Although we hate to admit it, the summer seems to be slowly slipping away and giving in to cooler temperatures and more unpredictable weather. It always feels a little sad as summer leaves but lets not forget that Autumn is a truly magical time of year here in the UK. The leaves on the trees turn beautiful shades of orange and red and the sun hangs low in the sky lighting up the countryside with gorgeous orange hues. So if you are thinking about booking an Autumn getaway then we think that its a great idea. Here are some of our favourite spots for autumn getaways in the UK.
8 Reasons Not to Leave the UK to Holiday
The lure of foreign shores can be tempting, with television adverts promising of balmy beach days and endless sunshine it is easy to get sucked in, but if you make the decision to stay on UK soil you may find you have an even better time than you’d have imagined. Check out our top reasons for staying put and booking your holiday in the UK.
1.Keep Costs Down
The biggest and most obvious difference between having a holiday in the UK and jetting off abroad is the cost. With no flights, airport transfers and new summer clothes to have to fork out for you’ll save yourself a lot of money that you can spend on you holiday in the UK. Why not put it towards upgrading your hotel or having an extra long holiday and reap the benefits of being in the UK.
2.Beautiful Beaches on Your Doorstep
If you do your research and choose wisely then you will find some extremely beautiful beaches right here in the UK. Golden sand and clear blue water gently lapping the shore. Up and down the UK coast you’ll find some absolute gems, from rocky, cove beaches to wide sandy bays and the classic English seaside beach complete with rides and arcade games.
3.Fabulous Hotels
You certainly don’t need to go overseas to find your ideal hotel, the UK has every type of hotel you could dream of for every single budget. Be it a countryside boutique style hotel to a sky rise city hotel with a view, you’ll find it all.
If you’re travelling with a family then Airbnb can be a great option since you can rent a whole house/apartment which includes a kitchen area, always an easier choice when travelling with little ones who don’t necessarily want to eat at the same time as you or even the same food.
If you are travelling on a budget then have a look at YHA properties which have dorms or private rooms and usually have a kitchen and communal area to cook and meet other like minded travellers.
4.Wonderful Places to Eat and Drink
As with hotels, the UK has some of the best pubs and restaurants in the world with world famous chefs, Michelin stared restaurants and beautiful places to eat and drink in just about each and every part. From amazing street food stalls to fancy restaurants and everything in between, the UK has got it covered.
5.History
The UK has a rich history and often because you are from a country you find you don’t know all that much about it. Spend time visiting awe-inspiring castles rich with stories and gruesome tales of the past. Visit ancient sites and discover what went on right here on home soil many, many years ago.
6.Less Stress, More Chill Time
Lets face it,the thought of going abroad is wonderful but in realisty the travelling means a lot of time waiting around, being cramped into a plane, possible jet lag depending on your destination and much more added stress. The language barier, different foods, different rules and so on can make things far more difficult than having a holiday in the UK, and if you have kids then you’ll half your stress levels by staying in this country.
7.Take Your Own Transport
Having your holiday in the UK means that you can take your own means of transport, which in turn means no luggage allowance restrictions so you are able to pack all your home comforts, again if you are travelling with children this is going to make life an awful lot easier, anyone with kids knows how much ‘stuff’ there is to cart along!
Driving your own car or camper van means you can take snacks and food, drinks and fun activities to make the journey pass more quickly. Book onto a flight and you can’t even take your drink onboard. This freedom can make for a much easier break.
8.Impact on the Environment
Lastly it is also important to talk about the environmental impact your choice of holiday has. Think about this; just one return flight from London to New York produces a greater carbon footprint than a whole year's personal allowance needed to keep the climate safe, quite incredible when you put it like that.
If you are frequent holiday maker and like to jet off around the world, each time you are doing an awful lot of damage to our truly amazing planet, an irony in itself when all we want to do is go and explore its beauty.
Perhaps thinking about taking your next holiday in the UK could be a step in the right direction and could also be a surprisingly fun and stress free trip.
Happy holidays!
