holiday for one in a day

[Heathofhares]

I have one day to myself this school summer holidays. I am a teacher who has had a crazy year and my MH is suffering. I haven't been able to get any thing booked up until the end of the summer and so I am still a bit stuck in a stress rut.

I need a break, but I only have 1 day alone. Can anyone suggest something fun I can do to make the day special?

I'd love a day on the beach but that is too far from here. I can't stay home as we are having building work and that is far too stressful.
I'm not a spa kind of person. I would love some different ideas so what would you do?

Oh and I can spend a bit but not hundreds of pounds...

I'd book myself a spa day somewhere really nice, a couple of nice treatments, swim and sauna and a nice lunch while I was there. If your able to you could even book in a wee overnight stay the night before.

Where in the country?

I'm about an hour outside of London.

Nowhere in the UK is too far from the beach

What do you like and value?

Can you do a day trip to a nearby city and take a bus tour or river cruise?
Book brunch on arrival at a nice hotel and finish with an afternoon tea?

Or a 1:1 clothes consultation at a big shop?

The beach is about 2 hours each way... I only have from 8-6...

I'd probably book a massage, browse a bookstore or museum then get a nice lunch on my own

Sorry just re read your not a spa person! 🤦‍♀️

What are you into? What about going for a nice lunch somewhere, visiting a museum, if you really fancy the beach leave early morning and jump on a train nowhere is too far from the beach if you leave early enough

What do you like doing?

I’d book a return train ticket to a nice town somewhere, first class if I felt like it. I’d look for a town with plenty to see, and I’d stroll around the town, poking around in secondhand bookshops, treat myself to a nice lunch somewhere, whether that was fancy meal for one or just an extra nice picnic on a park bench.

I might walk around some other shops or take a look around some older buildings (so for eg York I’d walk the walks, Oxford I’d go through the covered market and walk through some of the oldest bits of the city, Bath I’d walk past the Roman but, Cheltenham I’d find the shops, etc. ).

I’d buy myself something to extend the day - a new book, or a nicer than usual pair of socks, a slice of cake from a fancy patisserie, whatever.

Then I’d book my train home for a reasonable time, and once home I’d have a bath and a glass of wine and an early night.

@Heathofhares

I'm about an hour outside of London.

Boat trip from Greenwich to Westminster (or a nearer point to you).

They're only about £15 return for a 40 minute journey, with a tour guide telling you all about the historical buildings and bridges etc on the way.

Have a nice lunch at the other end with a bit of shopping before returning. I think the last boat back is late evening.

Some great ideas - I think I need to try and lengthen my day to include the evening.

It depends what you are into, but if it were me i would keep it low key and just pick a lovely town to spend the day in - somewhere like Cambridge, Bath, wherever is reachable for you. Then I would have a reached day of treats - lovey lunch somewhere, browsing a bookstore, perhaps a manicure and afternoon film in a luxury cinema (the kind with armchairs :)).

Enjoy your day OP!

If you've only got 8-6 then I wouldn't travel too far- maximise your relaxing time!

Is there somewhere nearby you can have a nice walk/ lunch/ mooch around? I always find a walk in the countryside lifts the spirits- particularly if there's a nice cafe or pub at the end!

Is there a pottery painting studio near you? We have a couple locally and it’s a fab way to spend a few hours, totally switch off from everything else and just concentrate on painting. I’m not remotely artistic but really enjoyed it and you end up with something you can keep and admire

Elizabeth Street in Belgravia is nice to wander around. You can walk to Buckingham palace from there.

Windsor - have a mooch around Windsor

Stately home visit and afternoon tea - Hampton court? Hatfield house

Kew Gardens

Golf lesson - try something new, have a golf lesson and then a nice lunch (or tennis, sailing lesson, windsurfing etc)

lunch then west end matinee

Paddle boarding or kayak lesson?

I'd come into London.

Brunch.

Walk around/maybe sit in one of the parks.

Matinee performance of West End Show.

Late lunch/early dinner.

Train home.

Or I'd get a hotel room in a really nice hotel, close to home to minimise traveling. I'd have a swim, room service, luxurious bath, nap and just enjoy the peace and quiet.

@Bohoboo

Paddle boarding or kayak lesson?

Sounds interesting - any ideas how I find one of these?

Google ‘paddleboarding’ ‘canoe/kayak’ and the town or county you live in, and you should find something.

10-4 is a good beach day!

Not sure which is your nearest beach or seaside place but if the forecast is good I would do that. Time on the train with a good book, a couple of good swims, a lie on the beach, places like Whitstable or Broadstairs have nice walks along to the next bay / place, fab ice cream parlours, tea shops etc.

OR I would go to the nearest place for a good hike. S Downs or wherever. Pack a real treat for a picnic. Push myself a bit.

Or get the train to Oxford or Cambridge, see the sites, shop mooch, have some lovely food, sit by the river.

Or I would go to a part of London I rarely go to: Richmond Park / Hampstead Heath / Kew Gardens / Hampton Court Park.. wherever. Excellent picnic, good long walk, a sit down on a rug and read.

I would go somewhere with a lovely art gallery for the morning, have coffee and cake there. Lunch somewhere nice, possibly even a picnic in a park. Then in the afternoon would want to be somewhere cool and shady. Maybe lovely gardens with a new book. I have no idea what is near you though.