Short breaks in the UK: nationwide guide

Plan a trip with our guide to getting the most from a short stay all over the UK

Make the most of a short break with our guide to getting the most from a short stay in wonderful locations all over the UK: in the country, in the city and by the sea. Each one has ideas for where to stay, places to eat, local attractions and things to do

 

SCOTLAND

The Angus Glens Discover fairytale castles, mysterious standing stones and a wealth of wildlife among the mountain valleys of east Scotland

 

Dornoch and the Highlands A great base for exploring, from Loch Ness to John O'Groats

 

East Lothian This forgotten corner of Scotland is a perfect destination for anyone in search of wildlife, rugged coastline and golf

 

Northwest Highlands In the remote, dramatic landscape of Assynt and Coigach, still lochs lie in the shadow of heather-covered mountains and golden eagles, otters and puffins haunt sea and sky. And this remote area of Scotland boasts many traditional crafts, culture and communities

 

St Andrews With its long, blustery beaches and cobbled streets, there is something here to get everyone’s pulse racing

NORTHEAST

Harrogate, North Yorkshire A mother-and-daughter baking break

Newcastle A mother-and-daughter shopping spree

 

Northumberland coast The north Northumberland coast is a defiantly unadorned beauty – all wildflowers, rare birds, stone farmhouses and the sparkling North Sea

 

Berwick-upon-Tweed With its elegant Georgian buildings sitting proud over the mouth of the Tweed, England’s most northerly town is a rare and wonderful place

 

Durham Dales The wild, sweeping slopes of the Durham Dales descend to meet hay meadows and green pasture in this place of stark, contrasting beauty

 

Yorkshire Wolds Explore gently undulating hills and hidden valleys to discover ancient market towns, unspoilt villages and sweet-smelling meadows of wildflowers

NORTHWEST

Morecambe, Lancashire The regeneration of the Midland Hotel, an Art-Deco masterpiece, means this Lancashire resort is once again the destination for a thoroughly modern mini-break

 

Southport, Merseyside No longer living in Liverpool's shadow, this north-western town is revealing itself as a chic destination while holding onto its seaside charm and character

 

Shopping in Manchester Combine shopping with a fun weekend in a fabulous city, and you could save the cost of your travel in bargain buys

 

Eden Valley, Cumbria Misty woodland walks, magnificent watermills and a wealth of history and wildlife in Cumbria's lesser-known landscape

 

WALES

Llandeilo Mother-and-daughter weekend in the Welsh countryside

 

Laugharne The coastal charms of Dylan Thomas's former home

 

St Davids Head to this bijou, eco-friendly city in West Wales for pristine strands, divine local produce and sustainable places to stay

North Wales Unspoilt region where the volcanic peaks of Snowdonia form a spectacular backdrop to broad sandy beaches, heather-clad hills and a tangle of crystal-clear rivers rushing to the sea

 

 

MIDLANDS

Ludlow, Shropshire One-night wonder romantic break with the Valentine's Anytime package

 

EAST ANGLIA

 

North Norfolk For big skies, bracing walks on expansive sandy beaches and wide, wintry landscapes, head to this stretch of East Anglia when the crowds are far away

 

Stour Valley Follow this reed-flanked river to discover a lush East Anglian landscape where fine churches and timber-framed houses sit among the wheat fields and water meadows. This is Constable country – the perfect destination for walkers, wildlife watchers and budding artists

 

Lowestoft, Suffolk See how one of East Anglia’s best-kept secrets is shaping up for the future with its regeneration scheme 

 

SOUTHWEST

St Ives, Cornwall Hard to beat for art by the sea

 

Hidden Cotswolds Tucked into the folds and hollows of these hills, away from their honeypot towns, are eccentric manor houses, artisan food producers and meadows rich with wildflowers

 

Tamar Valley The River Tamar twists through the fertile landscape, separating Cornwall from the rest of Britain. Discover traditional farmland, gentle hills and ancient woods by rail, ferry and foot

 

Guernsey Channel Islands with Caribbean-style beaches, heaps of history and wildlife, and space to totally unwind

 

Bournemouth, Dorset Join the new wave of visitors to Bournemouth and Boscombe, drawn by the brand-new boutique hotel and the much-anticipated artificial surf reef

 

Lyme Bay, Dorset Behind the coastline, from rock pools to sandstone cliffs, lies an untouched world of stone-and-thatch villages, woods and pastures and crystal-clear streams

 

Golden Valley Set on the English-Welsh border, from heavenly green pastures to the high windswept ridges above

 

Somerset Levels Steeped in history and legend, these ancient wetlands offer serenity and spectacular beauty. This is a traditional farming landscape famed for its withy beds, where flora and fauna flourish on a patchwork of water

 

Mendip hills The story of the Mendips is etched upon the landscape, from the deep gorges to the bare uplands with their spectacular views of Somerset

 

Quantock Hills, Somerset Ninety-nine square kilometres of heathland, woods, deep coombs, ancient parkland and historic coastline in Somerset

 

Malvern Hills Discover this ancient, agricultural countryside where generations of farmers have created a beguiling landscape dotted with cattle and sheep, and richly endowed medieval churches, cider orchards and beautiful woodland complete the picture of pastoral loveliness

 

SOUTHEAST

Butlins in Bognor Regis The new-look holiday camp explored

 

Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire A one-night wonder in a country hotel

 

Watford, Hertfordshire A one-night wonder in a country hotel

 

Brighton, East Sussex A busy weekend in this coastal city

 

Chichester, West Sussex A diverse blend of city, culture and countryside

 

Blackwater estuary On the edge of Essex is a land of mud flats, seabirds and inescapable history. At its heart is the town of Maldon, from where you can explore on foot or on water and savour a salty taste of life on the marshes

Thanet A new upbeat mood is lifting east Kent’s coastal resorts. Faded seaside attractions are making room for artist’s studios, smart cafés and the upcoming Turner gallery

Kentish Low Weald With its unspoilt pattern of low-lying meadows, gently sloping orchards, pretty weatherboarded villages and medieval manor houses, this lush corner of England combines fertile beauty with ancient charm

 

NORTHERN IRELAND

Lough Erne Follow lakeside walks, boat among a maze of islets and see wild flowers flourish on the upland bogs of County Fermanagh’s watery wilderness

 

Belfast A very friendly welcome on a chic city break in a regenerated city

 

 

 

 

IRELAND

Romantic Dublin An indulgent, romantic break - with cost-cutting options

 

The west of Ireland Get close to nature in the unspoilt countryside and stunning beaches of the coastline that stretches from Kerry in the south to Donegal in the north

Dublin As a weekend destination for couples, a girlie break with friends or an easy trip for the whole family, Dublin is pretty much perfect

Sligo On Ireland's west coast, this is a relatively undiscovered gem, and an easy-to-reach destination

County Cork Against a beautiful backdrop of clear-water bays and rocky peninsulas, the one-time fishing villages of Ireland’s most southerly county have been transformed into vibrant seaside towns, offering fine food and first-class accommodation

 

 

---

 

You might also like...

 

Take a walk: we have over 1000 to choose from, all over the country

 

Stylish city breaks: from local to global From old favourites to off the beaten track

 

It pays to stay in the UK: find out why

 

Great money-saving travel offers in the UK

 

Need somewhere to stay? Try our smart online accommodation finder, and book online