I don’t know about you, but with the current Coronavirus Pandemic and advice to stay in the UK to contain the disease, I’m not that hopeful about trips abroad this summer. I’d love to be all “Yeah don’t belive the hype, you do you” like a lot of travel influencers at the moment. But to be honest I feel we have a responsibility to avoid spreading Coronavirus any further and to protect the more vulnerable members of our society.
So this week, I’ve changed course a little and decided to research UK staycations for our summer adventures this year. Things may change, but as they are, it looks like it’s going to be all about the UK in 2020. And that’s cool! The UK is awesome and a lot of us don’t explore it as much as we should.
So today I have a nice list of some awesome weekends away you can take in our very own country. Hashtag staycation. Let me know if I’ve missed any!
Awesome Weekends Away in the UK
A Cottage in The Cotswolds
I’ve done a lot of exploring in The Cotswolds lately and it’s just such a beautiful part of the country. Lovely countryside, pub lunches and cute cottages, I definitely recommend a visit. Road trip around the little villages like I did last summer (I liked Lower Slaughter and Bourton-On-The-Water), or if you want to avoid the crowds, check out Log House Holidays for a cosy log cabin on a lake. (So cute there!)
Quirky Brighton Getaway
I went to Brighton a lot as a kid so it’s a special place for me. Head down to the coast for cool boutiques and restaurants in the lanes, amazing street art and quite a quirky scene. Definitely check out Artist Residence if you want somewhere cool to stay, and make sure you experience Brighton nightlife. Oh and no trip to Brighton is complete without stopping at Choccywoccydoodah.
Seaside Dream in Margate
Another seaside spot, Margate has a different vibe to Brighton. It’s quite traditional with a sandy beach, arcades on the beach front and decent fish and chips. But it also has an alternative side with amazing vintage shopping (I love Peony Vintage) and the very cool Margate Retro Fort Yard Road that houses old fairground rides and signs. And of course there’s the infamous Dreamland amusement park with fun rides and even a roller disco!
Belfast City Break
No UK roundup is complete without a little trip across the water to Northern Ireland. And I was very impresed with Belfast when I visited. There’s a lot of cool Irish pubs and quirky bars, the Titanic Museum, lots of cool street art and just lovely people. Stay at House Belfast for the cherry tree bar of dreams and great pancakes at breakfast. And if you’re on a time limit, try a Belfast Black Cab Tour for a whistlestop tour of the city from the comfort of a car.
Foodie Heaven in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has a lot going for it – cobblestone streets, a great big castle, Harry Potter goodness, the wacky Camera Obscura and the pretty Dean Village. But honestly, the main draw for me is the food. There are just so many cool places to eat in Edinburgh! I recommend a visit to Bread Meats Bread for burgers and poutine, Wee Buddha for some Asian Fusion cuisine and Makar’s Gourmet Mash Bar for, you guessed it, dishes revolving around mash! Ooh and try Panda & Sons – a secret cocktail bar masquerading as a barbers!
London Calling
Ok, it feels a bit obvious, but a weekend away in London (if you’re not from there) is always fun. It’s the kind of city you can find whatever you’re looking for – awesome nightlife, street food at Dinerama, a drag bottomless brunch (LOVE Four Thieves), Junkyard Golf, afternoon tea on a bus (Bustronome), boutique shopping in Camden, visiting Dishoom in Covent Garden, interactive cinema at Prince Charles Cinema… literally the list is endless. And I haven’t even mentioned a touristy landmark.
Explore the Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast stretches right across parts of East Devon and Dorset to form a World Heritage Site worth exploring. The main event is Durdle Door but it’s a big area with lots to see and do including the seaside towns of Weymouth and Lyme Regis. Go fossil-spotting, enjoy the beaches, explore the coastal villages, get involved in some outdoor activities and check out Lulworth Cove for a very pretty spot.
Cornwall Beaches
There are so many beaut places to visit in Cornwall. It’s a bit of a trek for a weekend getaway if you’re not in the south, but it’s worth it for the beaches. I didn’t love Newquay when I went to Cornwall (bit rough around the edges) but the Eden Project is a cool day out. My Cornwall bucketlist currently includes eating chips at Padstow, seeing sunset at Land’s End, witnessing the tropical waters of St Ives, and visiting the cute village of Port Isaac.
