In the wake of covid-19, there are a lot of people who may feel like it’s been forever since they took a vacation, but with cases rising again in a lot of areas, booking a new flight may not be at the top of everyone’s list.
For those people who might be concerned, they may not know it, but they don’t have to look that far from home to find an equivalent to a trip overseas without ever having to leave the UK. If you’re currently living away from the UK however and you like what you see in this article, then you might want to consider obtaining a U.K. visitor visa so you can explore them yourself.
Brighton.
Brighton is an excellent destination, whether you’re looking for a short stay in the city, or some time by the sea, this town can offer you exactly what you’re looking for. During the day you can take advantage of the range of shopping venues to be found in the city centre. If you stay out on the main streets you’ll find many of the high street brands you’d expect to find in a busy shopping district. If you stray a little from the path however and wander into the lanes, you’ll find stores with an alternative vibe where you can find anything from a unique new t-shirt to bank breaking antique jewellery.
Brighton isn’t all about shopping however and you’ll find that this seaside town is just as alive at night as it is during the day. There are plenty of great bars and restaurants to explore whether you’re looking to dance yourself silly or on the lookout for something a bit more upmarket. The good news is that on the rare chance that you can’t find what you’re looking for in Brighton itself, you’re only a short train journey from London and everything the capital has to offer. This can be a great way to explore London for a day before returning to the more relaxed atmosphere that Brighton can offer.
Portmerion.
For those of you who don’t know, you could be forgiven for thinking that the vibrant and colourful setting of Portmerion was laid out in the north of Italy, instead of nestled away in the north of Wales. There’s certainly a large amount of Mediterranean flair involved in its design and construction which over time has attracted a number of film crews looking to feature that Italian aesthetic in their movies while cutting down on their travel expenses.
While you can simply visit the village for the day, it’s worth taking the extra time and money to stay in the village itself. This way you wont be limited by the visiting hours and you’ll be able to treat the place as your home for the duration of your stay, enjoying the additional benefits that come with an extended visit. If you choose to book a break at Portmerion, you’ll get to take advantage of the beautiful mixture of woodland and ocean surroundings, but if all that sounds like too much walking, then you can spend some time floating your troubles away in the heated pool located on the quayside.
As with all the best holiday destinations, Portmerion has a way to guarantee that you can take more than just your memories home with you. As well as being described as the Welsh Portafino, Portmerion is also famous for its ceramic works, so you can take home a few reminders of the time you found a little piece of the Mediterranean right here in the UK.
The Inner Hebrides.
If I were to ask you, where there are a group of islands with white sand beaches where you can get a tan and relax in the sun, I’ll bet your last guess would be Scotland.
To be more specific, the Inner Hebrides, a collection of islands just of the west coast of Scotland can provide you with everything I mentioned and more, and the best news is that it’s just a ferry ride away. I’m not going to get carried away and start using words like tropical, but during the summer months of July, August and September, the climate on the Hebridean islands like Mull or Iona could fool you into thinking you’d ventured much further afield.
Of course, you’re able to take advantage of all the thing you’d traditionally think of in a Scottish holiday. Through the various islands there are guided tours, fishing, beautiful scenery to walk through and for the more adventurous, boat tours to observe dolphins, whales, and on some of the islands there are nesting Golden Eagles. The advantage this time, is that you can do all of that and more while relaxing in the heat that the gulf stream, which runs past the islands, generates.
Cornwall.
While the inner Hebrides are pretty far north, we’ve got something now for those located in the southern most section of the UK. Cornwall has a reputation for a few different things, from great surfing, to pasties and its own contribution to the great ‘how to eat a scone’ debate, but there are a few things about this region which can make it even more appealing to those looking for a getaway in the UK.
The surfing that we’ve already mentioned, is provided via Cornwall’s beautiful shorelines but some of the most beautiful parts of Cornwall, can only be found by heading away from the big blue and travelling a little further inland. Cornwall is home to two incredible landmarks for nature lovers as it hosts both the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and the world renowned Eden Project, both of which are worth spending the day, and the energy travelling around.
There you have it, 4 great UK destinations which will give any foreign holiday a run for its money.
Jake Parker is a writer for the Immigration Advice Service, a firm of specialist immigration lawyers.
