Holiday in the UK: places to stay x a non-British

[LadyAgripina]

Given that I live and work here since a year ago (mostly locked down), and that I won't be able to go to the Mediterranean Sea (my original plan), what would you recommend for a family for whom everything is new?. My DH proposed doing 3-days-outings back and forth to London during July. I am more for staying in a place and rest. He argues that it could rain the whole period. What do you think? We love to walk, eat and read. Our teen DD also. We don't like too crowded places. We have a car. I would like Airbnb. Advice? Thank you

what sort of things do you like doing?

You could visit Norwich, as it's an interesting, historic city but also has lots of independent shops/cafes etc. The Norfolk Broads are only a 20 minute journey away, as is the seaside. It would give you a bit of everything for a short break. To be honest, if you had 5 days that would mean you could overnight in the city and at the coast/Broads.

The Jurassic coast. There are small villages such as Bridport and others along that stretch of coast with nice b and bs and air bnbs . And Lyme Regis is a lovely old town to walk about and enjoy the sea.

Ask your daughter what she’s into. Is she new to the UK school system?
Maybe something connected to next year’s curriculum.

The Italian people I know who holidayed in the UK enjoyed:

Harry Potter world.
Cornwall for Arthurian legends (Tintagel, Land’s End, St Michael’s mount).
Liverpool for the Beatles trail.
Brighton Pavilion and shopping
Edinburgh, Scottish lakes and Skye.
Norwich and, strangely enough Skegness!

And r

(Sorry)
And if you find a central Airbnb you can add trips for your own interest.

Personally I’d love to spend a week in North Wales or Yorkshire (big place!).

Where are you based and how far would you like to drive?
I would recommend Yorkshire. Fabulous scenery country and coast plus some lovely towns and cities (York, Harrogate etc).
If you stayed in York you could travel out to the Dales and the coast.

Apparently London is really quiet at the moment compared to normal, I guess due to lack,of foreign visitors.

Have you considered the London YHA youth hostels? they’re inexpensive and actually quite nice. It may save commuting into

It depends on where you live and how far you want to travel. The UK has lots of different areas and the change can be quite dramatic, drive up the M6 Motorway and in 1 hour you go from the Cheshire plains , very flat to the Mountains of Cumbria.
Friends of ours from outside the UK love North Wales and Liverpool.
Lots of ideas here, North Wales is spectacular, Mountains and sea, quiet and busy places, plenty to see and do but also a relaxing place.

www.donthibernate.co.uk
One advantage of North Wales is you can have a crowded place on the coast but travel 2 miles inland and its very quiet.
Why not try a Caravan?
We use this site, its mostly privately owned Caravans
www.ukcaravans4hire.com/craig-tara-caravans.html

Went here yesterday
llandudno

The UK in incredibly diverse as are the bits that people like. I love the Suffolk coast Southwold, Aldeburgh etc, North Norfolk, the Isle of Wight, North Cornwall, Yorkshire and Scotland.
Though with my daughter I am going to London for three nights seeing two shows and having a Willy Wonka Afternoon tea.

Welcome to the UK! Are you Italian? I recognise a few italianisms in there! I would say somewhere like Bath would be nice, in a nice hotel, or maybe a little cottage outside the centre of Oxford and you could do a day trip into the centre.

Or if you want to go off the usual international tourist route and really like walking, I recommend either the Lake District which is beautiful, or a piece of Hadrian's wall which is always memorable. Corbridge is a nice place to stay for Hadrian's wall.

There’s some great recommendations on this blog from an American expat

abroadpurpose.com/category/expat-lifestyle-blog/travel/

Oh thank you for all the recommendations! I am South American with Italian roots . I live in London, and my idea was to drive no more than 4 hours or even go places by train. Everything you mentioned sound increíble! We like to do trekking, eat in nice places, look at landscapes and avoid the crowds. I will make a list and study all the suggestions. Thank you so much!

Portmeirion was designed to look like an Italian village and you can stay there... (but it's v popular) portmeirion.wales/. There are family walking holidays where luggage can be transferred but rain is a strong possibility www.headwater.com/holidays/walking/britain/W06LD.htm. London itself is a good option - the Airbnbs will be good value, and there are aparthotels that have kitchens such as the Lockes www.lockeliving.com/en/london/kingsland-locke?gclid=Cj0KCQjwh_eFBhDZARIsALHjIKcgUYbqHeFh7ppZxEFKiLdDWIOMdVe8jHUFpoiORBAv0At_jHomWpcaAnCbEALw_wcB

Sorry - just seen you live in London. This is the equivilant in Manchester www.nativeplaces.com/property/native-manchester/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwh_eFBhDZARIsALHjIKfSWfqZG3szDK0CWM2AhSZ8Rq4Sf2EQgm4aKVMISJQK06BPjpcTc7UaAo2_EALw_wcB. Lancaster - around Forest of Bowland - will help you escape crowds and has a v good food scene. Bristol also very good at the moment.

Yorkshire is great, York especially is very popular with visitors from all over the world and has lots of historical interest. You can also get a train from Kings Cross in only two hours. But book ahead as otherwise very expensive.

If you got the train to York you could easily fill a couple of days wandering around and then possibly get the train to a coastal area like Scarborough, Whitby or Bridlington for a day at the beach and real fish and chips.

Thank you x the gonative links. York and it's ghosts 👻 I am looking forward to that. I bought this book following a recomendation from a blog here (the American one). I am studying York right now.

And the real fish and chips! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 My Italian blood boils...

@LadyAgripina

Thank you x the gonative links. York and it's ghosts 👻 I am looking forward to that. I bought this book following a recomendation from a blog here (the American one). I am studying York right now.

I did the ghost walk years ago and really enjoyed it and funnily enough we had some good laughs.

I live in Italy and I have to say for Yorkshire fish and chips, non c'è paragone!!! Però concedo che magari il polipo d'Italia è più buona daì ;-)

@SVRT19674 tell me where you've been please!

@Plumedenom 🐙🤣

I'd say avoid the big seaside resorts. They are likely to be packed - they are busy enough in years when people are free to travel abroad. Pick something a little way inland, although it is going to be difficult to avoid the crowds this year.

Yes, this is my main concern (and my DH's) 🥺

From what you’ve said you like I’d try The Gower in South Wales - or anywhere further up the coast or the Brecon Beacons/Snowdon. You’d probably also like Derbyshire - look around the Bakewell/Buxton area. Yorkshire in the peak district or dales would be nice. Or costal Yorkshire such as Whitby. The Lakes would be good, but probably busy. And lots of Scotland is lovely, but it’s a good journey from London and well over the 4 hours.