The best UK staycation ideas according to the Condé Nast Traveller editors
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Aware of the wealth of knowledge our editors and contributing writers have about travel gems, we asked our globetrotters to share their favourite UK staycations.
From the wild shores of the Isle of Arran to the dainty beach huts and dramatic cliffs in Thanet, the indulgent air of Somerset's flagship hotel, The Newt, to the wonders of our very own capital city – there is so much to be explored without the need for a flight. UK staycations take away all the stress of travel – simply plan your route, hop in the car or get to the nearest train station, and embark on an adventure to discover what could be a lot closer to home than you first thought.
The best UK staycations to take in 2024
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1. Brighton
I lived in Brighton for four years, so it’s a place close to my heart. Plus, a spell as a tourist would give me the chance to check into some of the city’s best hotels rather than schlepping home to my decidedly less glamorous flat. I’d spend the day wandering up and down the seafront and flexing my debit card in the Laines before stopping for a pick-me-up aperitif at bijou cocktail bar Twisted Lemon. Then I’d make my way over to Hove to finally try the glamorous waterfront restaurant Rockwater. It was massively hyped before launch, but I’ve heard mixed reviews, so I’m keen to see for myself.
Where to stay: The Artist’s Residence would be my hotel of choice. It’s just two minutes from the beach, so I could head out for a sea swim before breakfast the next morning. Would I actually do it? Probably not. But I could if I wanted to, and that’s what matters. Charley Ward, commerce writer
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2. Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth. This corner of Cornwall has everything, from excellent restaurants to beautiful sandy beaches. The town itself is friendly and injected with creative energy from the university – making it the perfect destination for a UK staycation. My ideal day would start at Max Bagels for a delicious hand-rolled lox bagel. I’d then mosey down the high street, visiting independent shops like Sam Marks Ceramics, Ondine Ash and Ludgate House Antiques. I’d recommend taking a boat out to catch some fresh Mackerel in the early afternoon, but if that’s not your thing, then take a walk through meandering streets to Gyllvngvase Beach. This stretch of sand makes for perfect swims, and Gylly Beach Cafe is perfect for watching the sunset. I’d have a pre-dinner drink at The Oddfellows Arms, followed by a delicious meal at Restaurant MINE. There’s no going wrong when visiting Falmouth, so whether you’re an adventure seeker, beach lover or foodie, this is the UK staycation for you.
Where to stay: Packet House is the perfect home to rent for a staycation with family or friends. The house boasts three beautiful rooms, each with a unique take and a beautiful ocean or garden view. There are plenty of nooks for reading, dosing and watching boats on the harbour. Our favourite feature was the kitchen – the heart of the home and perfect for big meals spent with loved ones. Amber Port, audience development manager
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3. Deal
I grew up on the East Coast, so whenever I get the chance to visit a British beach, you can bet I’ll take it. Deal holds a special place in my heart as it was our first post-Covid trip back in July 2020. After four months of being cooped up in my East London flat, escaping to this pretty seaside town for a fix of fish and chips, sea air and sunshine was made even more heavenly with a stay at The Rose – a charming boutique hotel with great food and dreamy interiors.
Where to stay: The Rose is my favourite hotel in Deal, a quintessential seaside stay with bold colours and unique bedrooms to boot. The bar and restaurant are led by Rachel O’Sullivan, previously of East London’s Towpath Café, so guests are guaranteed a tasty trip. If you're happy to stay a little out of town, then I'd also recommend Updown Farmhouse a beautifully restored 17th-century farmhouse with meandering gardens and delicious food. Sarah Allard, digital editor
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4. Dartmouth
For winding down from one chapter and starting anew. Back in November, the weekend before my first day at Condé Nast, my partner picked me up from my old office, arms full of Champagne and flowers and drove us through the night to Dartmouth, Devon. Our arrival was greeted by the myriad of colours reflecting off the River Dart from the lit-up houses lining the quay and stillness, which would be borderline eerie if it wasn’t for the echoes of laughter coming from families and friends in the local restaurants and pubs. Waking up to glittering winter sunshine is worth the visit alone but once you see Aegean-esque water and the foray of colourful coastal houses and cobbled streets, you could easily believe your travels have taken you as far as the Italian Riviera. Round off your stay with dinner at the Rockfish for the catch of the day and a glass of prosecco. Well worth the journey from London, no matter how long the stay.
