Top 10 places for a UK holiday

With Covid-19 lockdowns, more people than ever are looking to holiday within the UK this summer. Although travelling abroad is fun, there are so many beautiful places to explore in the UK, and Covid-19 has meant more of us are enjoying exploring our local areas. Here’s my top 10 places for a UK holiday this summer.

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10. Edinburgh Castle

Number 10 of my top 10 places for a UK holiday is the gorgeous Edinburgh Castle. Visiting the castle is a great day out in Edinburgh – check out the opening times here. But don’t forget to explore the rest of Edinburgh as well. Holyrood Palace, at the other end of the Royal Mile, is another great place to visit. Edinburgh is also a really fun city as well, and in August it really comes alive with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where you can see hundreds of plays, comedy performances and other arts performances and support new artists. For a great guide to Edinburgh with a useful map, check out this great travel guide (affiliate).

9. Oxford

The world-famous University of Oxford has some stunning buildings dotted throughout the entire city. I love walking around the Bodlean Library, Radcliffe Camera, and through university colleges like Christchurch College and New College. When you’re tired of exploring the university, there are loads of cute pubs in this city too – my favourite is The Turf.

The countryside around the city of Oxford is stunning as well, especially if you’ve got a car to explore. I’d recommend visiting nearby Wittenham Clumps or Watlington Hill on the edge of the Chilterns, for some stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Or check out some other walk ideas in my blog here or in this great walking guide (affiliate).

8. Warwick Castle and Shakespeare’s Birthplace

To fully immersie yourself in some important English history, you really can’t beat the county of Warwickshire. Warwick Castle, dating back to William and Conqueror in 1068, is a great day out with loads of attractions at the Castle, including the scary dungeons and a bird of prey show in the summer. Nearby Stratford-Upon-Avon is famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and it’s a great place to learn more about his life and see a Shakespeare play performed at one of the theatres. Check out my blog on Warwickshire here.

7. Brecon Beacons, Wales

For beautiful rollings hills and mountains, look no further than the Brecon Beacons in South Wales. Endless miles of hiking routes make this a perfect place for a summer holiday full of great views. The photos of the scenery speak for themselves – a week in the Brecon Beacons will be a holiday to remember. For some great walk ideas in the Brecon Beacons, check out this great walk guide (affiliate).

6. Stonehenge and Wiltshire’s historic walks

Another great county for some history and scenery is Stonehenge and Wiltshire. Dating back to around 3000BC, Stonehenge is definitely a top place to visit. The rest of Wiltshire has some lovely countryside as well for a UK holiday – the National Trust property of Stourhead is a great day out, or nearby stone circle Avebury is another top location for a walk. Check on my blog on Wiltshire walks here.

5. Loch Lomond, Scotland

Back in Scotland, and another of my top 10 places for a UK holiday is the Scottish Lochs. Although the weather can sometimes be a bit rainy in Scotland, there are some sunny days as well, and the views of the Lochs really are unbeatable. A boat trip on Lock Lomond can be a great way to appreciate the scenery – check out the times and routes here. Loch Lomond is one of my favourites, or your could venture a bit further north to Loch Ness in search of the Loch Ness Monster.

4. Cornwall

Miles of stunning coastline as well as gorgeous beaches and cute fishing villages make Cornwall one of my favourite places in the world. Body-boarding and surfing from the beaches is great fun in summer (remember your wetsuit, the sea can be cold even in the summer!). Hiking along the South West Coast Path is just amazing.

3. The Lake District

The Lake District makes it into the top 3 of my top 10 places for a UK holiday. There are so many gorgeous lakes and mountains it can be hard to choose what to do each day on your holiday. I love the lakes of Grasmere, Ullswater and Derwentwater. If you’re looking for a more strenuous hike, Helvellyn and Scaffell Pike are great, and also the Langdale Pikes. There’s so much beauty here you’ll just want to keep returning every year. Check out some great walks in the Lake District in this book (affiliate).

2. Cardigan Bay, Wales

Another area of stunning coastline in Wales, Cardigan Bay is slightly further north than Pembrokeshire. It tends to be a bit less busy than Pembrokeshire, but the coast paths are just as stunning and there are some great beaches here to try body boarding, like Llangrannog. Plus you can visit the pretty seaside town of New Quay, and if you’re lucky spot dolphins. Check out my blog about this area here.

1. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast

Top of my list for my top 10 places for a UK holiday is the coast of Dorset. There are so many beautiful places to visit here, including Old Harry Rocks, Chesil Beach, Hengistbury Head, and Lulworth Cove. Walking along the coast is beautiful, and you can check out some great walk options in this book (affiliate). For a more relaxing trip, the beaches of Bournemouth are great, with nearby arcade games and great fish and chips at Harry Ramsden’s restaurant. Enjoy!

Enjoy exploring my top 10 places for a UK holiday this summer! If you’re looking for more detailed guides on some of the stunning walks and attractions in the UK, I’ve got guides on walks in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire – check them out and #getinspired to start planning your trip!