With the Bank Holiday coming up and a lot of events or possibly holidays abroad now cancelled it might feel disappointing. However, this is also an opportunity to enjoy some of the best places the UK has to offer. With a car hire and a plan, you can take advantage of the long weekend. Here are just a few places in the UK you could visit to have just as much fun as you would otherwise.
Southern Beaches
There are a lot of beaches all over the UK giving opportunities for either a day trip or to stay in a nearby town over the long weekend. Of course, we suggest finding more secluded spots or wider beaches to avoid big crowds.
Woolacombe beach in Devon is one of the UK’s largest stretches of sand and makes for a beautiful day out. It’s also a good spot for surfing and there are rocks for the kids to go crabbing. The wide beach is perfect to adhere to distancing and Woolacombe also has fantastic cafes and beach facilities.
Although it may be busy you could take the whole weekend to explore the beaches of Cornwall. There are several spots to choose from including Treyarnon Bay and Porthcurno. With a hired car you’ll be able to be more flexible and find the safest spots for a good day out. There are also the surrounding towns to explore, each with their quintessential Cornish charm.
You could opt for a weekend in Wales and explore cities like Cardiff. In southern Wales, there are some great beaches too so you could divide your time. We recommend Cardiff Bay Beach and Barry Island, featured in the hit show, Gavin & Stacey.
Lake District
The Lake District could make for an incredible weekend. Being able to travel around the mountains and lakes at your own speed, making your own adventure, it can give an immense sense of freedom.
There is an abundance of outdoor activities in the Lake District. Bank holiday is a perfect time to bring out the camping gear and take in the awesome trail opportunities. The highest mountain is Skafell Pike, so high that if you make it to the top you may even be able to see as far as the Isle of Skye and Scotland.
The summer bank holiday weekend will make it likely perfect swimming weather. Lake Windermere has paddleboards and kayaks and from there you can also hike or train to Brockhole. There are play areas for kids as well as zip lines, cafes, and more to enjoy. It’s a very pleasant area where you can lounge until the sun comes down.
If you really enjoy the water you can also look into getting a boat at the Coniston Boating Centre. Coniston Water is a magnificent lake dotted with sailboats and motorboats. There are also rowing boats and canoes and explore the far-reaching waters surrounded by endless forests.
Scotland
Scotland can make an amazing quick getaway for any resident or visitor in the UK. It holds incredible cities, some of the most stunning natural beauty in all the world, high-class golfing as well as incredible and ancient history.
Edinburgh is a place anyone who has the chance to visit. While there you can take in Edinburgh Castle on the hill or explore the nearby Princes Street for high-end shopping. Mary King’s Close and the rest of Old Town make for some spooky and interesting discoveries and there are also nearby hiking trails such as Arthur’s Seat.
In terms of golfing one of the finest courses to visit is King’s Golf Club. This is found around Inverness, which is the famous body of water that houses the Loch Ness Monster. There’s also St Andrew’s, which is known as the ‘home of golf’ and has seven courses to play on.
If you want to be really adventurous you could go further from Inverness and make your way to the Isle of Skye. There is so much to do here, the Pool of Fairies, historic pubs and ancient spots of castles and natural landscape. You can even bring the car by ferry so to explore as much as possible.
London Parks
Of course the England capital will still be a place worth visiting over the long weekend. Although places are still under certain restrictions there’s no doubt that the city can be enjoyed responsibly.
The parks offer a great opportunity to enjoy the weather with nice food and drinks while still maintaining healthy distancing rules. London is dotted with some of the world’s finest parks and over the long weekend, they are well worth taking advantage of.
Hyde Park is located near the shopping district of High Street Kensington and spans across central London. This makes it ideal for a day out as you can stop, enjoy the park and make your way to numerous sites including the Royal Albert Hall.
Greenwich Park offers beautiful panoramic views of the city. It is a royal park in the South East of London filled with 17th Century architecture and the Royal Observatory. It spans across 83 acres so you can easily find your ideal spot. There are many parks to choose from but just a few more to honourably mention are Richmond Park, St James’s Park, and Regents Park.
