Top UK summer travel ideas

Go glamping

There's no need for chilly tents and soggy pitches – upgrade your camping memories for a glamping weekend instead. By the Wye is a riverside glamping retreat in Hay-on-Wye, Wales that allows you to be surrounded by nature without sacrificing comfort. Safari tents are tucked between the trees, raised on wooden platforms with views of River Wye below. Expect all the essentials: proper beds, hot showers, wood burning stoves, a cool box for supplies and the option of curated food hamper deliveries.

For a unique architectural take on glamping, head to Kudhva Landscape Hotel in Cornwall. This design-led, off grid hideaway invites guests to reconnect with nature, with futuristic cabins and canvas tipis dotted around the 45 acre site, some with sweeping views of the Cornish coastline. Pre-book breakfast hampers filled with locally sourced ingredients like bacon, sausages, sourdough bread, fresh vegetables and coffee to enjoy as you soak in the views.

Check out our full guide to the best UK glamping holidays for more of our favourite locations, from Lake District cabins complete with room service to a 1970s VW camper van in Hertfordshire.

A treehouse cabin surrounded by trees with open decking

Visit a vineyard

When thinking of a vineyard break, your first thought might be Spain, France or Italy (and we've visited those too – check out our guide to the best European vineyard breaks). But the UK wine scene is booming and there are plenty of English vineyards and Welsh estates to discover, visit for a day trip or stay for a weekend. For those who are London-based, Denbies Vineyard is just a 50 minute train from London and offers indoor and outdoor winery tours. The former explores the working winery along with a cellar tasting, while the latter takes you on a 50-minute toy train tour of the vineyard, showing off panoramic views of the North Downs.

Known for its world-class sparkling wines, Kent’s Balfour Winery is home to lush English vineyards, acres of ancient apple orchards and oak woodlands – perfect for nature and wine lovers alike. Located on the Hush Heath Estate, take a self-guided stroll or book for a full estate tour and tasting experience from £45-£65, where an expert will show you around the vineyards, learning about the secrets and history of Balfour as you stroll. See more of our best UK vineyard stays.

People standing in a vineyard listening to a tour guide

Discover an island getaway

Think white sands and sparkling blue seas are only on offer if you get on a flight? Think again. You can get a taste of island life without having to leave the UK - in fact the UK is spoiled for choice, with over 6,000 islands dotted around our seas. Head south to the Isles of Scilly to tick off several islands in one trip: tiny Tresco (pictured below, only 1.15 square miles) has plenty to offer foodies, and you can take boats to Bryher and St Agnes to explore more.

Or, head to the other end of the UK to explore the Hebrides. Islay, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides, is a great getaway for whisky lovers, with nine distilleries on the island and a coastal walk to help you tour through them. Fantastic local produce fills restaurant menus, from oysters and lobster to venison. See our full round up of the best UK islands to visit for more inspiration.

Take the train

UK summer travel doesn't have to be a whole week or even a weekend: why not spend your summer ticking off memorable day trips? No car? No problem. We've picked the best day trips from London by train, with journeys starting at under 20 minutes for a speedy afternoon in St Albans. Discover the classic seaside towns of Margate, Brighton or Whitstable for ice cream, fish and chips or oysters. Summer is also great time to visit university towns of Oxford and Cambridge when they're quieter during the student holidays – go punting, eat ice cream whilst people watching outside historic colleges and get a squidgy éclair from bakeries that are local institutions.

A tray of doughnuts filled with vanilla and chocolate cream

Go off-grid in a treehouse

Wake up amongst the trees with a memorable summer stay in a treehouse hotel. Experience incredible views, gourmet food hamper deliveries and total peace to reconnect with nature in style.

Head deep into the Scottish woodlands at The Treehouses at Lanrick, close to Trossachs National Park for long walks. Five luxury lodges are shaped by a strong eco ethos: expect log-burning stoves, upcycled furnishings, soft linen bedding and Scandi-style decor. Outside, copper tubs and Weber BBQs sit on private treetop terraces, perfect for slow evenings in nature.

Retreat to the Welsh countryside for a getaway at Squirrels Nest Treehouse. Set on a 130-acre working family farm and enveloped by the 900-acre Maelinaidd Hill, three striking treehouses have been designed by owner and carpenter John and built from locally sourced timber. Hike through the countryside, then return for an afternoon hammock siesta, soak in the private outdoor hot tub or even book an in-treehouse massage appointment. Cook up sundown feasts on the BBQs, firepits or pizza ovens. Discover more breathtaking treehouse hotels including options further afield in France, Sweden and Portugal.