Where to stay: Ellesmera Mill is 400 years old and is a stunning feat of a restoration project. The old millhouse is tucked away in a vallery near Dartmouth and South Hams, shaded by trees and just a stroll away from Blackpool Sands. The stay can house 10 guests and is equipped with a wood-fired hot tub and sauna for the ultimate end to a day of exploring. Megan Wilkes, art production manager
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5. The New Forest
I think the best time to do a staycation is in autumn when long walks are accompanied by vibrant foliage and pub dinners feel wonderfully cosy. There are plenty of places where you can see autumn leaves in the UK, but my favourite would have to be the New Forest, particularly the charming town of Burley. There are plenty of scenic walks to take through the forest, where you might bump into a friendly New Forest pony.
Where to stay: To stay and eat, Burley Manor does a cracking good Sunday lunch, while upstairs its rooms overlook the neighbouring deer sanctuary. If you happen to visit on Halloween, which I coincidentally did one year, the town has a unique history of witchcraft – there are a couple of witch shops lining the main street – and hosts a Halloween street parade where fancy dress is encouraged. Lauren Burvill, commerce editor
6. London
London. I’ve lived here for four years, but it’s still my favourite city anywhere in the world. And it’s such a rare joy to be here with nothing to do and nowhere to be. I’d wake up early at Hazlitt’s in Soho, which feels like a very rich person’s very grand country house, and walk through the neighbourhood’s windy streets, past the people just heading home from the night before, to Covent Garden restaurant Balthazar for a big, bustling breakfast. I’d pop by Somerset House to peek at its latest exhibition, then head for a stroll along the river. Lunch at Borough Market, including a doughnut from Bread Ahead, and then I’d lose the afternoon at the George Inn. I’d sober up with supper at Bao, for pillowy buns stuffed with soft pork confit or crispy fried chicken, and then meet friends for cocktails on the roof of The Hoxton, Southwark, which is like summer in a rooftop bar. And then I’d file for bankruptcy.
Where to stay: London is not short of beautiful hotels, whether you're looking for a sumptuous stay at Claridge's in Mayfair or a more outlandish affair at the Broadwick Soho, this city has it all. Check out Condé Nast Traveller's definitive list of the best hotels in London if you're looking for more inspiration. Sarah James, deputy digital editor
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7. Whitstable to Ramsgate by bike
Since moving to Margate, my happy place has been cycling around the coastline. We’ll often head west to Whitstable, an almost entirely coastal path via the spooky Roman fort (and King Ethelbert pub) at Reculver and bucket-and-spade Herne Bay to Whitstable, where we’ll usually eat on the little pier at the Lobster Shack. But going east round the coast is just as fun, past the chalk stacks of Botany Bay, Dickensian Broadstairs and the Ramsgate marina to the terrace of the Bellevue Tavern, overlooking Pegwell Bay. From London, bikes are allowed on off-peak trains. The trick is to check which way the wind’s blowing, and be ready to swim.
Where to stay: The Fort Road Hotel in Margate is a favourite and provides unmatched views of the coastline. This hotel is breathing new life into Margate and bringing paired back elegance to a town that is chock-a-block with quirky hotels and B&Bs. It's also the perfect starting point for a coastal cycle trip. Toby Skinner, features director
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8. Isle of Arran
My family and I went Isle of Arran last summer and had a magical week gorge walking (turns out I’m still scared of heights and the final jump was not my finest hour), fishing, lobster potting, spotting seals along the shore and pods of dolphins on the horizon. On a trip over to Saddell Bay (there’s a striking Antony Gormley sculpture called GRIP there) we saw a basking shark, a great big thing that swam surprisingly elegantly alongside the boat before disappearing into the deep, much to the children's disappointment. Days on Arran tend to float by in a happy blur of exploring, eating delicious local seafood and enjoying vibrant sunsets which turn the sky bright orange and feel like the perfect full stop on a summer’s day.
Where to stay: Dougarie Estate on the Isle of Arran off the West Coast of Scotland has recently become one of my favourite places in the world. Our friends Jules and Jamie Gibbs run the estate and they have done an extraordinary job over the past couple of years – protecting the unique beauty of the landscape while making it more accessible and appealing to visitors. Louisa Parker Bowles, global operations director
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9. The Brecon Beacons
Earlier this year I went to the Brecon Beacons for the first time. The variety of landscapes was a revelation. In the morning you can be hiking through wooded gorges or standing behind the triple cascades of the beautiful Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, enveloped by sandstone cliffs, mosses and trees. By the afternoon you are on the summit of Pen y Fan, South Wales’s highest mountain, staring in lordly fashion at the sweeping, grassy valleys below. We had a robust lunch at Lolfa, a cool café on an industrial estate in Llandeilo – a splash of urban in an otherwise quaint market town filled with rainbow-pastel houses and narrow streets.
