight from the pages of a storybook”.
He continues: ‘My goal is to create content that inspires people to travel to these places.
‘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 that exist around the world, so once it was safe to travel again, I set out to seek them out.”
Here, we showcase some of Kelly’s most fascinating clips and images, from a fascinating English village to a “swoon-worthy” location. Oregon Beach and forests in Ireland with a beautiful “dark fairy tale aesthetic.” Scroll down to discover your next imaginary getaway…
THORNBURY CASTLE, ENGLAND: See the royal 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 spend the night in one? Sign me up!’
Kelly is pictured above walking along Circus Lane in Edinburgh. If you could star in any fairy tale movie, what would it be? “Well, The Princess Diaries 3 is officially confirmed, so I’m absolutely available,” he said.
BALLINASTOE WOODS, IRELAND (LEFT): “Ireland is one of my favorite places to keep visiting,” says Kelly. ‘I’ve even been working on Castle Crawl road trip guides across Ireland, creating itineraries to help readers plan trips around the castles on the island of Ireland, as well as seeing all the magic it has to offer. But Ballinastoe Woods is really fun for me because it has a darker fairytale aesthetic.” EGUISHEIM, FRANCE (RIGHT): “Wow, the Alsace region is full of fairytale towns and villages,” says Kelly. ‘ Eguisheim specifically has a fountain in the center of town that reminds me of the opening scenes of Beauty and the Beast when Belle wanders through her town. It’s also a lovely, friendly place. We spent the night in a local hotel and loved it.’
WIBLINGEN ABBEY, GERMANY (LEFT): “My mission to visit fairytale destinations around the world includes beautiful libraries,” says Kelly. ‘Books are a great source of inspiration for me, so magical libraries are essential as part of my travels. I could spend hours in this library. LACOCK ABBEY, WILTSHIRE (RIGHT): This location was used for several Harry Potter film shots. “There are so many magical places inside,” says Kelly
MANOR HOUSE HOTEL, CASTLE COMBE, ENGLAND: It is considered one of the prettiest villages in England and you can see why! The small village has a beautiful bridge over a stream, streets lined with cottages and super cozy pubs. The Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe is also a fairytale place. The beauty of Castle Combe is that it is magnificent all year round. My recommendation is to visit early in the morning or late at night, as it gets quite crowded here in the middle of the day.
RYDAL HALL, LAKE DISTRICT (LEFT): Kelly is seen here taking a “cozy autumnal walk” by a small stone house near Rydal Waterfall in the grounds of Rydal Hall. CANNON BEACH, OREGON (RIGHT): “Oregon may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to fairytale destinations,” Kelly says. But the scenery here is swoon-worthy! 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 impressive row of beech trees appeared in Game of Thrones as the ‘Kingsroad’. Kelly recommends visiting in the fall, when the colors are “so beautiful.” He points out that cars are prohibited here. He adds: “If you are visiting, there is a car park at the end of the road and it is very easy to walk to.” 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?’