Top 10 UK Staycations
With 2020 holiday plans abroad being cancelled, now is a better time than ever to go exploring and find hidden treasures that are a bit closer to home. Did you know that Devon has been voted as having the third best beach in Europe? And that England has gorgeous waterfalls with one being in London? Yeah, we didn’t realise that either! The United Kingdom is filled with hidden gems and they’re all within reach. Yes, that planned trip to the magical countries of Europe may not have gone ahead, but they're all still there and won’t be going anywhere soon!
There’s a lot of perks to travelling on your home turf. You won't need to buy expensive plane tickets in advance and you’ll be less likely to get sucked into the expensive tourist traps. Let’s not forget you'll also be able to reduce your carbon footprint pretty substantially, whilst seeing your country in a new light. Now that’s a massive win in our eyes.
In this blog post, we’ll be covering our favourite UK hidden gems. This includes everything from cosy country towns, to eco-friendly holidays and just generally unique places that will give you a genuine experience of a life wilder.
1. The Trap - Essex
We featured this beauty over on our Instagram at the start of this month. Just an hour away from London, this stylish cabin can give you the chance to see nature from a different perspective. There’s a wonderful ground level bathtub on the deck, giving you views of the UK countryside as you bathe. But most importantly, the roof is perspex, meaning you can lie and enjoy stargazing within the comfort of the king-sized bed. Who knows, if you stay up late enough you might be lucky to see a shooting star!
2. Wild Meadow, Welsh Border
This delightful eco-house is surrounded by miles of Welsh countryside. It’s the perfect place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life and soak in the sunshine. There is an allotment of fresh fruit and vegetables which have been lovingly grown and you can gather these up to create delicious home cooked meals throughout your day.
Even though The Wild Meadow is delightfully remote, if you’d like, there is a lively and bustling local town just a few minutes down the road. Truly a wonderful little place.
3. Dabinett Treehouse, Somerset
Take a moment to just picture this; taking a sip of your morning coffee whilst looking across miles of the beautiful Somerset countryside or nipping over to the neighbouring vineyard to pick up a bottle of something special. Then imagine ending the day with a luxurious hot tub soak under the stars. Do you like the sound of that as much as we do? We thought you would..!
4. Spinks Nest Cottage, North Norfolk
This wildly gorgeous cottage has been carefully restored to its former glory, using curated, reclaimed vintage materials and objects. As you walk in, the warmth of the light, colours and the textures of the place will leave you smitten. It’s filled with hidden touches such as the lovely sunken Japanese bath but also a cosy log burner to keep you and your friends or family warm at night.
5. The Village, Bath
Cherry Wood is an off-grid and eco-friendly camp near the bath. Everything that is there has been carefully created with the ethos that it should be low impact too. In the Village, there are handcrafted yurts, log cabins, a shepherds hut and a cob roundhouse; the perfect location for families but couples are more than welcome. To keep all members of the family entertained there are plenty of unique activities from woodworking; foraging, yoga, massage sessions, archery, paddle boarding as well as picturesque hikes from your doorstep.
6. Kudhva, Cornwall
Take a trip to Cornwall and find yourself being completely immersed in the natural environment. All four of these architectural hideouts are completely off-grid and they are designed to provide a shelter that leaves you feeling calm and cared for. These iconic shelters are standing above the ground and are positioned amongst the treetops, or even between branches! Don’t worry, it’s structurally sound and they describe it as almost like you’re being cradled by the natural world.
7. Artist Residence, Oxfordshire
If you’re looking for something a bit closer to home, check out this glorious Artist Residence in Oxfordshire. It’s been described as ‘eccentrically english’ and we love it! With dark wooden beams, rustic free-standing bathtubs and cosy fireplaces, this wonderful place oozes warmth. Plus, their roast dinners are delicious!
8. Lost Meadow Treepod, Cornwall
For those that want to fully immerse themselves in a life more wild, this is the one for you. These wonderful treepods means you’re quite literally living in a suspended bedroom that hangs among the branches. Below the treepods is a kitchen hut and a fire circle, where you can whip up an adventurous breakfast or kick start the day with a coffee before you set off on your journey to explore Cornwall.
9. The Farm Camp, Bath
Wake up to the sound of nature and take things slow at the Farm Camp. It’s situated right beside a gorgeous lake where you can have picnics, go on canoe rides or just have a good old swim. In the evening, you can tuck into a gorgeous BBQ meal and warm yourselves up by the fire with friends and family. Their slogan is ‘disconnect to reconnect’ and we love it.
10. Birch, Hertfordshire
Just 30 minutes North of London’s Liverpool Street, you can access 55 acres of glorious countryside within the Georgian Theobalds Estate in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. This gorgeous location was home to a Victorian socialite called Lady Meux, who would apparently ride through Mayfair in a zebra-drawn carriage!
If you are planning a staycation this year, we hope you have a wonderful time wherever you may go. Do feel free to share with us where you went as we’re always on the lookout for some truly wonderful staycations.
