6 Dreamy Staycation Locations
What with travel abroad being incredibly limited at the moment, Brits are starting to look more at a stay-at-home solution to their want for a relaxing holiday. With more people than ever before turning to destinations in their own country, many of us are finding out that you can still experience stunning beauty spots, beautiful landscapes and memory-making activities without having to travel outside of the United Kingdom.
I've always enjoyed a classic British staycation, whether it be within the folds of my family during childhood or with my boyfriend, I've never had a holiday inside the UK that I look back on and think "I really didn't enjoy that", and I've stayed in a caravan and been youth hosteling before.
What most people don't realise is that Britain is packed with exceptionally beautiful places that, if you ever went, you'd stand there and second-guess whether you were actually still in the UK or not, because it can be that otherworldly! So I'm glad that Brits are being forced to take a break within their own country as opposed to sunning it up in Spain.
Having been lucky enough to go on quite a few staycations in recent years, I thought I'd group them all together in this blog post to give you some idea about locations you could visit to scratch your itch to travel and experience something different this year.
Cambridge, East England
Cambridge is a beautiful place, full of elegant bars, quality coffee shops, extraordinary art galleries and stunning churches. One of the main things people do when they visit Cambridge is walk through the university grounds, which is an experience in itself.
You could also visit the Botanical Gardens, although this isn't free, it's well worth a stop if you're looking to take full advantage of your Cambridge stay. This location isn't really family-friendly, but for a couple's break or a weekend away with friends, it's a pretty ideal place.
My boyfriend and I visited and spent a few days there a couple of years ago and we absolutely loved it! I wrote three blog posts all about our mini-break, I'll leave links to those below together with a few resources when it comes to travelling in and around Cambridge itself.
Cambridge blog posts...
Visiting Cambridge resources...
The Lake District, Cumbria, Northwest England
The Lake District is, hands down, one of the most visually stunning places I've ever been to. Not only are there plenty of walking and cycling trails you can make full use of, but you can even visit caves and swim under waterfalls there. Not only that, but you could also take a dip in the famous Lake Windermere, something you can get a fabulous view of at the top of Wansfell Pike.
There's also a wide selection of places you can stay nearby, should you want to make a week of it, for example. From hostels and B&Bs to converted barns and cottages, there's something for everyone. My boyfriend and I stayed in a converted barn when we went, it was a brilliant place to stay and gave us somewhere to relax after a full, cold day of hiking (I say cold because we went in the November of 2017).
Again, I blogged about our holiday, so I'll leave a link to that blog post (prepare for a lot of pictures as the views were incredible). I'll also leave some useful links to help you plan a mini-break there or to come up with a fun, diverse itinerary.
Lake District blog post...
Visiting the Lake District resources...
Anglesey, Wales
Anglesey, much like the Lake District, offers up many spectacular views, a variety of walking trails and (instead of lakes) a stunning coastline that everyone can enjoy. Complete with the beautiful South Stack Lighthouse, Anglesey provides more by way of a holiday than you'd have initially thought. It makes for a cheap, relaxing mini-break with scenes that are enough to take your breath away.
We visited Anglesey in the Summer of 2019, making sure we had the time to visit the famous lighthouse (which makes an appearance in the opening credits of BBC's Escape to the Country), and we weren't disappointed.
Although, it's important to note that if you wanted to walk up to the top of lighthouse, you (one) have to pay a small fee to ensure the upkeep of the buildings there, and (two) make sure you're wearing the right shoes as you won't be allowed up there if you're just wearing sandals. I had a pair of Birkenstocks on and I just got away with it.
If you're interested to see what we got up to there, you can view the blog post I wrote below, together with some links about the place and what you can do while you're there. I'd definitely say that Anglesey was perfect for the entire family and not just those who are young, fit or child-free, even the dog could come :)
Anglesey blog post...
Visiting Anglesey resources...