Where to stay: Our accommodation was Llangoedmor House, which is a Grade II-listed cottage in the village of Myddfai on the edge of the national park. Waking up to sunshine and absolute silence in the mornings was heavenly. Noo Saro-Wiwa, features writer
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10. Scottish Highlands
Many years ago I went on a winter staycation to Ullapool in the Scottish Highlands. We did absolutely nothing except eat good food, read books, watch films and go for long, rambling walks through mulchy moors and hills covered in thick blankets of heather. It’s so silent in the hinterlands surrounding Ullapool you could trek for hours without seeing anyone. One of our favourite hikes was up snow-covered Stac Pollaidh – watch out for the occasional storm swooping between the mountains, a thrilling interruption to the peaceful serenity. Reward long walks with a trip to Lochinver Larder for the best pie you’ll ever have.
Where to stay: I recommend staying in the Stonehouses, two retreats sculpted into the landscape overlooking Ullapool, Loch Broom and the Summer Isles. Olivia Morelli, senior digital writer
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11. The Pig on the Beach, Swanage
My family used to visit the seaside town of Swanage in Dorset most summers when I was a child, just as my dad had done throughout his own childhood. Our tans were so good when we got back that people always thought we’d been abroad. I have lots of sun-dappled memories of being on nearby Studland Beach, spending hours lolling in the dunes shaded by the long grasses. Creatively ramshackle boutique hotel The Pig on the Beach now overlooks the same stretch of sand, offering a way for me to regularly revisit the area in more bougie digs than the dinky caravans we used to rent. It provides the sort of comfort that will make you unwind as soon as you smell the wood-burner from the reception – a breakfast table overloaded with organic sourdough, homemade jam and granola, fresh seafood come dinner time and brightly coloured Hunters by the door for trudging through the mud or sand outside. And the place also just works wonderfully as a start and end point for bracing walks along the Jurassic Coast, past the drama of Old Harry Rocks and into Swanage for epic portions of oily, crispy fish and chips, or to stomp around the sweet ruins of Corfe Castle, a short drive away, before picking up enough local fudge to give you toothache on the way back. Becky Lucas, Contributor
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12. Anglesey, Wales
Growing up in the Midlands, many of my family holidays were in North Wales – so there’s certainly a hint of nostalgia owed to my delight in revisiting the sandy shores of Anglesey. That’s not to say the island doesn’t merit a spot on this list; in my opinion, it’s home to some of the best beaches in the UK, with stunning white sands and the clearest water I’m yet to find north of southern Spain.
Where to stay: If I was heading back now, I’d treat myself to a stay at Château Rhianfa – a Grade II-listed fairytale of a property, with views overlooking the Snowdonia mountains and its own stunning gardens to explore. It’s also the perfect base to enjoy the wonderfully charming Snowdonia Mountain Railway; a steam train that journeys to the summit of Snowdon, and has some of the most incredible views you’ll experience on a train journey in the UK, if not the world. Abigail Malbon, global audience development manager
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13. Braemar, Scotland
Braemar in the Scottish Highlands, which is one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. It’s somewhere I’ve been visiting with my family since I was a child. Memories of swimming in the breathtakingly cold mountain water of the Linn of Dee, climbing multiple munros and heading out with torches at night to spot the deer on the roadside. Sophie Knight, senior visuals editor
Where to stay: The Fife Arms is a transformed highland hunting lodge in Braemar. The hotel is a passion project of Manuela and Iwan Wirth, arguable some of the most influential contemporary-art dealers out there today. Art and design is injected into every nook and cranny of this exciting stay in the Scottish highlands.
14. Perthshire
Perthshire is perfectly located on the Highland Boundary fault, drawing visitors in ragged peaks, dense woodlands and mysterious locks. It's the perfect UK staycation for the outdoorsy type with hiking, rafting and fishing on your doorstep. The natural beauty is matched with historical landmarks like Scone Palace and the Maggie Wall Witch Monument. Pete Winterbottom, creative director
Where to stay: The Meikleour Arms, Perthshire. It’s a perfect little bolthole, nothing flashy, close to the Lower and Middle Tay beats and is known for some of the best spring salmon fishing in the country. The pub has a hearty fire and serves the best homemade pork scratchings and apple sauce, which goes down very well with a pint of 80 shilling.
