UK Places To Visit For A Staycation

Thinking of getting away from it all now lockdown has lifted? Here's some UK destinations to check out!

If you are like the many people who have had a challenging time over the government imposed Covid lockdown, you’ll be glad to see that some of the more challenging impositions have been raised over the last couple of weeks. It goes without saying that the last couple of months have been really challenging from a mental health perspective as we’ve all done our best to control the spread of Covid and keep others from harm.

Now that things are slowly beginning to return to normal, we are seeing public spaces open again in earnest. You might have a sense of wanting to change your surroundings, having been stuck in your home for such a long period of time. Holidays are slowly returning, but there is a general apprehension to booking trips abroad. We are predicting a massive uplift in the number of UK-based staycations for the time being. Here are some places you can try, if you want to stay closer to home.

Manchester

Via s0.geograph.org.uk

Arguably the best city to visit for a short weekend break. Manchester doesn't have the heaving crowds of London, is more accessible than Edinburgh, and has more personality than a place like Birmingham. Weekend city breaks are the ideal type of holiday to take just now as they don't cost as much as a big trip abroad, and you will ideally be within driving distance of your home, making access all the more straightforward.

As a tourist destination, Manchester is famed for a number of different reasons. It has some of the best shopping in the country that can be found in places like the Manchester Arndale and intu Trafford outside the city centre. Manchester is also well known for it's thriving music scene, having produced bands like the Smiths, Oasis, and New Order. These are all celebrated in various tours throughout the city. Be sure to check out guides on where to enjoy a drink too, as Mancunians are known to enjoy a good night on the town!

The Cotswolds

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For some people, taking a holiday doesn't so much mean a city break, but rather a sense of getting away from it all. If you want to experience the pretty, rural England of rolling fields, small villages, and red post boxes, look no further than the Cotswolds. This area is in the South Central to South West of England and takes in a number of towns and areas of natural beauty. Visitors have been delighting in visiting this part of the country for many decades as it strongly contrasts the harsh urban feel of Nearby London and Birmingham.

>The main towns that are found in the Cotswolds area include the likes of Bath, Gloucester, Chipping Norton, and Swindon. These are all places worth taking a trip to explore during your stay, but we'd recommend renting a small cottage or house that's way out of the way to get the full experience of living in this part of the country. There are lots of different activities you can take in the Cotswolds, so how relaxing or active your trip ends up being is entirely up to you.

Blackpool

Via village-hotels.co.uk

There is nowhere in the UK that continues to encapsulate the Victorian spirit of the great British seaside holiday than Blackpool. For generations, tourists and travellers have flocked here to enjoy the sand, sea, and fairground feel of the town. Before the days of cheap air travel and package holidays to continental Europe, Blackpool was a top tourist destination for UK residents, and the online guides show that there is still loads on offer here to visitors.

Over the years as the popularity of the town waned in light of the aforementioned European package deals, Blackpool has unfairly had a reputation of being a bit past it. The truth is that many classic seaside experiences can still be enjoyed here under the shadow of the iconic Blackpool Tower. If you book a trip here, you might be surprised at just how much is on offer to visitors.

Mull

Via flickr.com

For those looking to put some water between themselves and the UK mainland, why not look to the Scottish Western Isles? These islands feature stunning Atlantic scenery and have the perfect balance of being remote, but don't leaving you feeling too much like you're totally off the grid. Mull is a great place to visit as there are lots of different things to see and do here but doesn't have the tourist saturation feeling that somewhere like Skye might have.

Visitors to the colourful main town of Tobermory will recognise it from CBBC's Balamory. There are a number of great local restaurants here, making it the perfect place to sample and enjoy the local seafood, which will have been caught just a few miles off the coast. If you get the weather for it, you should look to try some of the hiking routes that the island offers. It’s the perfect place to really feel that you're getting away from it all.

With the right amount of planning, you can take a trip in the UK without all the hassle, stress, and cost of going abroad in these uncertain times.