Beautiful Devon Weekender
On to Devon! Another summer holidays classic. If you’re into sweeping countryside landscapes, Dartmoor is a place you need to hit up. Visit Salcombe for boujie, pastel-hued houses or Clovelly for cobbled streets and decent pubs. The next Devon destination on my list though is Dartmouth. It just looks like a lovely, quintessentially English, seaside town, y’know? Eyeing up The Pink House as we speak…
Lake District Adventure
The Lake District in Cumbria is a National Park with everything you want from an outdoorsy weekender. Walking trails, mountains, valleys, dales, forests, woods and waterfalls. And y’know, lakes. Obvs. Most people start at Windermere but there’s also the town of Hawkshead for a different atmosphere. There are outdoor activities you can do, like cycling or climbing. But if you’re visiting with a family, there is the World Of Beatrix Potter to entertain the little ones, as well as the Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway to ride!
Peak District Adventure
A similar kind of UK outdoorsy weekender awaits you at the Peak District. You’ll find caverns and caves to explore, as well as lots of walking trails. But there are also postcard-perfect villages to visit, with a big arts and crafts scene, pubs and breweries, and regular festivals going on. A great area to check out in the summer.
A Colourful Tour of Portmerion
I actually visited Portmeirion in North Wales for Festival No. 6 a few years ago. But it’s such a unique place that it definitely deserves a UK weekender of its own. It’s a colourful Italian-style village that you wouldn’t expect to find in Wales! Beautiful architecture, pretty fountains and it’s right on the beach, it’s basically a dream. There’s not loads to do there, but it’s lovely to visit the little cafes, wander the gardens and hit the spa if you’re feeling fancy.
Snowdonia Trekking
Another Wales classic weekend away is an adventure to Snowdonia. This is another outdoorsy one and a must-visit for hikers that want to climb Snowdon! There are also cycle routes and fishing trips you can do here. But there’s a lot more to the area, from exploring Snowdonia’s epic coastline and doing a bit of surfing, to exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Caernarfon Castle.
Northumberland Star Gazing
At the very top of England is Northumberland, where you’ll find the historic Hadrian’s Wall separating Scotland from England. It’s a pretty cool attraction and some people like to walk the length of it! (Not me lol.) The countryside is just gorgeous up here and I recommend a stay at Battlesteads, a hotel with both an award-winning restaurant and an on-site observatory. Northumberland is actually a Dark Sky Discovery site which means it’s one of the best places in the UK to go star-gazing! Pretty cool, huh?
Vintage Shopping in Manchester
Ahhh Manchester is such a dream. It’s like a cool London that’s a bit grittier. There’s lots to do here with amazing bars and restaurants. But my favourite thing to do is go vintage shopping in the Northern Quarter. I also love John Rylands Library (you basically feel like you’re at Hogwarts) and the pretty architecture inside the Royal Exchange. Stay at ibis Styles Manchester for a budget hotel that’s a bit quirky.
Bristol Pubs and Bars
Bristol is such a lovely city and is one of my favourite spots for a pub crawl! Whether that’s the nice bars at the harbour or The White Lion pub overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Bristol is a nice city in general with lots of independent shops and restaurants. Visit in August for the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. And if you need a budget place to stay check out Rock and Bowl Hostel.
History and Spa Time in Bath
Bath is a one-of-a-kind city in Somerset with lots of history and incredible Georgian architecture. It’s main attraction is the Roman Baths but there’s lots more to see from the Pulteney Bridge to the Fashion Museum. I totally recommend a visit to Thermae Bath Spa though for a naturally heated rooftop pool and lots of differently scented steam rooms. It’s pretty cool. Check out The Royal Crescent Hotel for a fancy Afternoon Tea. Ooh and The Fudge Kitchen for epic fudge!!
Wander the Historic Oxford
Oxford is a great day out, with tonnes of stuff to do. As a student city, it has great spots for brunch (The Handle Bar does great pancakes) and cool boutiques, as well as cosy pubs (I like Turf Tavern) and a river to punt during the summer. And of course there’s all the university architecture like Radcliffe camera and The Bridge of Sighs. Ooh also check out The Varsity Club for a rooftop bar with banging cocktails.
A New Forest Outdoor Adventure
If you want an easy-going weekender to just chill, the New Forest is for you. Cute B&Bs are spread out throughout the Hampshire district and there are a lot of outdoor activities to get involved in from horse-riding and cycling to archery and zip-lines. And if you’re with kids, of course there’s Peppa Pig World (sounds like hell). There’s also lots of wildlife to see in the New Forest, as well as the coast for low-key lunches by the sea.
Ok, they’re my suggestions for weekends away in the UK, folks! Let me know if any of them have inspired you to take a little staycation in these crazy times. Or let me know if there’s anywhere else you’d recommend, I’m keen to get more ideas!
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