Book restaurants in advance
“Check the restaurant scene prior to booking your accommodation: in a lot of smaller towns, nabbing a restaurant table can be harder than finding somewhere to sleep,” advises commerce writer, Charley Ward. “Especially in hotspots like Padstow or Bruton, the best tables are often snapped up weeks ahead, particularly on summer weekends and bank holidays. Before committing to a hotel, check availability at the places you’re most excited to eat – it’s so disappointing to arrive for a celebratory supper as part of your lovely weekend away to discover every decent restaurant is totally full and your only option is a sad pub lasagne.”
Go long-haul
Going the extra mile is worth it – literally. Yes, there’s probably an abundance of natural beauty right on your doorstep (or within a couple of hours’ drive), but the hardest-to-reach corners of the country are also some of the most staggering. Think about the rugged beaches at the very tip of Cornwall; Northumberland’s wild, untamed landscapes; and the dramatic islands cast away off the coast of Scotland – a pain in the bottom to reach, yes, but unendingly rewarding once you get there.
Remember the food shop
“If you’re staying in an Airbnb or holiday house in the countryside, plan ahead and have a food shop delivered soon after you arrive,” says senior commerce writer, Lauren Burvill. “I just did this for a country house stay I did in rural Kent, and it saved so much time. Sainsbury’s delivers to 98% of the UK, so even the most remote boltholes should be covered. Obviously, it’s lovely to visit the local farm shops and pubs, but having all the essentials delivered just after you arrive helps to get you in a holiday mood faster.”
Try to get offline
“Once I’ve arrived at a countryside escape, whether that be a cottage in Wales, a camping trip in the Highlands or a spa break in the Cotswolds, I like to get settled and then spend at least a full day off social media,” says Traveller’s Chloe Laws. “Immersing yourself somewhere new is about seeing it with fresh eyes, not always capturing content or googling answers. It’s locals who know best, so ask someone who works at the hotel or at the village pub for advice on what to see or do, they will have the real scoops.
“Whilst I like to keep memories to look back on, I try to use a digital or disposable camera to do this for a part of the trip, and make them into a photo album. Although, please do always keep a charged phone on you, you don’t want to get lost or stuck somewhere, but consider a social media blocking app.”
Consider train travel
When most of us contemplate a staycation, we automatically think of a road trip. But the UK is home to some seriously beautiful train journeys – from the Royal Scotsman to the Bluebell railway in Sussex – and it’s better for the planet (and your cortisol levels) than spending six hours stuck in traffic on the M3.
Ask for insider tips
More often than not, the taxi drivers, hotel receptionists and bartenders can point you to really unique family-owned pubs, crowd-free bakeries, scenic walks, or community hangs. This enables you to live like a local – to some degree – throughout your stay, which makes it all the more special. It’ll also allow you to experience truly authentic places you might not have found through an online search; after all, the soul of a place can be tough to market on a website!
