Check out my top five staycations in the South of the UK
2020 has seen a huge increase in the number of people going on staycations, as opposed to travelling abroad. The benefits include not having to quarantine, spending less money, not being too far from home and the ease of throwing everything in the car and just going. In this post I have focused on the south of England because that's where I'm based, and all these destinations are within a few hours drive.
St Ives, Cornwall
“St Ives has beautiful sandy beaches and all the fresh air you need”
St Ives was much busier this summer (2020, judging from the news reports), than when I went last summer. Cornwall was the most popular destination for 2020 staycations, and its easy to see why. St Ives has beautiful sandy beaches and all the fresh air you need. You can be as active as you like or as chilled out as you need. Surfing is a big thing here and there are lots of beginner classes to start you off! You'll also find an abundance of delicious restaurants in the little town. Everything from Italian, to American, to the great British seaside classic of fish and chips - the freshest you'll get!
I'd recommend going to St Ives either before the summer rush or after - you'll enjoy it more - no one wants to be crammed into a little cobbled street in the blazing heat. Ooh and dinner reservations are a must - especially for lovely seafood restaurants on the front - they get booked up in advance throughout summer. As for where to stay, best options are to look for a house to rent if there's enough of you - likely it'll be closer to the town if you do it this way, and more cost effective too.
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a charming little harbour town that took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting a lot, but one summer I ventured here with my family and we had the loveliest time. Dartmouth has a really friendly feel to it, and we stayed in a house just up a hill from the harbour. One thing I will say is Dartmouth is not for the faint hearted, you'll need to be fit enough to walk up some pretty steep hills to explore this pretty town (unless of course you are just staying in a hotel down by the harbour).
Dartmouth has many quaint pubs, often filled with locals who are super welcoming. If you have a dog then this place is great, as we saw so many cute dogs in the pubs we went into! There is also a boat trip that goes from the harbour, or you can jump on a ferry which goes to Kingswear on the other side, its a very short trip! In terms of food there's a lot on offer. Classic British food from pie shops to fish and chips, then there's a scrumptious Indian restaurant, brunch places and the incredibly important tea room. Once you need to walk all of this off, explore the town on foot, or head to the tennis courts on the left side of the harbour.
Wells, Somerset
“Wells is the smallest city in England.”
Wells is the smallest city in England. It doesn't feel very much like a city because its so tiny! This is a great place to go if you are looking for a break away for a night or two, as there's not heaps to do here, but its lovely to be there. It's also only about 45 mins drive from Bath, which gets so densely packed with tourists, which you might want to avoid. Wells reminded me of Winchester, but much smaller. There are some great pubs in Wells, just find a spot and cosy up by a fire, I guarantee you won't want to leave!
In the daytime, take a walk around the cathedral or if it's a Wednesday or Saturday, there will be a Farmer's Market on. I bought a handcrafted piece of jewellery here, and there's lots on offer such as food, crafts, beer - all the usual! The people here are so friendly too, they might make you not want to return to London!
Bournemouth, Dorset
Bournemouth, or Bourney (an affectionate name from my uni days) will always hold a special place in my heart. Its a great option if you don't want to go too off the grid (to St Ives or Dartmouth let's say), but you want to go to the seaside. Bournemouth has wonderful sandy beaches, from Bournemouth, to Boscombe, to Sandbanks. The town of Bournemouth has been heavily developed since I started uni there, meaning there's many more restaurants, bars, cinemas and shops. There are so many great places to eat, and I'd urge you to go further afield than the town and seek out independent restaurants. There were a few in Winton, a lovely beach restaurant on Boscombe Beach, and a great Japanese in Charminster.
If you've got a bit more money to spend and care to be a bit flashier, head to Sandbanks for a famous fish restaurant, or a spot of mini golf! Driving from Bournemouth to Sandbanks is great too if you'd like to see some amazing properties in Sandbanks. For a day trip, head to Durdle Door, but beware of the climb, up and down those tricky steps. If you're going on a summers day, pack a picnic and keep hydrated, as there isn't anything when you get to this gorgeous part of the Jurassic Coast, apart from a lot of people (if it's hot!).
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
So this last one is a bit of a cheat, as its so close to my family's home. However, for my birthday this year, due to Covid not letting us go very far, my boyfriend and I decided to book a hotel here and stay the night, after mooching around the town. We had a day of shopping, eating and going to a spa, all before returning to our hotel to get ready for dinner.
There are almost two parts to the town, the high street at the top of the hill (with indoor shopping too), and the Pantiles at the bottom of the hill (think independent shops, pubs, eateries). There are quite a few chain restaurants in Tunbridge Wells but also a few independent restaurants (which I much prefer to support). If you have a walk around, you'll easily spot them. There are also quite a lot of charity shops here if you're feeling thrifty, and the inhabitants tend to be rather well off, so you might just snap up something sought-after!
Get in touch if you've been to any of the above places or would like to go and want more specific recommendations. I'd love to hear from you!
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