Norfolk, East Anglia, England
Norfolk is the perfect place for your typical, British caravan holiday. Although, for those, like me, who hate staying in caravans, you can opt for a more luxurious cabin with a hot tub (like we always do when we visit Norfolk), ideal for those cool summer evenings when you just want to relax after a day of walking the Norfolk Broads.
There's plenty to do and lots of smaller places to visit for you to get your coastline fix. Whether you want to experience the sea at low-tide or to spend a day in the arcades and eating fish and chips along the sea front, Norfolk has it all. There are even several walking routes around the countryside for you to enjoy, so bring your kids and even the dog! Everyone will enjoy a trip to Norfolk.
We've visited Norfolk twice, although I only blogged about one trip because we pretty much ended up doing the same sort of thing as the last time we were there. If you fancy a peak at what we got up to, click on the link below. Also, like with the other locations so far, I've left some helpful links should Norfolk sound like your kind of thing.
Norfolk blog post...
Visiting Norfolk resources...
Oxford, South England
Oxford, much like Cambridge, is a beautifully historic place. The architecture is grand and impressively intricate, something which will never fail to amaze me, even looking back over the photos we took. Oxford is slightly more built up than Cambridge and it also has its own quirkiness, so don't expect the two, despite often being associated with each other, to be anything alike.
It's worth visiting Oxford for a mini-break or long weekend away. It's quite a small place, so it's not really suitable for walking or cycling routes, but there are lots of sophisticated bars and restaurants around should you want more of a romantic, chilled out break. There's an array of luxurious hotels and lodgings to choose from, but make sure you book well in advance to avoid disappointment and secure your booking.
While we were visiting Oxford, we took advantage of the independent restaurants serving delicious food, sleek bars shaking up classic cocktails and even oldy-worldy pubs to add to the authentic atmosphere that Oxford always seems to encompass. Extraordinary museums are also open for business, so pop in and take a look at some interesting historical artefacts to further enhance your experience.
If the weather is good to you, you could even go punting with your partner to perfectly round off your romantic trip away. The calm water and quiet streets that hug the river makes for a wonderfully laid back end to an already slow-paced break in Oxford.
I didn't blog about our Oxford experience, but you can still get an idea of what there is to do by clicking on the links below.
Visiting Oxford resources...
Stratford-Upon-Avon, West Midlands, England
Stratford-upon Avon is ideal for a mini-break as I feel like you could still pack a few activities in, yet still have a relaxing time and feel refreshed when you to go home. We stayed in a hotel on the outskirts of the place as it was only a 10/15 minute walk into the centre.
There are plenty of quirky cafes, my personal favourite being Fourteas, a 40's/wartime themed eating establishment with hearty food for every mood and hot chocolates to die for. You can read all about our experience there in this blog post, it's been stuffed with photos of the place so take a scroll through and you'll see what I mean about the vintage dining experience.
In case you weren't aware, Stratford-upon-Avon is mostly known for its association with William Shakespeare. Apparently, it's where he was born and lived up until his death in 1616. There's even a church a short walk away from the centre of town claiming that Shakespeare himself is buried within their grounds.
If you wish to see it, then go into the church itself as he hasn't (allegedly) been laid to rest in the outside cemetery. You'll be asked to give a small donation in order to go up close to the grave, but you might be able to catch a glimpse without going too near that you'll need to pay a fee.
Often, his birthplace is open for a viewing, and you can even see the foundations of the house he used to live in, as it's no longer standing. You can even walk out (or take a bus) to see his wife's house, also known as Anne Hathaway. It's a rather large thatched property, but if you don't have time to walk, then it's only a short drive away in the car.
I wrote a blog post about our time there so I'll leave that link below for you. I'll also leave some resources to help you plan your trip as there's quite a lot to see and do, especially if the weather is nice!
Stratford-upon-Avon blog post...
Visiting Stratford-upon-Avon resources...
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post! Let me know if you've been to any of these places before or if I've convinced you to go and take a gander! Also, there are a few other places I'd love to put on this list, so let me know if you'd be interested in a part two and I'll be happy to post it. I'll see you again with a brand new blog post in a few days :)
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