Best U.K. holiday?

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Just DP and I, middle of August. Never done a U.K. holiday before and would never normally consider it but if I don’t book something DP will still try to work even when technically on holiday

Main criteria are -
Luxurious hotel/B&B/cottage (Not keen on staying anywhere not as nice as our home)
Within a 4-5 hour drive of South East London
Lots to do if the weather is rubbish
Nice pubs/restaurants (not middle of nowhere)
Happy to stay at a couple of different places maybe for 2 nights each but overall trip will be 6 nights
Keen to go on a walk or two but don’t want that to be the main part of the holiday
Maybe a beach nearby?

It’s actually shocking how little of the U.K. we’ve seen due to always holidaying abroad so keen to get ideas of where we should go

The kent coast There's loads to do. Visit Dover Castle and Canterbury cathedral
Lots of quirky independent restaurants, stone and sandy beaches

Ahhh sorry should have said, I lived in Canterbury all my life until a few years ago so Kent is out as a holiday destination!

There's an article in the paper pointing out that cities like Edinburgh and Bath are practically empty, well compared to usual as they would usually have hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors. Walking round Bath in lockdown as a local has been brill and what an opportunity to do a quieter Edinburgh.

Bath, Bristol then a B&B in the Quantocks for a couple of nights and some beach walks. Or Lyme Regis.

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I'd look at Wales or Norfolk then

you could just about get to N.Yorks in that time. We stay in Pickering - little market town with a castle and steam rail. Half an hour to the beach, less to N. York Moors. York and Leeds in easy striking distance if the weather's a washout and you fancy some city life.

York Harrogate, and around are all lovely.

As I've said in other posts, I love the Isle of Wight.

We had a cracking time in St Ives once too. Art galleries, lots of pubs, lots of restaurants, lots of little shops to hang out in, beaches, and long walks.

New Forest and Dorset Coast are also great.

Edinburgh without doubt!

Gosh I had no idea how expensive a semi-decent hotel in the U.K. is!
We won’t be getting our money back from our holiday abroad, just a voucher and I thought this would be a fairly cheap alternative but obviously not!

Perhaps we’ll do just 2 or 3 nights somewhere really luxurious and just plan day trips for the rest of the week

Bath, Bristol then a couple of days in the Cotswolds would be nice. Norwich is also lovely, the head to the coast.

Favourite was Lulworth Cove (there are some beautiful cottages within walking distance which saves parking, one with a games room that I look back on with great fondness). I did not expect to like it, as we went the week of Bestival (without planning to go to Bestival) but I was proved wrong!
Good pubs and eateries very close by.
Might be very busy just now though, as Durdle Door looks to be.

If it's just the two of you then try looking at one of the discount travel sites such as Travelzoo, they generally have offers for 2/3 night stays.

A cottage in N Norfolk
Or Lyme Regis?
Yorkshire coast or dales? Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay?

Get out and explore some of our fantastic country!

Where have you previously visited in the U.K. OP?

I’m always stunned by the number of people who usually holiday abroad but have never been to the lakes.

The problem with “plenty to do if the weather is rubbish” is that at the moment, many places like National Trust are operating a pre-booking system, so there’s not much scope for spontaneity or changing plans based on the weather.

We've had a few (we are not from the UK). We did Kent Coast and London - was lovely - loads of castles/historical stuff. Also did Scotland - ditto and brilliant. Also London and Bath.

If National Trust properties hadn't been open though it wouldn't have been half as wonderful. UK is lovely but I wouldn't go there for the scenery alone.

we've just booked to go to the Peak District. Been for day trips when DH worked up north for a while. Very pretty and lots of walking and fresh air to come.

So I think we’ve decided on a night in Oxford and then 4 nights in the Cotswolds but haven’t chosen hotels or areas yet

Where are the best areas to stay? I’m slightly concerned we might be a bit bored if there’s not much to do other than walks. I thought we’d go into Cheltenham one day but very open to any other ideas

Oxford is way more interesting than the Cotswolds, IMO.

I like Oxford, but it is over run by international tourists who walk in huge groups and it can be overwhelming. However, this year that won’t be the case so what a perfect time to visit, you lucky thing. Make sure you check out which places are open and yes, you will have to book into places in advance but so be it. Oxford is magical - think CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and JK Rowling!

Chichester area
New Forest
North Devon
Jurassic coast

Cheltenham is lovely. There’s a museum called littledean jail out in the Forest of Dean (40 mins from Cheltenham) which is worth a look if you aren’t easily offended - some fascinating and very weird stuff there!! Lots of nice cotswold villages, eg bourton on the water and stow on the wold. Gloucester itself isn’t particularly lovely but there’s a cathedral you could look round.

Blenheim Palace if it's open ? Near Oxford

Cotswolds..look at Pub with rooms....we've stayed in a few and really quirky and lovely

I love Oxford and the Cotswolds. I would say maybe do 2 nights in Oxford and one less in the Cotswolds. Also agree with a PP a trip to Blenheim Palace is a must if open which I think the Gardens will be at least.

I'm in Norfolk at the moment. It's lovely. Mile upon mile of huge white sandy beaches, stately homes and the broads. Great seafood. But you'd need to get booking now.