The Best UK Holiday Destinations for Your Next Staycation

To help you plan for an epic city break, we have put together a list of the UK’s best-loved destinations for you to explore.

London

If there is one city to add to your bucket list of city break destinations, it’s London. This cosmopolitan metropolis is known for its historical sites and West End. The best thing about the city is that due to its diverse nature, there is something for everyone. From hipster hotspots in Shoreditch to famous shopping districts like Oxford Circus, the capital has it all. For our top tips on Shopping in London check out our handy guide.

Looking for a culture-filled city break? London has a variety of top attractions to discover. Get a glimpse of how the royals live with a visit to Buckingham Palace or brush shoulders with your favourite celebrities at Madame Tussauds. Art lovers can also take advantage of the many galleries and exhibitions on show, including renowned galleries such as Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery. Get the lowdown on more cultural hotspots with our London travel guides. To be close to the action, book a stay at one of our London hotels.

Edinburgh

If you have always wanted to visit Scotland but have never found the time for it, now is the time to do so. North of the border you will find some of Scotland’s most beautiful cities such as Edinburgh. With UNESCO Heritage sites dating back centuries, rolling mountains and historical sites such as Edinburgh Castle to explore, it’s no wonder Scotland’s capital city has been a popular destination for tourists at home and abroad.

If, like us, you enjoy a good festival and need some light humour and entertainment, a visit to the iconic Edinburgh Fringe festival is a must. The festival runs annually in the summer and is a celebration of some of the best artists and comedians in the world. Don’t forget to book your stay at easyHotel Edinburgh in advance of your visit. If comedy isn’t to your taste, summertime is also when the city truly comes to life, with many of its green spaces, rooftop bars and beer gardens filling with locals and visitors alike.

Glasgow

Known for its legendary music venues and unique neighbourhoods, this UNESCO City of Music is made to keep anyone who visits busy with its abundance of attractions, infectious creativity, and impressive architecture.

Arguably one of the main reasons to take a staycation in Scotland is to experience Glasgow’s food and drink scene. The city is brimming with award-winning restaurants such as The Gannet who are known for serving the finest Scottish produce in the trendy area of Finnieston.

Those looking for small bites with big flavour should head to The Dockyard Social (also in the Finnieston area) to make the most of Glasgow’s street food scene. Tucked away among the cobbled streets of the city’s West End, you can also find Ashton Lane which is home to more local bars and foodie hotspots to help tingle your tastebuds.

Glasgow, is, of course, also the perfect place to venture to when you’re looking to experience some of the UK’s finest architecture. Most notably, is the Gothic Glasgow Cathedral, which is known for being the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland.

To help plan your trip, find out how to make the most of 2 days in Glasgow with our guide.

Manchester

A trip up North isn’t complete without paying a visit to Manchester. It is the sixth biggest city in the United Kingdom with a vibrant nightlife and world-famous sporting heritage (and, for those who love a good soap opera on TV, is also home to Britain’s longest-running soap, Coronation Street).

When it comes to nightlife, some of the city’s top hotspots include Spinningfields, Deansgate Locks, the Northern Quarter, Canal Street and Fallowfield. The most notable of those is Manchester’s Northern Quarter, which is known for its trendy urban atmosphere, filled with vintage shops and independent bars and restaurants.

Manchester also has some great cultural institutions that are worth a visit, such as The Lowry, The Royal Exchange Theatre and Manchester Art Gallery where you can spend hours learning about Manchester’s art and textiles collections.

Belfast

The city of Belfast is famously known for being the birthplace of the RMS Titanic. For those interested in learning more about the city’s nautical roots, then a visit to the Titanic Belfast museum in the Titanic Quarter is a must-do activity. Since opening to visitors in 2012, the museum has introduced a range of exhibitions such as The Titanic Experience whilst offering a variety of interactive galleries for visitors to learn more about its iconic history.

Belfast is also known for its diverse arts culture. Whether you’re looking to visit an indie arts venue, or you want to immerse yourself in the city’s creative ambience, there is always something to be experienced year-round. If you’re staying at easyHotel Belfast in May, then this is also a great time to attend the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival for its annual showcase of music, comedy, theatre, art and literature.

Looking to enjoy the Irish outdoors? then Belfast’s green spaces and gardens, including Cave Hill, Lagan Valley Regional Park and the Botanic Gardens are the best places to visit with family and friends.

