Places to Visit in the Summer Holidays
Are you planning your summer holidays in the UK? There are simply so many brilliant places to visit in Britain that it can be hard to know where to start! Here’s our whistlestop guide to the landscapes, visitor attractions and historic sites that you and your family can enjoy this summer.
Holidays for adventurous families
Make this summer the year you try something new. Try kayaking on a Scottish loch or learn to surf in Devon. Take the kids on a pony hack through the New Forest or catch fish on a boat from Penzance. Zoom along Europe’s longest zip wire in North Wales or go on an off-road quad adventure.
The country is criss-crossed with excellent walking routes, cycle paths and bridleways and you’re never far from your next outdoor adventure. Hire bikes, paddleboards or charter a boat and explore Britain from a different angle.
Our top choice? The Cairngorms in Scotland is an excellent place for an outdoorsy holiday.
Theme parks, wildlife parks and zoos
We love a theme park in the UK, from the thrills and spills of Alton Towers to the astonishing builds in LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Young Peppa Pig fans won’t want to miss Paulson’s, while those of us who love an old-school day out will head for the famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Cadbury World, Diggerland and Blackgang Chine: there are just so many fantastic days out to choose from.
Then there’s the wildlife parks (like Longleat, Woburn and Chessington) and zoos (Whipsnade, Chester and Liverpool). Whatever species you’re interested in, you’re bound to find a specialist conservation centre somewhere in the UK, from monkeys to owls, alpacas to parrots. For marine life enthusiasts, Blue Planet near Chester and Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium are must-visits.
Our Handpicked pick: the West Midlands makes a great base for all sorts of visitor attractions.
Summer in the city
City breaks don’t have to be for weekends or winter (thank you, air con) and a town-based holiday can help to break up the long summer vacation. Staying in a holiday house or apartment gives you and your family more space than a hotel and we have some lovely properties that are within easy reach of cities like London and Manchester.
We also have holiday accommodation in heritage cities like Bath and York. A whole world of museums and historic buildings (plus some excellent shops and restaurants) opens up to you…
Our top tip for a summer break? Try magnificent Edinburgh, with its majestic castle and many museums and galleries.
Britain’s best seaside holidays
As an island, Britain has a lot of coastline. What are the best seaside resorts to visit? Cornwall’s beaches are famous for their beauty – think of St Ives’ astonishingly blue sea or Newquay’s vibrant surf scene. However, this is just one stretch of Britain’s 11,000 miles of coast and there is so much to discover.
Traditional seaside resorts like Blackpool with its iconic Tower and Margate with its big wheel are great fun for family holidays, with plenty of entertainment laid on. If you prefer something quieter, try the wildly beautiful shores of East Anglia or Sussex. Whitby and Scarborugh in Yorkshire combine beaches with historic sites, while the Isle of Wight and Anglesey offer stunning island landscapes.
Our top pick: we love the unspoilt coast and sandy beaches of South Wales.
Explore beautiful countryside
Whether you love striding out for a day’s walking or just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you’re always just a short drive from an idyllic countryside spot in Britain. From the peaks of Scotland and Snowdonia to the wildness of the Lake District, we’ve no shortage of dramatic landscapes, while for something a bit gentler, try the Cotswolds or the Yorkshire Dales.
If you love spending time together in the great outdoors, a rural break makes the perfect family summer holiday. Take a look at our guide to walking holidays in Britain or find out the best holiday spots in Britain for close encounters with wildlife.
Where’s a good location for a rural break? Try the varied landscape of the Peak District.
On the heritage trail in Britain
Britain is incredibly rich in heritage and if you love to spend a day visiting an Iron Age fort, a medieval castle or a Regency manor house, you’ll be spoilt for choice. From Stonehenge to Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle to York Minster, there are so many world-famous sites in the UK to explore. Book a holiday near Stratford to immerse yourself in Shakespeare’s England, or head for Bath if you love Jane Austen.
Industrial centres like Bristol and Birmingham give a glimpse into this side of Britain’s history and explore the story of mining in the North East, Wales and Cornwall. Museums across the country tell stories of everything from fashion to railways and then of course, there are all our amazing galleries…
Where do we even start with a top pick for heritage holidays? The ancient sites, historic buildings and pretty villages of the Cotswolds make an excellent destination.
Book Your UK Summer Holiday
Wherever you stay in the UK, you’re never far from at least one of our exceptional visitor attractions. Take a look at our collection of luxury holiday cottages and start planning your summer holiday today.
