6 Best Travel Destinations for a Staycation in the UK
Holidays abroad are wonderful, but so many of us have long overlooked the natural and urban beauty we can find right on our doorstep. In more recent years, a lot of people have turned their attention to UK staycation destinations, heading to the coastlines, national parks, cities, and mountains of the UK to discover the beauty hidden within the culture and history.
To celebrate the staycation, we've drawn up an itinerary of places to visit in the UK to inspire you and your homebound holiday ideas. So, without further ado, let's hit the trail and discover for ourselves the UK’s fantastic collection of super staycation destinations!
1. Explore the Beaches of West Wittering
Image source: Cabin and Castles
We Brits love a good beach, and while many of us would ordinarily be seeking sun and sand in European hotspots like Spain and Greece, our little island has just as many beautiful shorelines to explore.
A favourite beach staycation in the UK is West Wittering in West Sussex, where boundless golden sands stretch for miles against a backdrop of Atlantic blue. This coastal spot has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of Chichester Harbour, and has been awarded both the Blue flag and Seaside Award for its remarkable views and high environmental and safety standards.
Just down the coast from Portsmouth, this bit of coastline along the British Channel is easy to get to from London and is brimming with tasteful accommodation for your seaside getaway.
2. Hike the Trails of Snowdonia
Dense with myth and legend, exuding fairytale magic in every valley, there are few places as beautiful and memorable for hiking enthusiasts in the UK as the incredible Snowdonia National Park.
Watched over by the indomitable Snowdon at the heart of the park, the Snowdonia region lives long in the memory of those who visit this part of Wales, and the host of hiking paths that snake up the peaks and through the verdant forests offer different challenges for different levels of hikers.
A rise in the number of rented holiday properties in the region makes it easier than ever before to spend a weekend uncovering the beauty of North Wales. If you've got the time, then head up through the country and out towards the sublime coastlines that stretch all the way along from Chester, through Llandudno and finally out to the mystical isle of Anglesey.
3. City Life in London
Anyone who lives in London knows that it has a reputation as one of the best cities in the world, and for a very good reason. There’s simply so much going on in the English capital, and that's putting it mildly.
If you live outside London, visiting for your staycation opens up the city to you, giving you ample opportunity to explore its famed restaurant scene, catch a play at one of its iconic theatres, or wander along its world-famous shopping streets. Harrods, Madame Tussauds, the gardens of Kew, the museums, the galleries, the palaces, the parks—you can pick any street in central London and it'll take you to somewhere worth visiting.
Thanks to the London Underground, generally you can find accommodation anywhere in the city that's close to a tube station—giving you the flexibility to explore London exactly how you want to.
4. Village Hopping in the Cotswolds
The beautiful British countryside is the perfect balm for those who live or work in small spaces in big cities. A slower way of life, furnished with beguiling villages, rolling meadows, and charming countryside walks, awaits you in the country, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the bucolic Cotswolds, spanning the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire.
The Cotswold Hills make up the majority of this attractive part of the south-west of England, and the hills themselves form a neat centrepiece to a region that’s a quaint postcard from an idyllic British past.
Hiring out a cottage here for a few days to unwind and relax in a tranquil corner of the UK is a great way to recuperate. Be sure to travel by car if you do visit, as the Cotswolds are famed for their pretty villages, and a vehicle will help you get to them without much hassle.
5. Historic Charm in Edinburgh
No list of staycation destinations in the UK would be complete without a visit to Scotland and its illustrious capital, Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a wonderful city, packed to the brim with Scottish hospitality, remarkable architecture and enough history to fill a thousand history books.
Presided over by the regal Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh is a treasure trove of historical sights from every century of its existence, from its initial status as a Bronze Age settlement to its current manifestation as the 'Athens of the North'.
There's a long list of things to do and see here, but we'd highly recommend a visit to Calton Hill to start with. This viewpoint is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, overlooking the city and providing a sublime panorama of the streets below.
6. Watersports in Pembrokeshire
In the far south-west part of Wales, miles below the heady heights of Snowdonia, lies the incredible coastline of Pembrokeshire and one of the country's fi nest coastal national parks, the Pembrokeshire National Park.
Home to fishing villages carved into towering cliffs, sweeping golden beaches and fantastic populations of coastal wildlife, the Pembrokeshire National Park is striking and gorgeous. It’s also a renowned site for watersports, including surfing, kite-surfing, windsailing, coasteering and more—making it an excellent choice for a staycation spot for the adrenaline enthusiasts out there.
A popular holiday spot, there's a lot of accommodation close to the shoreline, but we recommend bringing a car to get you to some of the most remote spots in the county.
Be Close to the Action With Berkeley Group
Staycations are increasing in popularity, and it’s no surprise given the wealth of stunning and historic locations we get to enjoy here in the UK.
However, there really is no place like home, and if you're looking for a permanent change of scenery, Berkeley Group has a range of new homes and developments in some of the UK’s most iconic towns and cities, including London, Bath, Reading, and more. Explore our available properties or get in touch today.