2020 has finally become the year of holidays closer to home due to closures and travel limitations and, luckily, it has not yet felt like a pledge. There are innumerable reasons for remaining in the UK. It may be thin, but the UK can’t be beaten when it comes to beautiful scenery, world-class attractions, and amazing history. With the future of foreign travel still a little unclear in early 2021, it has never been more tempting to schedule more adventures in the UK. Although most of us will not fly right now in the United Kingdom, we can always take same day loans here and book incredible campsites and treehouses, cabins and cottages, and excursions to visit these amazing places. Here’s your list of UK getaways for 2021, from isolated islands to lush national parks.
Dedham
You don’t have to travel too far to explore the bucolic countryside away from the capital. Head off the M25 to the border of Essex-Suffolk and you can find the rich landscape surrounding the River Stour, populated with riverside pubs, manicured villages (after loading up on local Tiptree jam and scones, spend the night at The Sun Inn in Dedham), and trees leaning with the weight of their own lushness in midsummer. If you feel like you’re in a Romantic masterpiece, that’s because you essentially are: the paintings of John Constable were inspired by this bloody beautiful corner of the world – and it’ll make for great online material, too.
Abergavenny
Rising well above its reputation as a soggy geographical excursion, this ancient town on the edge of the Brecon Beacons was recently voted one of the best places to live in Wales, proud of its mouth-watering flavors. Thanks to the newly renovated The Angel Hotel inn, a recipient of the Successful Hotel Guide 2020 awards in Wales, bedding down in its hilly streets is all the more appealing. The rooms at The Whitebrook, a Michelin-starred fortress half an hour’s drive from Abergavenny, with a steely local produce ethos, were also recently refurbished.
Lake District
For some of Britain’s greenest countryside and best scenery, visit the Lake District. The Lake District National Park has been protected since 1951, covering a total area of just over 885 square miles, and its picturesque patchwork of lakes, valleys, woods, and hills make it one of Britain’s best places to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, whether it’s a leisurely bike ride along country lanes or a day hike in the hills. And while the weather is famously erratic, only the grandeur of the majestic views is accentuated by rains and racing clouds.
Brighton
In this charming and eccentric city, there is never a dull moment. Whether it’s a yoga class by the sea, watching Jack Russell on a skateboard, or browsing an awesome hippy beachfront market, there’s always something surprising to enjoy in Brighton. The trick is freely wandering and keeping your eyes peeled. In recent years, Brighton has definitely gained some London sophistication, but glitzy glamour never takes over here.
Suffolk
The key draw for tourists to the area are the beaches that line the curving Norfolk and Suffolk coastline. There is still space to dance, fly kites or have a peaceful family picnic on the dunes on even the busiest summer days. It is also a wild ecosystem with thick pine forests, vast expanses of marshland, and open heathland. The birdlife is astonishingly diverse, and coastal wildflowers include yellow-horned poppies and purple-flowered sea peas, while more than 400 uncommon species, including butterflies, dragonflies, moths, and snails, are found in the special wetlands of the Broads.
The Isle of Sheppey
Not only is it within easy reach of London, but it also has holiday destinations to fit all tastes: rural idylls on the Kent Downs, historic cities like Canterbury, breezy seaside resorts like Margate that will please even the most reluctant to leave East London, and odd locations like Dungeness that are otherworldly. If you want to feel a million miles away from the capital, but just have to drive, say, 50 miles, try Sheppey. It’s not as stunning as neighboring Whitstable, but it has a distinctive island feel, with huge mudflats and broader skies. During the rescheduled Estuary Festival held nearby in early summer, you could visit the area. A night or two from floor to ceiling in an Elmley cottage overlooking the nature reserve is a must, in any event.
Shetland
Floating in the whale-filled seas between the northern reaches of Scotland and the western reaches of Norway, the Shetland Islands can seem a strange location for the food revolution. The far-flung archipelago is a gastronomical hotspot. Nevertheless, their fertile soil and pristine sea guarantee a cornucopia of natural ingredients that attract chefs and others who are curious about these remote shores. Along with fuzzy bannocks and lamb from Reestit.
The places we listed above could only be your starting point. Whenever you go from there is up to you but believe us when we say that there is no “bad” place to see in Britain!
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
