12 Short Weekend Breaks In The UK
With summer upon us, I feel like everyone is itching to get away somewhere, even if just for a short weekend. Unfortunately, going abroad can be tricky (and very expensive) to organise, as well as being inconvenient for a single weekend. Thankfully, however, the UK is filled with great places to go to for a short weekend! We’ve listed some of our favourite spots all around the country, here: some of them may require a longer weekend if you’re coming from London (Scottish locations will be about 6h away), or vice versa. That being said, though, there’s definitely something for everyone – be that a weekend filled with nature or hiking, a chill weekend in a quaint village, or a city break for art and culture. There are even a few beaches thrown in (weather permitting, of course). Here are a few short weekend breaks UK has to offer its residents.
1. Lake District
This is a weekend break for the nature lover. Pack a picnic and head out to the countryside to enjoy the stunning scenery – make sure not to miss Loughrigg Fell for stunning views of Lake Windermere or Oxen Fell! The Lake District was a huge influence on Romantic poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge, and it’s easy to see why.
2. Glasgow
Glasgow is quickly becoming one of the most interesting cities in the UK. With a buzzing art scene and plenty of clubs and gigs to choose from, you definitely won’t be bored here. The city’s one of the best for vegan and vegetarian food, too.
3. Edinburgh
Edinburgh is like Glasgow’s more sensible older sibling. Visit here for the stunning Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and fantastic museums. Edinburgh is great for literature fans, too, as there are many a literary walking tour available!
4. Brighton
A bit of an obvious one, but there’s a reason why every Londoner flocks here the moment the sun appears. Enjoy a day out by the Brighton Pier, or explore the vintage shops, cafés, and restaurants amongst the lanes!
5. Isle of Skye
Isle of Skye is a real weekend getaway – an island off the northwestern coast of Scotland, this place offers some truly breath-taking scenery that you don’t really get anywhere else. Don’t miss the Old Man of Storr rock formation, Straithard Peninsula, or The Fairy Pools!
6. Bath
Bath’s great for a weekend break of soaking up some culture. Visit the Roman Baths and Jane Austen’s house, and enjoy an afternoon tea at one of the city’s many tearooms! The city has some stunning architecture, too, so grab a coffee to go and wander around for a day!
7. Oxford
Oxford’s one for the museum and architecture lover: you’ll definitely get your fill of culture during a weekend away here. The beautiful architecture means that you can easily spend a day just wondering around the city! A lot of the colleges will have museums and libraries you’ll be able to visit, and the art museums in the city are fantastic, too.
8. Cornwall
This is another place to get some fresh sea air during a short weekend break. Visit Land’s End (the most westerly point of England) for some dramatic views, take a trip to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and make sure to enjoy some Cornish clotted cream with scones – or Cornish cream ice cream, which is also delicious. (Depending on where you’re staying, you may need to rent a car to visit these places). You should really check out these short weekend breaks UK has to offer!
9. Alnwick
Alnwick is located in northern Northumberland, quite close to the Scottish border. Visit here for Alnwick Castle, where they filmed parts of the first two Harry Potter films, and Alnwick Gardens, which are incredibly scenic – and has a massive tree house.
10. The Cotswolds
This area of interconnected hamlets covers quite a bit of ground, but is perfect for a chill short weekend break – get a nice B&B and enjoy the scenic countryside!
11. Snowdonia
Another one for the more active person: home to Mount Snowdonia, Britain’s highest mountain (and a host of smaller ones) this place is great for hiking. If that’s not your cup of tea, however, you can take a train up Mount Snowdonia, or appreciate it from afar (you can get great views from Y Lliwedd, for example). These short weekend breaks UK has to offer are perfect!
12. Colchester
Colchester is Britain’s oldest recorded town, so you’ll be able to enjoy some great medieval architecture just by wandering around. The Colchester Castle, for example, was built c. 1100. They’ve got great museums, too!
