What do people DO on UK holidays?

[JudgeRindersMinder]

We’re sun worshipers, and go abroad for the sun 2-3 times a year. Except this year!
We have a few days off in September, Thurs-Sun, and wouldn’t mind getting away for at least a couple of nights.

I’ve been looking at nice hotels in various UK locations (ie NOT Premier Inn type places) We aren’t super active people who are into bracing walks in the countryside (both have issues with arthritis 🙄), and if we stay in Scotland, any spas, pools etc are no go.

If you were us, where would you go and would you do?
Budget is fairly healthy, and travel by plane or car isn’t an issue

I should have said, it’s just me and dh age 50/55

Visit places. Going to Scarborough tomorrow and will visit the heritage railway, the sea life centre, walk along the sea front, probably do some shopping.

I'm travelling with two kids though so it's a bit different.

Though I'd do most of those things if i was travelling alone too.

Before dd came along, dp and I spent our holidays going for pretty walks and going out for lunch or dinner.

Long walks, pub, beach, museums, galleries, National Trust, eating out...back to rented cottage with a roaring fire. Unless it's warm, then we sit outside and play cards with a glass of wine. Wonderful.

What do you do when you are abroad? Surely just do similar things in the UK.

Lovely hotel with Michelin* food and a nice garden - seaside fish and chips - National Trust houses (few open now, might be more by Sept and gardens are open) - coastal walks even if you don't go far - cream teas, city breaks uncluttered by tourists, world-class galleries and museums, first glimmers of London theatre re-opening - barring accidents, you could book for Ralph Fiennes from the end of August -
you've got a good budget an unhampered by kids, there's loads you could do. Have you ever been to the Hebrides, the most beautiful beaches in the world? I wouldn't swap that for stewing by a pool. Pick somewhere you've never been and google to see what's open. Surely it isn't hard to amuse yourself for a couple of days.

@bookmum08

What do you do when you are abroad? Surely just do similar things in the UK.

We lie about in the sun reading all day, so it’s not really an option here!

Go to Tenby. Beaches if the weather is nice. Loss of cafes, bars and restaurants. Lots of walks. Lots of people watching.

Or do a city break - Chester, York, Bath ...

Visit and explore pretty villages and towns, find a tea shop and have a cream tea or a cosy pub for lunch, I love the architecture in our beautiful country it’s a real joy exploring areas I’ve never seen before and then it’s back to our holiday cottage for relaxing for the evening, bliss!

I spend most of my time trying to avoid the sun by finding some shade.

We sit outside reading, visit towns and villages, go to the beach, go for walks, visit tourist attractions, go swimming etc.

Go for walks and visit places with waterproofs! You're more likely to get showers than full days of rain.

I like mooching around historical places - preferably in France or Italy but the UK has some fabulous history. I would pick somewhere like Stratford upon Avon, York, Canterbury. Or stately homes/National Trust. There are several in Derbyshire, especially Chatsworth, so you could visit a few while based in the same place. Buxton and Bakewell are nice to visit. Or there's Cornwall for picturesque fishing villages and coastal walks - they don't have to be long and September should be quieter.

DPs are in their 70s and aren't especially active these days but they like Herefordshire and the Wye Valley for short but scenic walks.

get a canal boat for a few nights

We walk, go to museums and houses, historical sites, National Trust, English Heritage, out for food, mooch around 2nd hand book shops, go to the theatre, look at architecture, guided tours, ride steam trains, visit gardens and woodlands, bird watch, read, cook, exercise, shop for curiosities, sample local foods and drinks, do treasure trails, local libraries, parks, boat trips, adventure type stuff, bike hire, geocaching. Loads and loads of stuff!

@JudgeRindersMinder

If money isn't a problem, I would visit the Isles of Scilly. The weather tends to be better/hotter than the rest of the UK (although of course that's no guarantee), there are lovely hotels, beautiful beaches and you can potter around the different islands (have to get to them by boat). You can fly from Land's End, Exeter and Newquay.

I would hire a decent sized motor home, travel North, to the wilds of Scotland.Off the beaten track sometimes, with camera and binoculars. Hope to avoid a lot of people, but maybe sample a bit of local food and drink, and have a chat with some way off locals.

I like visiting National Trust houses or other historic houses, plus art galleries and the big museums. My H likes industrial museums and sites, steam railways, iconic bridges, famous old ships, maritime museums. We both like fabulous scenery and interesting cities.

We like lolling by a pool with books too. They’re just different types of holiday.

My advice would be to choose one big attraction that you are interested in but have never seen, and then build the holiday around that.

We have just had the hottest summer in record
So can't you just sit and read books

My question is: What do people DO on sun worshipping holidays? I can't think of anything more excruciatingly dull than lying around sunbathing all day. And if that's all you're going to do, why can't you do it in your back garden or a local park?

@Pobblebonk

My question is: What do people DO on sun worshipping holidays? I can't think of anything more excruciatingly dull than lying around sunbathing all day. And if that's all you're going to do, why can't you do it in your back garden or a local park?

This.

@Redshoeblueshoe

We have just had the hottest summer in record So can't you just sit and read books

Because we’ve been working all through lockdown and fancy a change of scene

@Pobblebonk

My question is: What do people DO on sun worshipping holidays? I can't think of anything more excruciatingly dull than lying around sunbathing all day. And if that's all you're going to do, why can't you do it in your back garden or a local park?

That’s fine, but we don’t find it boring. We’ve never holidayed in the UK without kids, so I’m looking for suggestions. There’s no need for you to tell me what you find boring.

How about you tell me what you do that ISN’T excruciatingly boring,
or did you just come to look down your nose at me?

Go to Padstow or somewhere and read in cafes near the beach then or rent somewhere remote and do the same thing. It doesn't sound like you want a holiday where you actually do anything?

OP, I wasn't looking down my nose at you. I was reacting to your "What do people DO on UK holidays" which made it sound as if enjoying a holiday in the UK that doesn't involve sun-worshipping is in itself weird and impossible to imagine.

Yeah, UK holidays you take the luck of the draw weather-wise.

Anyway, for me if it's not countryside/mountain/beach walks, then it's mostly visiting museums and tourist attractions.

Scenic drives, train rides, or bus journeys are also good.