6 Best Places to Visit in the UK This March
We’ve waved goodbye to the start of the year, the darkest and most gloomy months are behind us and we’ve the Spring and lots of sunshine (hopefully!) to look forward to. So why not take a mini UK break or even a day trip to one of the many beautiful parts of the UK. Days are getting lighter and thoughts are just starting to turn to packing away that heavy winter coat and wellies for the summer months, making it a great time to travel with a positive and happy mind. We’ve picked our top UK destinations for you to visit in March this year.
1.Yorkshire
Located in the North of England, whatever the season the weather isn’t something you can depend on, so although a visit in March means the end of winter and spring on the cusp, its best to prepare for rain, sunshine, wind and even snow, just to be on the safe side!
March is a fabulous time to visit the North York Moors, a national park in North Yorkshire covering an area of 554 square miles of beautiful ancient trees, abundant wildlife and so many walking opportunities.
If you’re lucky you’ll get to see newborn lambs playing on the dales, hares performing their mating ritual called ‘sparring’, frogs and toads aplenty and possibly the odd adder coming out of hibernation.
2.Cotswolds
Let’s face it, most places look good as spring moves in and this is so true of the Cotswolds. A visit in March will coincide with the annual and very, very popular Cheltenham Gold Cup. This horse racing festival takes place over a week in March and draws in crowds from all over the UK. Cheltenham and its surrounding areas will be buzzing, busy and fun whilst the festival is on. Even if you don’t have tickets for the races you can enjoy soaking up the festival atmosphere, but if your visit to the Cotswolds is geared towards a quiet and relaxing break then avoid this time at all costs.
Aside from the races, March time in the Cotswolds is wonderful with so many gorgeous walks to be done, gardens to visit, hills to be climbed and traditional English pubs to take a break in, you’ll love it.
3.Cornwall
Cornwall boasts some of the best of the UK beaches, with beautiful golden sands, rock pools and cliff walks. It’s not hard to see why we love Cornwall, but visit in the peak of summer and you’ll certainly not be alone, visit in March and you’ll have beaten the summer crowds and will likely be able to have beach time alone without another soul about. Of course the weather will certainly not be as warm and we doubt you’ll be donning your bikini and sun cream, but there can be some really pleasant spring like days in March that will warm your skin and get you super excited for the impending summer ahead. With it being as far South as you can go in the UK it is often treated to the first glimpses of spring before the rest of the country.
March is also a great time to spot seals along the Cornish coastline as you stroll the rugged cliffs and sandy beaches.
4.Lake District
The Lake District is a mountainous region in North West England that is famous for its beautiful lakes and dramatic mountains. However such beauty can of course draw in many people when the weather gets warm and people feel more confident to brave the elements. This is why a visit in March is actually the perfect timing, you’ll miss the crowds and get to take in the sheer beauty of the Lake District all on your own.
Pack wisely since during the months of January through to March there is a 50% chance of rain or snow on any given day and the days are a lot shorter. Plan longer walks well, you really don’t want to get caught short in these areas as fog can sweep into higher grounds very quickly making walking conditions extremely hazardous. That said, as long as you are prepared and have done your research then you will really reap the benefits of travelling at this time of year when you find your very own little slice of the Lake District.
5.London
If you’re planning a trip to the Capital then definitely consider a visit in March. London never really has a ‘quiet time’ but the quietest months are usually at the beginning of the year and March marks the end of this. St Patricks Day is widely celebrated across the city and bars and restaurants are filled with the usual hustle and bustle of this amazing city.
Catch a boat trip down the Thames, wonder around Soho, stroll though Hyde Park enjoying the colourful flowers starting to unfold or take a walk up Hampstead Heath and take in the city from above.
Weather wise temperatures should be warming up a little but do pack sensibly because a lot of rain isn’t uncommon at this time of the year.
6.Bath
Bath is really always a lovely place to see, set in the rolling countryside of South West England, it is a world heritage site and it’s easy to see why. Beautiful Georgian architecture at every turn, one of the worlds best-preserved Roman bathhouses, stylish and sophisticated hotels and cool and quirky bars make Bath a really fabulous place to visit. March is vibrant as ever with students filling the city and bringing it to life. There are loads of beautiful gardens and nature attractions to visit as well. Less than a mile from the city centre you’ll find the Botanical Gardens which are home to many trees, shrubs, a rock garden and pool, a scented walk and loads of beautiful space to stroll or just chill out.