See the seaside

You don't need the Med – head to the great British seaside for the ultimate staycation. Margate is a classic English seaside resort that’s been enjoyed by tourists since the 18th century and today mixes its old-school coastal charm with cool vintage shops, the famous Turner Contemporary art gallery and bubbling café culture. Pretty Babbacombe in Devon has plenty to offer: there’s Devon sunshine, blue seas, charming Oddicombe beach (made private by the shelter of a steep, tree-lined cliff) and even an art deco funicular railway linking the beach to Babbacombe’s pretty clifftop green. Browse our best British seaside holidays guide for more hotspots in Scotland, Suffolk, Norfolk or Kent.

Perfect pub gardens

Spend a lazy afternoon in an idyllic pub garden soaking up the sunshine. The Potting Shed in Crudwell in the Cotswolds has an expansive 2-acre garden, complete with apple trees, lawns and an abundant vegetable patch that supplies the hearty gastropub classic menu. Lancashire gem The Inn at Whitewell is a 16th-century pub perched high on the banks of the River Hodder, with spectacular views down the valley to the grouse moors beyond. Book one of the outdoor tables for a pint of Moorhouse's Broomstick Bitter from nearby Burnley, or settle in for a leisurely lunch in the sunshine.

Set in the picture-postcard village of Blanchland, on the Northumberland and Durham borders, the 18th-century Lord Crewe Arms occupies an idyllic and timeless spot next to an ancient church and opposite the village square. Enjoy lunch on the lawn of the walled garden that produces 95% of the menu’s produce. See our best beer gardens for more great locations to work your way through, including an idyllic thatched inn in Yorkshire and one of the oldest pubs in Oxford.

Take a dip outdoors

When a heatwave hits, there's nothing better than a refreshing swim. The health benefits of cold water swimming are plentiful, such as improvements to sleep and metabolism, but it's also just a great summer day out. From London lidos to babbling brooks in the Lake District, there's sure to be a pool for you.

We chose 10 of the best outdoor swimming spots in the UK – plus where to eat to warm up afterwards. Swim in an art deco masterpiece at Jubilee Pool in Penzance (the UK's largest seawater lido), discover the horseshoe-shaped cove of King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth or experience the UK's largest tidal pool over four acres in Margate.

Holiday cottages foodies will love

Stock up on local produce from farm shops, food boxes and artisan delis and make the most of fully equipped country kitchens with a staycation in a holiday cottage. Cuddle up by the fire in Pembrokeshire, go foraging in Monmouthshire or hide out in a fishing village in Cornwall – check out our picks of the best unique holiday cottages for foodies. If you've got a large family or group of friends, Durslade Farmhouse sleeps 12 and is set among 1,000 acres of boundless Somerset countryside. No two rooms are the same – with each of the six bedrooms curated with unique charm and enchanting vintage pieces.

For a Cornish getaway, stay at The Fish Store in Mousehole. The house is a short stroll down to the harbour where you can pick up crab fresh off the boats. Guests also receive a gourmet welcome hamper on arrival and there’s no shortage of places to eat out in this foodie corner of west Cornwall.

Visit an outdoor sauna

Not sure if the chilly seawaters are for you? Combine a dip with a steaming hot sauna for the ultimate hot-cold experience, also known as contrast therapy. From the Outer Hebrides to Brighton, seaside saunas are popping up on beaches across the UK. Some are stripped-back and remote, others come with design credentials and a few even offer sound baths and sauna rituals. What they all have in common is the thrill of stepping out of the heat and straight into the wild – a bucket list summer moment!

Parked up on Sunny Sands, the Folkestone Sea Sauna is a wood-fired cabin with panoramic views across the Channel. Book a private slot or join a community session, then plunge straight into the sea before warming up on the sand with herbal tea in hand.

In Fife, the Elie Seaside Sauna is a striking glass-fronted structure that opens straight onto the sand. The views stretch across the Firth of Forth and the water’s never far from reach – whether you’re dipping at high tide or scrambling over rocks to plunge in. See all of the best saunas to visit in the UK.