This year has seen a large rise in the number of UK locals reconnecting with their country for their holiday breaks. Whether it be a romantic weekend getaway or a road trip with friends, it’s unsurprising that during this year of local and international lockdowns, more and more people are swapping planes for trains, and duo lingo for local guides. There’s an abundance of untapped potential here; from hidden country retreats just an hour from your home to those city attractions you’ve often overlooked, there’s plenty to explore in the diverse landscapes of the UK.
Whilst we may be facing another lockdown, it’s never too early to start planning your next staycation. We might be forced to contend with international travel restrictions into next year, so researching UK COVID hotel sanitation protocols and the country’s tier system could be the bridge between cabin fever and horizon-broadening over the next few months.
Winters a great time to get exploring too. The UK is built on the expectation of cooler climates and rainy day plan b’s. That’s why this list of the best spots in the country for staycations will mean you’re never left out in the cold.
Town And City Stays
Whilst talking about city escapes, we often think of London and the luxury hotels in the UK capital. Whilst hotels like the Montcalm with its Montcalm Marble Arch COVID-19 updates might be well adapted to the recent restrictions, there are many other cities and towns in the UK that you can escape the daily grind to.
London
BUt that being said, let’s start with London. Home to luxury hotels like the Montcalm with its spas and massages near me open now, London is a prime candidate for a relaxing pampering in style. Alongside this, London and it’s 2 millenia of history boasts a fantastic selection of tourist attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy. Makde up of 32 boroughs and 1500 square miles of city, even the most veteran of Londoners won’t quite have explored everything the city has to offer.
Brighton
Often cited as the “London of the South”, it’s no surprise that Brighton is among the msot popular of coastal cities in the UK. With it’s Regency era architecture and traditional English pleasure beach, you’d be forgiven for overlooking the sheer quirky cool of modern day Brighton.
Manchester
This historically industrial hub of the north has seen amny changes through the years, all of which are documented in the People’s History Museum and Manchester Museum of Science and Industry. Furthermore, you can easily travel to the Pennines from Manchester, just a 15 minute train journey away and if you want to sample some of this famous university city’s nightlife, then there are countless warehouse based clubs dotted throughout Manchester and Salford.
Oxford
Another University city and just under an hour’s train journey from the Montcalm Marble Arch London, Oxford is a city famous for it’s long line of esteemed and influential inhabitants, thanks in part to its historic, 1096 founded university. Take a tour of the medieval college halls and escape into the vast wonders of the acclaimed Ashmolean Museum, just two of the unique activities that this beautiful city boasts.
Cambridge
If it’s the history of education you’re interested in, then Oxford’s historic counterpart and often rival is the place to go. Quainter and somewhat smaller than Oxford, this East Anglian city is home to the River Cam and a lot of beautiful nearby countryside. Make sure not to miss a punting trip on Cambridge’s famous boating canals, and of course a tour of the beautiful medieval colleges here.
Edinburgh
The home of Scottish politics and the world’s largest fringe theatre festival, Edinburgh has a lot more up it’s sleeve than debates and monologues. With the bloody history of it’s iconic castle and the beautiful outer rim walks to the Scottish lowlands panoramas of Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh is a beautiful city in it’s own right.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the underground counterpart to Edinburgh and provides a slightly rougher around the edges but equally vibrant Scottish city full to the brim with DIY art culture, music and literature. With it’s gothic cemeteries and Victorian architecture, Glasgow is a must visit for both young and old.
Country Escapes
City hotels are adapting to COVID 19, just look at our very own Montcalm COVID 19 care protocol. But if you truly want to socially distance during your staycation, then a trip to the more remote beauty spots of the UK will provide peace of mind, and a feast for the eyes.
Yorkshire Dales
Part of the Pennines area, the Yorkshire Dales is a Yorkshire County collection of valleys, villages and farmsteads that provide beautiful, serene nature trails and limestone cave systems. Located close to major northern hubs such as Leeds and York, the Dales are the perfect retreat for city folk.
Cotswolds
Easy to reach from Oxford and London, the Cotswolds is an area of beautiful and idyllic countryside in the West of England. Spanning boroughs such as Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, the village trails of pubs and restaurants make for high class dining, whilst the beautiful churches and river trails are among the most bucolic in the country.
Brecon Beacons
One of several nature reserves in Wales, the Brecon Beacons are the easiest to reach from the south of england. With mountain ranges such as the Black Mountains and four easy to walk Masifs, the Brecon Beacons holds the largest mountain in southern England, the Pen y Fan, at 810 metres high.
Norfolk Broads
Once thought to be naturall occurring but now known to be the remnants of ancient peat fields, the Norfolk Broads are a 117 square miles of boggy amrshalnd and river trails. This all flows out into the North Sea beaches of Norfolk and Suffolk, which themselves provide beautiful, expansive beaches of sand dunes, and sometimes if you’re lucky, seals! Make sure not to miss visits to Cromer and Sheringham for great seafood and traditional English beach vibes.
