With a landscape as pretty as ours and cities as exciting as ours, it is no wonder that so many UK holidaymakers are starting to choose
Staycations as their holiday of choice. Whether you enjoy a good pampering at a
swanky hotel, getting your walking boots dirty on a good hike or enjoy the company of your best friends on a fun coaching holiday, everything is available to you in the UK. Here are our top 10 staycations to give you a few ideas for your next trip away…
Lake District
The
Lake District needs very little introduction and has long been a favourite of both national and international visitors for years. Its unparalleled beautiful scenery, peaceful lakes, challenging walks, charming town streets and abundance of outdoor activities make it the perfect place to stay no matter your taste in holiday.
Whether you are seeking a hotel, hot tub or cottage break, the Lake District has you covered for all 3 and more with a wide variety of accommodation on offer dotted around the numerous towns and villages. A stay in the busy spots of Kendal or Bowness-on-Windermere are ideal if you like plenty of activities to do whereas somewhere like Grasmere or Ullswater might be more up your street if you prefer a quieter retreat.
London
The capital of England is perhaps the number city for a
UK city break in terms of things to do and see. It is also one of the tourist capitals of the world with major, internationally-famous sights including Big Ben, Tower Bridge, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace and many, many more.
London is far more than just its famous sights though with plenty of activities, bars, restaurants, pubs, cafes, shops and amusements to visit in your time staying in this mega city.
London has a range of accommodation options to choose from, with some of the biggest and most famous
hotels in the country being located here such as The Ritz. B&Bs, hostels and apartments are also great options. If you are here mainly for sightseeing, then we recommend staying relatively close to Westminster. If you are doing a bit of everything, then places like Paddington and Embankment can serve as excellent bases.
Scottish Highlands
The
Scottish Highlands are quite literally a breath of fresh air away from the busy city life that most of us are used to. With stunning lochs, beautiful walks and charming, traditional Scottish towns and villages nestled into the hillsides, this place is certainly not one to miss.
The Scottish Highlands are ideal for not just a cottage break but also for a
coach trip. Maynes Holidays is one of the most popular coach operators in the region and has pick-up points in Scotland on its five-day tour of the Highlands. The tour includes the Victorian spa town of Strathpeffer, Inverness Castle and Drumnadrochit to visit the Loch Ness Centre. There's also a trip to the market town of Dingwall on the last day.
Yorkshire Dales
The
Yorkshire Dales is another stunning section of countryside that the UK has to offer. With rolling green hills, scenic walks and a mixture of sleepy villages and larger cities in the vicinity, the Dales are a superb staycation choice. Relaxing in nature, taking on daring activities or seeing one of the region’s spectacular castles, you will never be short on something to do.
The Yorkshire Dales is home to one of the best
hot tub holidays in the whole of the UK. Swaledale Views has featured on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Favourite View’ and is certainly an unforgettable experience. It can be a little difficult to get a hold of though so try and book well in advance!
Cornwall
Cornwall is one of the UK’s best beach holiday destinations and is home to not just some wonderful beaches but plenty of opportunities to try your hand at a variety of water sports. Although it is known mostly for its gorgeous beaches and its tasty pasties, Cornwall also has a very creative side with Eden Project and Tate St Ives being just two examples.
There are plenty of great places to stay in Cornwall with the coastline filled with quaint and quirky villages eager for your custom. However, you definitely can’t go wrong with a stay in Newquay, St Ives or Falmouth.
Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland is another fabulous city break option and may require more than just a weekend in order to see all of its best bits. The city combines Scottish tradition with modern facilities which make it an extremely charming visit. Edinburgh Castle is the centrepiece of the city and you can learn more about the city and its history on one of the many tours that Edinburgh has to offer. The city also has a vibrant nightlife and phenomenal arts scene.
The best place to stay in
Edinburgh is anywhere around the old city centre. Royal Mile and the Grassmarket are usually the most popular options with some excellent hotel breaks and deals to choose from. If you’re into quirky cafes and restaurants, then Leith may be a good choice for you.
Newcastle
Newcastle is a lively city in the north east of England and although it has long had a reputation for a party weekend, it offers so much more than that. Stroll along the picture-perfect quayside, enjoy some food on Longsands Beach or enjoy some retail therapy in Newcastle’s booming city centre. There is enough in and around this city to keep you busy for more than just a weekend.
If you are here for a party-oriented trip, then a city centre stay is a must with most of the best shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs located in the city centre. However, if you are looking to see more of Newcastle’s natural side, we highly recommend a stay by the beach in somewhere like Tynemouth. There are also bars, cafes and speakeasies here as well as the Metro service to take you to the city centre whenever you want.
Blackpool
It was once one of the most popular holiday destinations with UK residents before the rise of the package-holiday. It has since reinvented itself and combined aspects of what it was loved for - excitement, amusements, great food and beaches - with more modern and rejuvenated aspects. It combines the very best of a beach break, a city break and a coach holiday.
There is perhaps no better place to stay in Blackpool than along its famous promenade. It is lined with budget B&Bs and hotels that are right on the doorstep of where most of the action and attractions are. South Shore and Lytham Saint Annes are also excellent options if you don’t want to be right on top of the main tourist part.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a classic British holiday destination that is most famous for its scenic walks and large music festivals. It only takes 25 minutes to reach from the mainland and picturesque harbour towns and jaw-dropping cliff faces are the norm. It really is the perfect UK Staycation who love the great outdoors and taking part in activities.
If you want to stay by the coast on the Isle of Wight, we recommend you target any of the charming coastal towns of Cowes, Ryde and Yarmouth. If the Hamstead Heritage Coast is towards the top of your to-do list, then Hamstead and Newtown are ideal places to stay.
North Wales
Rounding off this list of fantastic UK staycations is perhaps one of the UK’s best-kept secrets.
North Wales doesn’t often get talked about as much as other places on this list but it certainly matches them all for its scenic landscapes and its ‘chocolate-box’ style villages. It is also arguably the best cottage breaks staycation on this list simply due to the sheer number of amazing cosy cottages to choose from in the region. Not to mention one of the best national parks in Britain (Snowdonia), this place truly is a must-visit.
Any small town or village here is perfect for a cottage break. If you plan on climbing Snowdon, Dolgellau can serve as an excellent base for you. Beaumaris is the one of the best spots from which to explore Anglesey and if you prefer a stay in North Wales with a little more going on, you can’t go wrong with Bangor.