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Original poster

What do people DO on UK holidays?

404 replies

JudgeRindersMinder · 17/08/2020 00:30

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

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 17/08/2020 08:37

Head to Scotland & specifically for a day of reading, tea & cake; www.wigtown-booktown.co.uk/
then head to forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/galloway-forest-park/dark-skies
Lots of nice beaches in the area for a walk if not a lounger.

wasgoingmadinthecountry · 17/08/2020 08:38

We live in beautiful countryside so I enjoy smaller cities or seaside places (though we are only a few miles from the sea) - food, no driving (we have to drive practically everywhere at home!), shopping, reading a book in a coffee shop... None of it works with dh though as we enjoy totally different things! He'd choose somewhere with a quirky auction house too I imagine.

Can't say any type of holiday appeals to me this year though.

tara66 · 17/08/2020 08:39

Isle of Wight is regarded as the second most attractive island in Britain after Jersey (first) but Jersey has 14 days quarantine . You also get feeling of being ''away''. The ferry can be expensive though.

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Holidays
MsTSwift · 17/08/2020 08:39

It’s tough being a sun seeker and living in the uk! My idea of bliss is being in a beautiful natural place by a lake or sea reading then plunging into cool water. Wander round in the warm evening in a place that’s different to home. Seeing a couple of local places of interest but generally enjoying being away from the everyday. I love the difference. This cannot be achieved for me in the UK! Also we live in a tourist area anyway so nice walk NT etc is an average weekend.

bluesoup1 · 17/08/2020 08:40

@DappledThings

What do people DO on UK holidays?

The same as we do on any holiday. Visit museums, old buildings, religious buildings, ancient sites, walk around towns, find nice places to eat and drink. Spend some time relaxing and reading, just maybe on a sofa rather than a sun lounger.
.

Oh this makes me resent living in Australia 😂 there's so much I love about it but I really really miss all of these things about the UK/Europe. So much beautiful scenery here and incredible landscapes but "there's more culture on a yogurt lid" as a friend once said.
babyguffingtonstrikesagain · 17/08/2020 08:42

The first thing we always do is find the Tourist Information center. They always have loads of advice/maps etc and often you can book excursions and things through them.

amymel2016 · 17/08/2020 08:46

Book a hotel with beautiful rooms and spend time reading in the bath/ room or garden. Barnsley House in the Cotswolds has stunning rooms for this.

MsTSwift · 17/08/2020 08:46

Blue I remember a friend who lived in London for a few years just hitting the museums in London and soaking them up before returning forever to Perth.

Doodar · 17/08/2020 08:49

Visit lovely villages and coastal towns. Pub lunches etc
North Yorkshire is amazing for this.

Allergictoironing · 17/08/2020 08:49

I’m definitely going to look into Cornwall, but it will depend on what flights are available.

Flights??? This is the UK, not the USA or Australia. If you don't like driving a long distance, do as my DBro does & book a nice hotel half way there & explore that area e.g. if he goes from London to Cornwall, he stops for a night or two in Bath or mid-Somerset.

If you don't drive, look into trains as though this takes longer than flying anywhere, you get to watch the countryside as you go along.

WouldBeGood · 17/08/2020 08:49

I know what you mean @JudgeRindersMinder. I like a chilled holiday in the sun and am not one for the great outdoors. I would never go on holiday in the UK other than the odd city break for a couple of nights. That’s why I think luxurious accommodation is the answer if it’s just for a change of scene.

Toilenstripes · 17/08/2020 08:49

I vote for London. The Bloomsbury Hotel has a lovely afternoon tea and the Coral Bar which is great for an evening cocktail. You can easily walk or taxi to many theatres, British Museum, and there are loads of good restaurants. If Fortnum and Mason are open it’s fun to have a mooch and afternoon tea there.

bluesoup1 · 17/08/2020 08:49

@MsTSwift

Blue I remember a friend who lived in London for a few years just hitting the museums in London and soaking them up before returning forever to Perth.
Yes I was supposed to be home for a month over Christmas and new year. First trip home In almost 4 years and was planning to Spend the majority of the time in museums and NT properties. Devastated I can't make it back now. I love the Aussie lifestyle vs UK. My work life balance is so much better but I really miss all of these things. My Aussie partner doesn't get it at all.
giggly · 17/08/2020 08:50

@Redshoeblueshoe hottest summer in record in England maybeHmm There are 4 countries that make up the UK or do you not get whole weather map in your area?

Covert19 · 17/08/2020 08:51

If you genuinely are sun worshippers, surely you’ll be heading to Stonehenge for the solstice. Dress up like a wizard, drape yourself in bits of hedgerow and pray to the sun to bring the long days back again next year.