Liverpool

Ah, Liverpool. Home of The Beatles, Liverpool F.C and Wet Nelly (more on this later). The lovable city of Liverpool is brimming with that energetic Scouse attitude that makes it unique to its southern counterparts. The city is also known for its historical docks, with the Royal Albert Dock having played a big part of the city’s history, now being a hub of bars, restaurants, boutique shops (Oh, and the Beatles Museum of course!).

Alongside its famous music scene, Liverpool is well-known for being home to two major stadiums, Anfield Stadium and Goodison Park, both of which offer tours to visitors. Whether or not sport is a reason to visit, it plays a big part in the city’s culture and tradition, attracting many sports fans from around the world.

Another great thing about Liverpool is that you will have an abundance of foodie choices upon visiting, with plenty of diverse cuisines available from different restaurants and cafes across the city. For a more traditional delicacy, try a slice of Wet Nelly (a moist fruit cake popular with locals) at a local café before taking a stroll down to snap a photo next to the Beatles Statue at Pier Head.

Planning a weekend trip to Liverpool? Take a look at our city guide ahead of schedule to plan the perfect itinerary.

Newcastle

Staying up North, we have the vibrant city of Newcastle. Despite being small, this city packs a punch when it comes to ticking the boxes on all your staycation needs. The city is full of historic buildings, including Newcastle Castle (which gave Newcastle its name) and St. Nicholas Cathedral. Newcastle’s cultural institutions, like the Baltic Art Gallery and independent art gallery and events space The Biscuit Factory are also a great way to spend a cultural day out in the city.

Another advantage of visiting Newcastle on a staycation is that the city is surrounded by rolling hills from the countryside and a coastline that is easy to reach via public transport, making it ideal for day trips.

After all that exploring, why not check into easyHotel Newcastle and get ready for a night out? Experiencing the famous Geordie nightlife is also a must as the evening is when the city comes to life with its many bars and clubs.

Leeds

Yorkshire’s largest city of Leeds is considered one of the best places to go shopping in the UK. For an ultimate day of shopping visit the Trinity Leeds mall, the shopping arcades – like Queen’s Arcade and Thornton’s Arcade – and the famous Leeds Corn Exchange, which is full of independent shops.

Leeds also has a thriving music scene and is home to one of the UK’s biggest music festivals, Leeds Festival, which runs each summer. key live music venues, like the Leeds o2 Academy and the Belgrave Music Hall are always showcasing rising stars of the music industry from a variety of genres.

Want to know what else you can do in Leeds? Take a look at our guide to discover the city’s best attractions.

Birmingham

The UK’s second largest city is another top destination to explore on a staycation for its globally inspired food scene, top attractions, and large shopping centres.

Chocoholics and families alike can enjoy a fun day out at Cadbury World, which is a short train ride from Birmingham New Street Station, to the nearby town of Bourneville. Learn more about the famous chocolate brand on a factory tour and stock up on your favourite chocolates at the largest Cadbury shop in the UK.

The city of Birmingham is also home to one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe – the Bullring & Grand Central. Less than 10 minutes away, there are plenty of independent and vintage shops in the Digbeth area – recently named ‘Britain’s Coolest Neighborhood’ by the Sunday Times. Similarly, easyHotel Birmingham City Centre is a short walking distance to both locations.

Sheffield

Being one of the greenest cities in Europe (with an estimated 4.5 million trees!) means anyone visiting the city of Sheffield will be spoilt for choice when deciding on what green spaces to enjoy. Visitors should explore the city’s Botanical Gardens and Sheffield Winter Gardens. The city is also close to the beautiful Peak District – a 25-minute drive from the city.

During your stay, make sure to visit the city’s vibrant Kelham Island district – which is home to the popular Kelham Island Museum – a cool cultural hub with real ale pubs and a food hall.

Getting to Sheffield is also generally low cost as you can find relatively cheap train fares to reach the city, which has been declared one of the cheapest city breaks to visit for a short break away.

Looking for more inspiration for your Sheffield staycation? We’ve put together a handy guide to help you discover the best things to do in Sheffield.

With so much to see and do on a staycation in the UK, there’s no better time to get booking for your next trip with one of our UK hotels. You don’t always need to travel far to enjoy a good holiday after all.