To ask if it’s worth having a holiday in the UK?

[TigerLils]

Right, I’ve coped pretty well so far, the past 16 months has been pretty difficult for many and I feel pretty bad about this but I need a holiday. A change of scenery! Some nice weather chilling food and drinks. Obviously it’s limited where you can go at the moment and we are looking at a staycation perhaps (it’s just me and DP) but everything is booked up or seriously overpriced in the UK.

Not sure if it’s worth it but I’m pretty desperate here… ( I need this for my mental health)

Can any of you recommend places to go for a couples getaway in the UK?

City break might be cheaper, as they won't have the international tourism so may have better deals on hotels etc. Except London. But somewhere like eYork/Liverpool etc.

I hate self catering holidays full stop. So the thought of having a UK sled catering holiday when it probably rains is not my idea of fun!

My best family holidays have been in the UK. We did enjoy trips abroad but there was something 'seriously lovely' about holiday-ing at home. Especially when we discovered the North of Norfolk.

@TigerLils it would help if you said where in the U.K. you live and where you have been before that you have liked or disliked.

Like you, I generally see U.K. holidays as a waste if time because for me I want to be in a place where I hear another language around me and even the supermarkets are different. But desperate times call for desperate measures…
For a City break I’d suggest Edinburgh or Bath, but I also think London is a great bet this summer as it will be quieter without all the foreign tourists. Planned properly, you can chill out in so e really tranquil spots in the Royal Parks, Hampstead Heath, Richmond, and the food and theatre options are unsurpassed.

I'm slightly alarmed at how many people are heading to Northumberland - I better not find you all on "my" beach. Those of you that are doing so under sufferance please go with an open mind and embrace the beauty, history, miles of stunning beaches (just not "my" beach) and fantastic food. If the weather lets you down Newcastle is a wonderful vibrant city with lots to do and Edinburgh, Durham and York are all easily accessible. Beamish offers lots of undercover parts to dodge showers. On sunny days there are miles and miles of glorious golden sand, lots of walking/cycling opportunities through breath taking scenery in Kielder and the National park. More castles than you can shake a stick at. Fantastic local produce and booze. I could go on but it sounds like it will already be full of Mumnetters when I make my annual trip this August.

@NameyNameyNameChangey

City break might be cheaper, as they won't have the international tourism so may have better deals on hotels etc. Except London. But somewhere like eYork/Liverpool etc.

Why not London @NameyNameyNameChangey?

Herefordshire. Just beautiful.

We tend to holiday in the UK or Ireland as I hate flying. We have been to Cornwall, Suffolk, Norfolk, Northumbria, York, Wales (Anglesey), the Highlands, the Orkneys, the Cotswolds, the Lake district, the Isle of Man. Always have a wonderful time. Our country is beautiful and varied.

I know quite a few who have been away, UK and abroad. The consensus seems to be that it wasn't quite the same as in normal times but it was nice to get away. The steep prices are putting me off, happy to wait another year or until winter.

We are doing a road trip amd staying at hotels for one or two nights at a time. Much more availablity and the cost for 8 nights accommodation is £1800 and that is for 3 hotel rooms each time (teens won't share!) so if you have younger kids and can get family rooms the cost would be much less. We won't be on the road for more than 2 hours any day and will be seeing lots of new places inc Lake District and North Wales. I don't mind the weather not being amazing I just want to do something different!

@HaveringWavering Just because London is not going to be any cheaper!

Wales. Depending on where you are Wales is stunning and probably not as expensive as England. As someone else said..the South (Rhossili Bay and the Gower). Pembrokeshire has the coastal path and Tenby which is one of the prettiest towns on earth (and there are puffins!).

North Wales has Snowdonia and Portmeirion and is ridiculously beautifu. There's also the Brecon Beacons.

Oh and for those who feel hearing a different language all around you is vital for a holiday my DH swears blinds that Geordie and Northumbrian are not English.

I like a holiday where I'm sleeping in a different bed every night and I'm pursuing A Quest - for example, walking the length of Hadrian's Wall or cycling across the country. It takes the pressure off in a weird way because you don't have to keep wondering if you are enjoying yourself - even the less fun moments are taking you further towards your goal.

I realize that this may, quite rightly, be many people's idea of hell.

As PP's have said it all depends on what you consider a "holiday".

For me personally, no it isn't worth it.

