Summer Staycation Ideas for the UK
Eleven hotels & hideaways that all have availability this summer for last-minute getaways
It’s halfway through July, and as someone who panics if they’re arent ultra-organised, I have the remainder of my summer plans all neatly lined up. Spoiler alert: they are all staycations. As much as I love travelling abroad, the years of the pandemic taught me that there are many beautiful places to discover closer to home, and I’ve been packing my diary with UK trips ever since.
As you can probably imagine, I’m very particular when it comes to the places I stay. I look for beautifully designed hotels and hideaways that feel like homes away from home, and I usually want to be in the vicinity of some sort of water I can submerge myself in - be it an outdoor bath tub or a tranquil lake. The location matters as much to me as the place I am staying in.
Previously, I’ve shared lists of my favourite cabins, cottages and hotels in the UK, but this particular list is based around places that are ideal for long, languid summer days and balmy summer nights. Places with sprawling kitchen gardens to explore, or covered porches for reading outdoors on hot and stormy summer nights. Places surrounded by beautiful countryside and wildflower meadows, or with sea views. Places where slow summer days come easy.
The low-down on the list:
They are all located in England, Wales, Scotland (and I’ve also included Ireland).
Some I have stayed in myself, others I have lined up for later in the summer, and there are places that have been waiting in the wings of my travel wish list for some time now.
Oh - and I’ve checked to be sure they all have summer availability (from now until the end of September, because I’m crossing all my fingers and toes our ‘summer’ is going to arrive late).
Craftman’s Cabin, Somerset
This handmade wooden cabin looks like something from a dream. A covered veranda, outdoor bath, surrounded by meadows. Indoors, its cosy and charming, boasting a wood-burning stove, gingham table linens and a wood-burning stove. Every detail has been carefully considered to create a welcoming space, which feels much more homely than your usual cabin. It’s the perfect place for lazy summer days: soaking up golden hour with sundowners on the rocking chairs perched on the porch, lounging in the outdoor bath with a good book, or taking your dog for an evening stroll through wildflower meadows. I particularly love that they list all the makers of everything in the cabin - from woollen blankets to wooden stools - on their website.
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