We don’t want to be gloomy, but after the August Bank Holiday, the next one isn’t until Christmas. However this is even more reason to seize the day with your free day off.
Grab a friend or a partner, or go solo if you choose, and fly, train or drive your way to somewhere fun.
We’ve found the best short trips that won’t leave you tired but raring to go to discover the best food, culture and adventures. What are you waiting for? Carpe Diem!
1. Attend a festival
One of the UK’s most beloved institutions is happening over this bank holiday weekend – the Notting Hill Carnival.
So much more than a free party, this area of west London is transformed into a Caribbean carnival with excellent food, good tunes and colourful parades. Saturday is the official party day with Sunday being the family day and Monday is when the Grand Parade takes place for the closure of the festival, so there’s something for everyone.
Alternatively why not discover Manchester Pride or if you’re a Beatles fan, head to Liverpool for the city’s annual music festival.
It’s worth also checking your local council websites for free activities in your area if you’d rather stay local and do day trips.
2. Take in the great outdoors
Get a spectacular view at the top of Pen Y Fan in Wales © Harry Blythe-Allen/eyeem.com
Sweeping green hills, dramatic coastlines, breathtaking mirror lakes and huge mountains, the UK has some of the best walking and cycling routes in the world.
So on this welcome break from the day job, why not stretch your legs and get some fresh air on an active break.
The hike to the summit of Pen Y Fan is one of the Wales’ most popular walking routes also happens to be its highest peak at around 873 metres. Used by Special Forces to train troops, it’s something you can claim bragging rights to for at least a year or two. The view is spectacular, and if you catch it on a day when it’s not raining (albeit rare, it is Wales), then it’s fascinating to see where it is and isn’t raining because of how immensely high up you are. The National Trust has an excellent and concise route map.
If you’re feeling particularly energetic you could even test yourself by completing the Three Peaks Challenge – combining Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scarfell Pike in Cumbria and Snowdon in Wales in just one day. Phew!
Or if you’re in the mood for something a bit different, you could head to Northern Ireland to try canoeing on Lough Neagh. A lovely idea to enjoy the last rays of summer glimmer on the water before enjoying Irish hospitality in a lively pub.
3. Go stargazing
The Kielder Observatory in the Northumberland estimates that 85% of the UK population has never seen a truly dark sky, meaning that most of us have never really seen the stars. For 580sq miles the Northumberland Dark Sky Park is pitch black and is the largest area of protected night sky in Europe – so truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Visitors will almost certainly need a car to get to the remote area.
4. Go island hopping
The beauty of the UK is that most of it is very accessible and you can do an awful lot on a long weekend if you want to. Scotland is a great place for adventure, with an astounding number of beautiful places to visit. A Three Isle Tour takes you around the far flung Hebridean isles of Mull, Iona and Staffa – which are some of the best beaches on the planet.
The islands are all very different, but they all share amazing landscapes for envy-inducing pictures with vivid history and great locals. The tour kicks off at Oban, so catch a flight to Glasgow, then drive to the pick-up spot.
5. Head to the seaside
If the sun is shining, Britain’s beaches are an absolute delight. From the traditional fun of Whitby beach, to the tranquility of Holkham in Norfolk and surfing in Cornwall there is something for everyone. Little kids can be kept entertained for hours with a bucket and spade while older children will enjoy the open space to play football or try kite-surfing. What’s even better is that it’s totally free!
6. Enjoy a road trip
If the UK weather isn’t looking too clever, there’s a great alternative just a few hours away. The beautiful seaside resort of Le Touquet is located just 30 minutes from Calais, which is accessible by the Eurotunnel from Folkestone. and then enjoy vast stretches of sandy beaches, beach bars and a lively restaurant and shopping scene.
If you’re a fan of Les Miserables, visitors should take a short drive to the nearby town of Montrueil-sur-Mer for an annual festival celebrating the famous novel which was inspired by the town. The area is well known for its stunning local gastronomy too with several Michelin-starred restaurants.
7. Take a city break
With a rare day off in the week to yourself, it’s a great opportunity to visit a new city. London is an obvious choice for many, but Manchester, Bath, Newcastle and Cambridge are also great options for a short trip. Take in a football match, visit the famous Roman baths, experience Tyneside’s famous nightlife or go punting.
8. Grab some European sun
We’re very lucky to be close to lots of foreign beach resorts too – in two hours you could be in the Algarve, Ibiza or St Tropez.
Make the most of your time off (and even add a few extra days if you fancy) to truly get away from it all.
9. Go to a theme park
If you want to scary yourself silly (even though Halloween is a while away yet!) then head to one of the UK’s many theme parks.
Alton Towers, Thorpe park and Blackpool‘s Pleasure Beach have the biggest thrills, but there are lots of other theme parks offering unique experiences if there is something in particular you’re after.
Just make sure you stock up on Kellogg’s cereal packets for the best deals at the Merlin sites and also buy the fast track passes if you don’t want to queue.
10. Watch Knights joust
Yes, really. You can watch Knights in full costume joust in a place that looks like it’s from the pages of a fantasy novel. English Heritage is celebrating the summer in the most English way it knows how, by having a Medieval Knights Season. And there’s no better place than watching a Medieval display than the site of the earliest settlement in England, Old Sarum.
