UK Getaway - Where To Go And Stay

UK Getaway - Where To Go And Stay

Don't want to face a plane this year? Maybe you're taking the opportunity to save some money or you might even just want to have a look at what the UK has to offer! Thanks to lockdown restrictions 2020 has become the year to explore all those places close to home that you have heard about but never been to. Whether you have children and are looking to get away in the half term or if you don't and you just can't take another day of sitting in your at home office here are some great destinations that are only a few hours (or less!) drive away..

It might be small but, when it comes to amazing landscapes, world-classĀ attractions and incredible history,Ā the UK canā€™t be beaten. Plus, in an age when weā€™re so conscious of our own environmental impact, adventuring closer to home means swerving plane shame, too.


As of July, hotels,Ā campsites, cabins andĀ treehousesĀ (evenĀ holiday homesĀ with swimming poolsĀ so you can pretend you're on a beach in the caribbean when you shut your eyes) all opened back up, so travelling around the country is back on the agenda. From remote islands to lush national parks, hereā€™s your UK break bucket list for the second half of 2020.Ā 

Glastonbury
Photograph: Shutterstock


1.Ā Glastonbury

We missed out on our festival fix this year, but there are still plenty of good reasons to head to this sweet, spiritual corner of Somerset, which keeps the hippie vibes going all year round. Visit to stock up on healing crystals and ethical skincare, explore the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and take the steep climb to the Tor.Ā 



Hidden Hut beach feast
Photograph: Danny North


2.Ā Cornwall

CornwallĀ is a county of contradictions. Thereā€™s myth and mystery, misty clifftops and sharp, rugged rocks rising out of restless waves, as well as peaceful coves, sleepy towns and vitamin D-soaked beaches packed out with surfers. Go in search of King Arthur at Tintagelā€™s romantic, clifftop ruin, watch a play with the Atlantic as the backdrop at theĀ Minack TheatreĀ (both currently require you to book in advance) or haveĀ a freshly cooked alfresco feast under the stars atĀ The Hidden Hut, which has just reopened for the season.Ā This otherworldly part of the country makes a compelling case to stay in the UK this and every year.



South Downs
Photograph: Shutterstock


3.Ā South Downs

The South Downs, which runs from historicĀ WinchesterĀ to Eastbourneā€™s chalk cliffs via green hills, ancient woodland and sea views, is Londonā€™s closest National Park and has been one for ten years. Take a celebratory hike.Ā 


Honister Slate Mine, Lake District
Photograph: Shutterstock


4.Ā Lake District

There are always countless good reasons to visitĀ the stunningĀ Lake District. Swing by this year to spot rocky reflections in still lakes, attempt rhyming couplets in poet William Wordsworthā€™s 250th anniversary year, or step out high over Honister slate mineā€™s newĀ Bridge Challenge, which opened this year.Ā 



Wye Valley
Photograph: Shutterstock


5.Ā Wye Valley

Channel your inner Gillian Anderson (everyone has one) and explore this lush corner of the country where Netflixā€™s ā€˜Sex Educationā€™ is filmed. The stunning landscape straddles the border between England and Wales, and is ideally located for gentle boat trips, challenging hikes or jaunts in peaceful forests.Ā 


Outer Hebrides
Photograph: Shutterstock


6.Ā Outer Hebrides

If the aim is to feel indescribably far from London, this string of stunningĀ ScottishĀ islands will undoubtedly do the trick. Head to Barra and the Uists to find ancient relics, Barbados-worthy white sands and delicious silence. Thereā€™s OOO and then thereā€™s this.



Kent Downs
Photograph: Shutterstock


7.Ā Kent Downs

We are big fans of the Kent coast, fromĀ WhitstableĀ toĀ Deal, viaĀ Margate, but head inland and you can find miles of quiet greenery are yours for the taking. An area of outstanding natural beauty, running from Sevenoaks down to the coast, theĀ KentĀ Downs is a lush landscape made up of ancient woodland, farmland, wild flowers, rivers and rolling hills. There are countless walking routes, some taking in the North Downs Way or historic pilgrimage routes towards the city of Canterbury, as well as pretty villages to stop in for well deserved (and socially-distanced) pints of local ale.Ā 


Holkham beach
Photograph: Shutterstock


8.Ā North Norfolk coast

For more space than youā€™ll know what to do with, head toĀ HolkhamĀ beach. It has deservedly starred in many a film and pop video, including All Saintsā€™ ā€˜Pure Shoresā€™. An enormous sandy stretch is backed by a verdant nature reserve with a warren of well-signposted walking trails within it.Ā Trek through the pinewoods and saltmarshes to see orchids, sea lavender and rare birds. Afterwards head along the coast, via nature reserves, salt flats and pretty coastal villages.Ā 



Alfriston
Photograph: Shutterstock


9.Ā Alfriston

Head to pretty Alfriston in East Sussex as the National Trust turns 125. The olde-worlde village is where youā€™ll find Alfriston Clergy House, a medieval, timber-framed hall, which was the very first building to be saved by the NT. Check whether the house has reopenedĀ hereĀ before you travel.Ā 

Fort Clonque
Photograph: Steve Wheelen


10.Ā Alderney

2020 markedĀ 75 years since VE Day. We got a special bank holiday in May, but, thanks to lockdown, you probably didnā€™t notice. You can still mark theĀ anniversary byĀ visiting this timewarp Channel Island, which was occupied by German forces during WWII. Itā€™s littered with abandonded forts and bunkers, which you can wander around. One of them, Fort Clonque, is now a holiday home which gets cut off from the island at high tide.Ā 



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