With Brits looking at planning their next holiday, they don’t need to look any further than their own doorstep.

All the way from Moscow in Ayrshire to California in Norfolk, there are plenty of international destinations with a UK döppleganger.

A spokesperson for LeaseElectricCar.co.uk said: “It’s surprising the number of places in the UK that share their names with other famous hotspots from around the globe – it’s especially interesting when you delve deeper into the history and origins of these names.

“Although many of them bear little resemblance to the well recognised locations, they could still be worth a visit as they’re rich in history and provide an interesting change to other popular holiday destinations in the UK.”

LeaseElectricCar.co.uk has researched 15 UK destinations with international place names. Here is a taster of eight UK ‘international’ staycations – check out their blog page for the full list.

Moscow, Ayrshire

Ayr County Council suggested this hamlet in Scotland got its name during the Crimean War when there were a number of prisoners and refugees living there.

Barcelona, Cornwall

Vastly different from the cosmopolitan city in Spain, Barcelona was supposedly named after a Spanish native who rescued a member of the Trelawney family from a shipwreck disaster in the 1800s.

Egypt, Bradford

This hamlet in West Yorkshire housed a successful quarrying industry during the 1800’s. It is thought the name may be a commemoration of the 18th Century invasion of Egypt by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Boston, Lincolnshire

Home to the largest parish church in England, this market town in Lincolnshire was given its name originally by the Bostonians. They named settlements across the world with the same name, most notably, Boston, Massachusetts.

Florence, Staffordshire

Florence is a quaint suburb in Stoke-on-Trent which was named after a colliery owned by Florence Colliery Co. LTD. There is very little resemblance to Tuscany’s most populous city but still well worth the visit.

Palestine, Hampshire

The name origin of this village in Hampshire remains a mystery to this day. Some think it could be linked to the Egypt Expeditionary Force – which included two battalions from Hampshire– that seized the south of Palestine in 1917-18.

California, Norfolk

A seaside resort that gets its name from a handful of 16th Century gold coins that were found on its beach in 1848 – this was during the California gold rush, hence the name.

Columbia, Tyne and Wear

Located in the town of Washington – which was home to US president George Washington’s ancestors – is just one of the areas in the North of England with a transatlantic cousin. Others include New York in Tyneside, Richmond in North Yorkshire and Cleveland in County Durham.