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

Actually was very hot up there for a couple of days when I visited last week - I obviously chose the right time!

A number of these holiday suggestions seem to require a car (unless you go to prime mass packed place? Is that right or am I making incorrect assumptions?

I think you are going to find it difficult to be honest. I think the people who have good uk based holidays are more active, interested people. If you are just wanting a tan and to read then maybe stay home.

Sign up for national trust membership it’s pretty cheap. There’s a program on tonight with George Clark exploring some. Usually there’s nice coffee and cake when you’ve walked enough!

I see NT as somewhere you go when you are at the toddler stage as you need access to loo and cafe and then again when you are very elderly and doddery for similar reasons.

Complain about the rain, walk in the rain, shop in the rain, many other activities...in the rain.

We have booked a holiday for next week, UK based.

We have booked horse riding on the beach, spa treatments, tennis booked, we have pre booked their picnics and will go to the lakes. We have also pre booked bikes and we will go out one day and cycle the trails they have nearby. Apparently the meadows are still in flower.
One afternoon we will go the NT as the main houses have now opened. We have teens and still go, they are great for culture and for a long walk, picnic - game of rounders.

We will take the children swimming in the sunshine, and plan to read and relax and sunbathe too. They have a michelin starred restaurant so that sounds just our kind of the thing.
The forecast looks great for next week. We are really looking forward to it!
Especially looking forward to no busy stressful airports, masked flights and disappointing over priced hotels and the layers of added exposure to corona. We can simply pack our car and be there in two hours or less, fabulous!

@MsTSwift

I see NT as somewhere you go when you are at the toddler stage as you need access to loo and cafe and then again when you are very elderly and doddery for similar reasons.

I have neither toddlers or am old and doddery but I still eat and pee. And NT own lots of land without those services anyway.

On holiday at the moment. We’ve walked. We’ve swum. We’ve two different sets of friends coming out to join us for two or three days each. We play board games and cards. We read. I play the piano.
Husband runs for miles. Daughter runs with him usually.
We’ve meals out booked. We’ll have takeaways (that we cannot usually have). We’ll barbecue. We have the excitement of takeaway coffee being accessible too.
I might go with daughter and get my nails done for the first time ever. She’ll play golf when her boyfriend comes out, I expect.
Today it’s walking up on the Down above the town as the town itself is pretty busy. The dog will prefer quiet Downland to pottering about shops.

With Covid we discovered local circular walks with older kids /teen - seeing the queues all cramming into the local NT places seems insane to me when there are acres of empty just as nice countryside not crowded up against everyone. You just need a map and maybe booklet of local walks. Won’t be renewing membership that’s for sure.

@MsTSwift

I see NT as somewhere you go when you are at the toddler stage as you need access to loo and cafe and then again when you are very elderly and doddery for similar reasons.

OP, have a look at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Gorgeous! We are deckchair people, but just spent a week over there. Really lovely! Sounds silly but going on the ferry felt like we were "away".

@TSSDNCOP

OP, have a look at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Gorgeous! We are deckchair people, but just spent a week over there. Really lovely! Sounds silly but going on the ferry felt like we were "away".

We're in Ventnor at the moment and really disappointed that dining at the Royal is for residents only currently. It's one of our favourite evenings when we are over on the island and we can't do it at the moment.

We stay in the Lake District, do walks, swim in the lake, have cream tea, take the ferry across the lake, go touristy shopping, walk to the waterfall, have dinner in the pub, do a bbq at the house, picnic by the lake.

You could book a high end place on the lake (boathouse on Ullswater near Pooley Bridge, for example). Visit the deer park. Tons to do.

There is a safari park in the South East, can't remember what it is called. You stay in a lodge.

I'd probably book to stay somewhere with gorgeous views and a conservatory/outside cafe/dining type area. Visit nearby historical towns/NT places. Lots of NT places have interesting houses with tours and fascinating histories of London debutantes and such like.

Random museums. Art/photography exhibitions. Or book things like a cookery class.

Oh yes overlooking a lake in the Lake District would be stunning.

I like anywhere with a nice town with different types of buildings etc to wander around - Bath is stunning. Good coffee shops with over indulgent cake and people watching.

A spa break would be good. Lounge by the pool and read. Nice and warm. I think they're open again now.

@Beebopbad

There is a safari park in the South East, can't remember what it is called. You stay in a lodge.

I'd probably book to stay somewhere with gorgeous views and a conservatory/outside cafe/dining type area. Visit nearby historical towns/NT places. Lots of NT places have interesting houses with tours and fascinating histories of London debutantes and such like.

Random museums. Art/photography exhibitions. Or book things like a cookery class.

Longleat?

That's a marvellous place. I've never actually stayed there but visited whilst on holiday and loved it.

One year dh and I went to Torquay, stayed in a hotel billed as Fawlty Towers mark 2, went to the model village in the pouring rain, ate fabulous seafood, played bingo one evening in the hotel whilst getting blotto on sherry (once was enough!) went to the aquarium in Portsmouth, drove across Dartmoor, pottered about on the beach, ate our body weight in cream teas, bought a huge driftwood turtle and visited a zoo.
It was kitch, hilarious and seriously one of the best holidays we ever had.

Oh I forgot the pixie garden. How could I? It was spectacularly crap. Perfection.

@CherryPavlova that is a disappointment. Have you tried Murray's in Cowes? We really enjoyed that and the Blacksmith Arms pub for a really great blow out. Bloody Rishi offer was a major PITA to reservations.

@ TSSDNCOP. Yes we had a house in Cowes when our daughter lived in the island. Everywhere is heavily booked (which is good) but we’ve booked into the smoking lobster and the Rex and will use the Spyglass. Not sure I’ve ever been to Blacksmiths so might give it a try.

I see NT as somewhere you go when you are at the toddler stage as you need access to loo and cafe and then again when you are very elderly and doddery for similar reasons.

Having a reliable car park, toilet and a coffee at the end of your 10k cross country run is nothing to be sniffed at.

Accept it may rain.

Explore local area.

Usually eat out as often as possible (if in budget)

Have little treats we don't usually have

Often see lots of beaches. Weather not a major deal breaker.

Kayaking and water sports

Some local sites (usually historic)