For many, travelling overseas this summer is not top of the holiday agenda. I have to admit, it isn’t on mine. Government restrictions on international travel due to COVID means countries on the red and amber list are off limits. With green list countries, COVID tests are required adding extra expense and inconvenience – especially when travelling with children. Instead, Brits are embracing a UK staycation and places to stay in the UK are in demand.
Check the latest government guidelines for travel overseas and in and out of the UK.
Hands up! I have been slow to book our family summer holiday. I had a mild panic about not finding anywhere to stay. Thankfully, it’s not too late! With help from hotels.com, I’ve discovered some UK holiday ideas and places to book. If (like me) you are still organising your summer holiday plans, here’s two of my top locations where you can enjoy a UK break with accommodation available.
Check the current government guidelines on coronavirus restrictions in the UK.
The Lake District, Cumbria
This beautiful region in northwest England is a picturesque landscape of rolling hills, rugged mountains and, as the name suggests, lakes.
As England’s largest National Park, the hiking trails are endless and it is home to England’s largest mountain, Scafell Pike. There’s also the option to try some water sports on Lake Windermere. Other family activities include treetop walks in its forests, pony rides, rock climbing and archery.
The Lake District inspired literary giants such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. His poetry, including the classic Daffodils, reflected Cumbria’s stunning countryside. You can visit Wordsworth’s childhood home in Cockermouth while Dove Cottage, where he lived as an adult, can be visited along with the museum, Wordsworth Grasmere.
Beatrix Potter was also a resident in the Lake District where she created Peter Rabbit and his collection of furry friends. Fans of the author and her books can visit several places dedicated to her. There’s the Beatrix Potter museum at Hawkshead and the World of Beatrix Potter in Windermere. The Beatrix Potter trail will take you to all the spots special to the author including her beloved home, Hill Top.
Click here for UK day trips for book-loving kids
The towns of Kendal, Ambleside and Keswick provide a base to explore the Lake District while there are plenty of sites to camp, glamp or park up your caravan. Do keep an eye on the weather though, it can be very changeable in the Lakes. Click here for accommodation options in the Lake District.
Devon, southeast England
Over the past few years, Devon has become one of my favourite locations for a UK summer holiday. After several summers in the county, I’ve been reacquainted with an area I used to visit as a child. It’s a wonderfully diverse region in southeast England, straddling two coastlines to the west and south for water activities. There’s also the huge Dartmoor National Park for camping and hiking.
In north Devon, you’ll find dramatic coastlines and large sandy beaches including the sprawling coastline of Westward Ho! A flat, sandy beach popular with surfers. Then there’s the quaint fishing towns of Appledore, Ilfracombe and unique Clovelly, said to be one of the prettiest villages in Devon.
Across Devon, you’ll find rolling countryside and quaint towns. Then there’s the wilderness of Dartmoor, just a short journey from the south coast, where there are walk and hikes for all abilities. In the south coast, there’s the popular sailing town Salcombe as well as the seaside towns of Exmouth, Sidmouth, and Torquay (to name a few).
Devon has plenty of activities for children from outdoor to indoor. There are zoos and aquariums for animal lovers, historic houses and castles too. Check out Devon with kids for ideas of things to do. The county’s diverse landscape and range of activities has something for everyone along with accommodation options for all whether it be camping, self-catering or a spa hotel. Click here to book your trip to stay in Devon
*This post was written in collaboration with Hotels.com but all views and admiration of the Lake District and Devon are very much my own.