We went to Antigua all inclusive last Sept when travel was more open than it is now and had an amazing time.

We will be doing the same this year if travel restrictions allow.

Not wasting my money in this country. We have several short breaks here during the year but no more than two or three nights.

We don't consider that a proper holiday though.

you've had lots of good suggestions - if you told us some things you enjoy I bet we could narrow it down more. The fact that it's just the two of you opens up some really nice places. I agree a UK holiday can be pricey compared to some destinations abroad - especially a family holiday - but you can also have some really wonderful experiences. People do come from all over the world to experience our cities, countryside and culture, as we do to so many other places around the world. I can't wait to go away and get out the country but there's definitely lots to enjoy here.

A city break could be so great, particularly midweek. Somewhere like Bath, which is often absolutely rammed with international tourists, could work really well? I'm very fond of Liverpool and Manchester, obviously London is great option. I fancy Chester, though I haven't been (has anyone else? Worth it for a couple of days?). York?

I hate self catering holidays full stop. So the thought of having a UK sled catering holiday when it probably rains is not my idea of fun!

You hate restaurants?

If your mental health is so low that you are desperate for a holiday to that extent then yes, it’s worth it. You can’t take money with you!
My husband and I (plus six year old) are going to Liverpool and Manchester with a stop at Chester zoo in the holidays and we come from kent. I’ve never been and I’ve loved planning and researching all the things we can do.
It’ll be quite refreshing not having to pack the kitchen sink, knowing I can speak the language and not changing up money if I’m honest!

Norfolk, Head out to somewhere like Hapisburgh or just down from the coast where it is really quiet. Very relaxing and lots to do.

@MsTSwift

What at nonsense 🙄 🙄 lacking imagination how rude. Unapologetic unashamed sun seeker here. I physically crave warmth - proper warmth where you get lovely balmy evenings and you and can sit outside night after night playing cards and chatting not huddled in front of a box set or on a beach in a flipping cagoule.

Completely agree. Nothing better than exploring the world, the atmosphere, the sights, smells, the barmy evening air, crystal clear waters, snorkelling, trying new foods, different cultures, everything about going abroad I love. 😍😍😍

I love UK holidays. My favourite place is Lyme Regis, but one of the best holidays I've ever had was to Mousehole in Cornwall. We used it as a base and went out every day and we had perfect weather as well. The views were just as good, if not better, than Greece, Italy etc.

Not wasting my money in this country.

What a bizarre attitude.

I've booked a number of extra trips in the UK
this year because I specifically want to support UK businesses.

@NewLifeInTheSouth

Absolutely worth it but yes, anything in a popular tourist spot is going to be booked up and overpriced by now. Assuming you can go out of the school holidays though, it shouldn't be impossible to find somewhere nice.

Try places that are less obvious than Devon or Cornwall or York or Brighton for city breaks. Maybe do a little road trip around a couple of counties you've never been to before and seek out their prettiest areas, nature reserves and charming small cities. Hire a canal boat for a day, or stay on one. Home in on Areas of Outstanding National Beauty. Foodie hotspots like Ludlow in Shropshire or Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. Lavenham in Suffolk is lovely too but because it's not on the coast it's not overrun. Stamford, Lincoln and the Wolds in Lincolnshire? Derbyshire Dales?

Rye and Pevensey in East Sussex are lovely, Bosham and around Chichester and the harbour and West Wittering beach in West Sussex also lovely. But they can all get very busy.

West Wittering is currently limiting numbers, there's signs on the approach roads informing people when it's full. It's a wonderful beach and is even more pleasant at the moment with the reduced numbers, but people driving a few hours need to know the could be turned away. Strongly advise pre booking especially for the weekends

I won't pay the current prices to go in the UK, most of the places aren't as nice as my own home (live rurally in a beautiful part of the country). Whilst I agree it's nice to get away, if the weather is crap it's grim.

I think we must be chosing the wrong places because I havent had a decent pub meal in ages, when it's sunny all the beaches are packed and the roads jammed.

So when I can cook better than many of the restaurants/pubs and my house is nice than most of the stuff in our price range, I will simply do day trips and go abroad.

@TheDevils Well good for you. I AM actually supporting businesses in this country (the airline industry that is on it's knees) as well as the economy of much poorer countries than ours.

Do I win the virtue signalling comp?