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15. The Newt, Somerset
One of my favourite UK stays was to The Newt in Somerset. My memories of those afternoon teas and my spell in the salt room in the spa are a joy to recall. The gardens are open to non-guests too, and I urge everyone to take little folks to the immersive experiential museum called The Story of Gardening. Virtual reality and multi-sensory installations bring the importance of nature to life, from courtyards that recreate what it was like to step into those of the ancient world to the hanging gardens of today’s megacities. Juliet Kinsman, sustainability editor
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16. Soho Farmhouse, the Cotswolds
I’m guilty of not looking to my own backyard when it comes to holidays. My go-to is always a sunny island with a healthy handful of culture and a charming old town thrown in. But I was blown away when I visited Soho Farmhouse. A beautiful collection of cabins, restaurants and even stables along with a spa and pool nestled in 100 acres of land in the Cotswold Hills in Oxfordshire, it’s a slice of countryside heaven just two hours away from London. On arrival, a milk float shuttles you from the welcome quarters to a firepit area in a farmyard-style opening with shabby chic sofas and rugs aplenty. Begin at the Mill Room – a cool countryside pub where celebrity spots are customary, or by visiting the spa for a Cowshed signature massage. The Health Club and Boathouse feature an indoor-outdoor swimming pool looking out onto a lake – where you can also go rowing. Active visitors can tour the grounds on the trademark green bikes, or even take a gallop on the handsome resident horses. Not to be forgotten, the accommodation includes everything from stunning cabins with outdoor baths to family-sized, child and dog-friendly rooms in the main house. Whether you want to party, mingle with the cool crowd, preview a film in the Electric Barn or hide out in your cabin, you will emerge feeling revived – minus the airport delays. Jessica Rach, global content manager
17. Brown’s Hotel, London
If I found myself compelled for one reason or another to take a staycation rather than a vacation-vacation, to stay put rather than go away, I’d probably choose to spend it somewhere that at least hinted at what I might be enjoying elsewhere if I were free to travel abroad. In which case, the Kipling Suite at Brown’s Hotel in London would do nicely. Why that suite in particular? It’s a curious place, a sort of Large Hadron Collider of Britishness and exoticism, Georgian decorum and contemporary kookiness. Nothing matches. Spots, stripes, zigzags and florals duke it out against a verdant wallpapered backdrop of hallucinogenic intensity. A life-sized monkey swings in the vestibule. A bust of Lord Byron broods over a corner of the living room. Simply stepping inside – mind the monkey! – is like turning up at a party where the other guests are already sozzled and nobody agrees about anything yet somehow they’re all getting along brilliantly and having a fantastic time. Rudyard Kipling honeymooned at Brown’s in 1892, finished the last stories of The Jungle Book there in 1894 and often returned throughout the rest of his life. Hence the name of the suite, the luxuriant wallpaper, the monkey – and all the books. The place is packed to the rafters with fantastic books. So wherever it might be that you’re dreaming of for your next vacation-vacation, there’s likely to be something on the shelves to fire your imagination. Steve King, editor-at-large
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18. Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Heckfield Place in Hampshire is an elegantly reincarnated 18th-century Georgian estate where you can taste sustainability at every turn. Award-winning chef Skye Gyngell, of London's Spring restaurant and previously Petersham Nurseries, is well known for her wild-loving ways; under her direction, almost everything you eat here is grown in the compost-sprinkled biodynamic farm amid 400-plus acres. Skye’s ambition is to unearth the purest way to capture the flavours of produce grown in good, clean soil: "It’s really important that the work we do has a positive impact on the environment. We need to step away from the highly industrialised food system created over the last few decades and return to a more authentic and connected relationship with the land. Food grown in healthy soil is full of energy and flavour and a joy to work with! It’s addictive! As well as eating the view, there are walled gardens galore to explore, an arboretum and riversides and lakes to wander around, but the outside is also invited in thanks to Kitten Grayson’s floristry skills with home-grown blooms. Even the cocktails celebrate ingredients from the estate, and the bath and spa products have 18th-century horticulturalist William Wildsmith as their muse. Juliet Kinsman, sustainability editor
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19. Isle of Man
A trip back to the Isle of Man where I grew up is just a one-hour flight from London or you can get the ferry from Liverpool (though hope for fair weather!). You get the best of both country and seaside and I love to go for long walks in the fresh air. A hike up our mountain, Snaefell, on a clear day rewards you with an amazing 360-degree view of Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland. There are a number of brilliant little restaurants with fresh produce and seafood on the menu, particularly along the quay in Douglas. My favourite will always be Enzo’s for its delicious lobster and Manx queenie dishes. Natasha Callin, commercial director
Where to stay: Isle of Man isn't necessarily known for it's luxurious stays so we've picked some fun Airbnbs for a quirky couples trip or family getaway. This cosy Hut in Laxey is a fun getaway for couples focused on exploring the island, while Thie Spooyt has space for six guests and boasts sweeping views of the countryside.