to want to make england feel like “abroad”

[Pukepukepuke]

For a variety of reasons I can’t go on holiday to Europe but have managed to find a great deal somewhere in England. I’m mournfully sad about missing that amazing feeling when you know you’re on holiday abroad but I can’t put my finger on what it is... hopefully someone will know what I mean.........

I was debating how to make it feel like I’m abroad and all I’ve come up with so far is drinking nesquick because I’m not very imaginative.

My sister read out a tweet about this the other day that made me laugh. I can't remember it exactly but it was something like
'Pretend you're on holiday abroad by drinking a beer at ten in the morning then wandering to the Spar shop dressed in just your bikini to buy a bottle of water and 3 giant bags of crisps'

Worth a try...

Some of these said already but?

Sun loungers
Holiday clothes
Visiting touristy things/markets
Eating outside/not cooking
If you go by car try to leave it and walk/public transport/hire bike

This is my 5th year of not going abroad and I'm desperate!! I don't know if it's your thing, but how about going to a waterpark? It will be heaving in school holiday time of course but if you've got children they'll love it! Here are some of the best in England:

www.simplyswim.com/blogs/blog/the-top-5-uk-water-parks

Buy a bar of Ritter Sport. Freely available in many English supermarkets but somehow illegal to eat unless you are on mainland Europe.

Mix up your usual times for doing things - maybe go out in the morning, come back and have a lazy siesta, then go out again later in the afternoon and have a stroll around before going out for a later evening meal.

Sit outside as often as possible and choose places (cafes / bars / restaurants) that have pretty little outdoor courtyards. If possible, sit near foreign tourists talking a different language.

Maybe get a friend to set up a fake airport security for you?! Joking on that one.

I usually holiday in the UK and I love it. You need to embrace the holiday mindset and get excited about the holiday time you'll have - a holiday is a wonderful thing wherever you're having it. And think of the advantages like less time to get there, no faffing with airport security etc.

Some ideas for you.

If it's self catering don't use a regular supermarket use a local famers market,local delicatessen,artisan bakery a cheesemonger and find out if there are any local microbrewery or small prouducers of good quality wine.

Eat al fresco.

Look for nice local restaurants that specialize in the type of food you'd eat on holiday if you were abroad.

Lay by the pool(if there is one)with a big floppy hat on,Jackie O sunglasses with a cocktail in one hand and a good book in the other,if there's no pool do the same on the beach.

Visit a local art show or museum if there are any near by.

I know it's not the same as being abroad but honestly there are some breath taking places in the uk and with the amazing weather we are having at the moment you should have an amazing time and don't forget holidaying in the UK means no delayed flights,no children kicking the back of your chair,no lost luggage and no hot and claustrophobic coach transfers that take hours to reach your hotel.

Mix your own perfume to use in your chosen destination. Which bit of “ abroad “ did you love the aroma of and we can assist recreating the olfactory experience with our helpful suggestions! For example Venice : drainy base note, watery mid note, high lights of prosecco and white peach nectar, topped with visiting bursts of wooden gondola and mooring posts, bakery and boat fuel exhaust fumes on a tapestry of moist basil and tomato aromatics. Most island nations I’d base note with Hawaiian tropic and work outwards from there.

Today I wore the fab dress I bought for my holiday in Portugal a couple of weeks ago (it rained all week there and I didn't get to wear it) and had octopus for my dinner.

Afternoon drinking

I usually think that if it's a warm night and you can sit outside as it gets dark or is dark then that feels like abroad to me.

Can you set up an outdoor seating area with some lights and enjoy some time sitting outside?

I did a uk break recently. I purposely chose a place that was nothing like the environment I lived in, say:

City -> somewhere very rural
Countryside -> seaside
Inland -> working harbour
... that sort of thing

Just the different smells and sights made me feel like I had broken the home connection, as it were and it was fab.

(I do get the abroad "feeling" thing though - for me it is drinking 7up out of a glass bottle with a straw!)

I think a lot of the feeling of being abroad is down to being surrounded by everybody else in the holiday spirit.

Nobody is worrying about the weather.
Nobody is sticking to a timetable.
It's warm (although that's achievable in the uk at the moment).
No worries about food or drink if you are AI.
Suncream smell always makes me think of holiday.
Everyone walks around in swimwear.

I think we just don't have the resorts here like they do abroad. If you can find an AI hotel with a pool on the beach with lovely weather in the UK then I think you're golden.

Oh no, don't try to fake it, revel in the particularness of where you are.
Some of my best ever holidays have been in England (or Scotland, or Wales). You just have to get into it. Also avoid supermarkets (which are fun abroad but just the same old in Uk, seek out some local independent shops). Where are you going OP? Maybe with local knowledge we can help special it up.

Have breakfast outside. My friends and I went for breakfast the other week, it was glorious sunshine, we found a cafe with a lovely garden. We all were saying it felt like being on holiday (may have helped that I didn't have the kids with me so it really felt like a relaxing holiday)

Go shopping in Aldi or Lidl when on holiday, it always feels a little forrin/continental to me.

It's easy.

Take some terrible tea bags with you and drink vile tea for a couple of weeks

Just go everywhere in swimsuit and flip flops. That should do it.

Drink cocktails for breakfast

Long life or sterlised milk.

Get up at four am and put beach towels on your sofa?

It's all about the lemon Fanta

i think if its hot and youre drunk, then it all feels like holiday

I bought some sunscreen from Wilkos today (own brand) and it smells like 80s holidays. Maybe it would help.

I agree with pp who say look for the special things in a ‘home’ holiday.

Is your holiday near the seaside?

One of the loveliest things about British beaches is the sound of children playing. Foreign beaches don’t seem to have the same vibe at all. Close your eyes and let yourself enjoy something that is quintessentially British.

Tbh I don't really tend to think of Europe as being abroad from Britain. Maybe you would be better trying to channel are particular country? For France it's all about the marriage Frere. Italy eating too much risotto. Holland/Brussels salmon and potatoes. Pick a country and eat/drink stuff you usually have while there.

Buy some Lipton yellow label tea and make it with UHT milk.