Pigeonpair1 · 17/08/2020 08:52

I love a holiday abroad but I also love a holiday in the UK! You just have to go with a different mindset. You make the most of the good days by going to the beach – even if it’s not bright sunshine, it can still be beautiful and restful. On the bad days you can hole-up inside with a good movie or book and a glass of red wine. I have just spent the last four weeks just outside Dartmouth in South Devon (I’m lucky enough to have a place here). There is plenty to do – beautiful beaches, great restaurants and pubs lovely walks and museums. Lying by the pool all day abroad is my idea of heaven, not to mention lovely lazy dinners but UK holidays are just as special in my opinion 👍. Look at the Dart Marina Hotel - fabulous and right on the River Dart. A short walk into the very pretty town.

Bouledeneige · 17/08/2020 08:53

It's funny because I would never just lie in the sun reading by a pool or beach as I find that very boring and as being fair skinned I don't like to risk burning my skin. So a IK holiday is similar to an abroad one for me.

I like to drive around and see the s energy. Got for walks along beaches and cliffs. Find pretty pubs and cafes for lunch. Visit castles, stately homes and museums and browse in little resorts and shops. I also live a boat trip, I was recently in Norfolk for a few days and went on some extraordinary beach walks, a boat trip to see the seals, drove around to see the broads, went to Holkham Hall, shopped in some pretty market towns and had some beautiful meals. I'm 56 and was on my own. I loved it.

PamDemic · 17/08/2020 08:54

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111999A · 17/08/2020 08:56

We’re your age and are going to a spa hotel in Northumbria, hoping to go to various castles, churches and revisit the biggest second hand book shop in the UK which is in Alnwick(from memory). Also might have a day in Durham. Also planning a trip to Holy Island.
We’re not particularly sun worshipers but now the children are off our hands(and out of our pockets)we do like luxury holidays and this was going to be a big holiday year as we have a big wedding anniversary.
Having both had COVID and found it was nothing like as bad as I was anticipating, I’m looking forward to next year but wanted a bit of a nice break this year.
I’ve been assured that the spa, pool and gym are open at the hotel we’re going to so pm me if you want details.

Original poster
JudgeRindersMinder · 17/08/2020 08:57

@Allergictoironing I live on the east cost of Scotland, about an hour north of Edinburgh, so to get to Cornwall by any means other than flying would take a whole day! I love driving, but that just isn’t doable if we’re going away for 4/5 days

OP posts:
QQQQQQ123 · 17/08/2020 08:58

@tara66

Isle of Wight is regarded as the second most attractive island in Britain after Jersey (first) but Jersey has 14 days quarantine . You also get feeling of being ''away''. The ferry can be expensive though.
IOW is great, loads to do. Many hotels etc offer free or discounted ferry tickets.
Newbameforanewdecade · 17/08/2020 08:58

I’m with you OP - I like to just lie in the sun and read then just go for dinner and have a wander round in the evenings.
I went away last weekend but we were lucky with the weather obviously (so still lay in the sun).
However if you’re not so lucky and don’t want to walk in the rain - I’d look at some laid back activities that you can do - so somewhere with an indoor pool (they’re open in the UK). Do you enjoy museums or art galleries? Playing say pool or going clay pigeon shooting? Look at somewhere that offers these types of things.

Friendsoftheearth · 17/08/2020 08:58

OP I am must confess I am the same as you. We are tired we love to stretch out in the sun, swim and read some good books after doing 70 hour week for the last six months.

We booked two holidays this year, one in Cornwall and one in Devon. I had my doubts given we are usually in Tuscany or the South of France at this time of year, but we had an amazing time!

We booked a cottage with a heated pool, so we did spend 4 out of the 7 days purely sunbathing and swimming! It was even nicer than the SoF as it was so easy to get to, and so relaxing! We could have sunbathed every day to be honest, the weather was great. On the other days:

We hired a boat and took dc to see the seals. We all loved it!
We went on a whale watching trip
Beach afternoons swimming in the gorgeous turquoise waters
We visited St Ives and pottered around the art galleries and had dinner on the harbour - it was beautiful!
We enjoyed watching Macbeth in an outdoor theatre hanging over the sea

It turned out to be a really great holiday, and we took the dogs! So lots of walks with them, and cuddles with the dogs by the fire in the evening when it cooled a little.

I would recommend hotels with outdoor pools that are heated, wait and to see the forecast and book ideally in good weather. Pre book restaurants and trips in advance.

Our next trip is a spa hotel, I can not wait to go now we can have treatments. I am learning that you can have a wonderful holiday in the UK, even with covid, but you do need to organise and plan ahead this year.

Have fun!

MsTSwift · 17/08/2020 09:00

God the worthy brigade are here 🙄. It’s morally superior to enjoy camping long hikes in the rain and national trust properties 🙄. Those of us that enjoy reliable hot sun beaches reading swimming in natural environments and cocktails are moral degenerates!

HeddaGarbled · 17/08/2020 09:00

I think the danger is that you try to recreate your usual sort of holiday, and then spend the entire time thinking ‘well this is nice, but not as nice as it would be if we were by a pool in the sun’. I think you should do something completely different, and hitting the museums of London is a good choice.