Best England staycations: 10 beautiful destinations to visit in 2022
Thank you for coming to read Best England staycations: 10 beautiful destinations to visit in 2022.
So you’ve heard about the potential for travel chaos at the Airports during the upcoming summer holidays and are starting to wonder if staying closer to home is a better idea? Well you’ve come to the right place and you also, luckily, live in a gorgeous part of the World with loads of gorgeous places to explore. Here I will cover some of the best places to visit in England in 2022. Whether it’s beautiful gardens, outdoor activities, rich history, or relaxing in your own private hot tub….I have a recommendation for you!
South West Coastal Path
Covering over 630 miles the South West Coastal Path starts at Minehead in Somerset, runs along the coastline of Exmoor, continuing along the coast of North Devon into Cornwall. It follows the entire coastline of Cornwall, goes across the mouth of the River Tamar and continues into Devon. After running along the south coast of Devon it then follows the Dorset coastline before finally ending at Poole Harbour.
You can dip in and out of it as you please, and people (obviously) often just do sections of it. 630 miles is a pretty long way! On the website for the path there are itineraries for all ages and abilities. The sign you need to look for is the Acorn which is on posts all along the South West Coast Path.
95 miles of the South West Coastal Path runs along the spectacular Jurassic Coast which is an area of outstanding natural beauty and passes many popular spots including Durdle Door. This section of the walk starts in the seaside town of Exmouth so why not pause for an ice cream before exploring the dramatic coastline and incredible views the walk has to offer. Find out more here.
You’ll have no shortage of places to stay and places to visit in this wonderful region of England. It is one of the most popular holiday destinations for both UK residents and those coming to visit from abroad. We stayed in this wonderful Airbnb when we went to Cornwall, close to Looe and Polperro it was a really beautiful place. Lovat Parks also have holiday Parks in Cornwall. Or if you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Devon, we’ve loved this holiday Park in Axminster on previous visits.
Explore the Cotswold
The Cotswolds covers almost 800 square miles – and runs through five Counties (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire). Typified by its golden stone, each area has a slightly different feel to it but it is unfailingly stunning and quintessentially English.
Thanks to the boom in holiday lettings over the past few years there are loads of places to stay within the Cotswolds and I’d recommend an Airbnb or Sykes Cottages to get a true feel of what it’s like to live in the Cotswolds. Popular places to base yourself include Broadway, Bourton on the Water, Stow on the Wold and Moreton in Marsh. We’ve enjoyed many a happy road trip in this region. It does get busy during the summer months but with a bit of planning you can spend a very happy time exploring the market towns, independent shops and chocolate-box villages.
Lake District
A fantastic option for a family holiday is the Lake District. The Lake District National Park is the largest in England and is home to Scarfell Pike, Englands highest mountain. It is famous for its lakes (the clues in the name!) and its country lanes and hills and mountains to amaze and astound you. It is the perfect place to escape from it all and you can find walks to suit the whole family.
Wonderful for children there is loads to do to keep everyone entertained. From boat rides on Lake Windermere, various steam train railways, the Lakes Aquarium and more outdoors activities (including water sports) and beautiful scenery than you can possibly imagine.
We stayed at this fantastic Sykes Holiday cottage when we visited, but there are loads of brilliant options from Airbnb and other holiday letting companies.
Peak District
Brilliantly located in the heart of England the Peak District National Park is 555 square miles (1,438 square kilometres) in size, and covers parts of the counties of Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire. Located within easy reach of major Cities Manchester and Liverpool it is a brilliant place to base yourself to explore this area.
Not only is it a gorgeous region it is also home to some stunning stately homes including Chatsworth House and a number of National Trust properties and gardens.
We stayed in this gorgeous Airbnb when we visited and found it to be an excellent place to base ourselves.
Learn about the Beetles in Liverpool
Liverpool is a gem of a City and I don’t know anyone who hasn’t enjoyed a visit there. Home to the Beetles there is lots to see and do there about them. But that is far from all that Liverpool has to offer. Take a stroll around the gorgeous docks which is a great place for food or drinks over looking the famous Mersey. Head to the Cavern Club for a night out or take one of many of the guided tour available. We loved our open top bus tour with live tour guide (rather than head phones) and the fun fair on the water front was a big hit with the girls.
There is a lot of history in this stunning City and it’s very easy to spend a weekend or longer here. We have visited during longer holidays in the Peak District before which worked really well.
Barge down Englands waterways
Discover 3,000 miles of England’s Canals & Rivers. Hire a narrowboat or barge to explore the waterways of England. From the water you will experience Englands Countries, Towns and Cities from a different perspective and learn a skill as you go!
There’s loads of different waterways to explore, and lots of different boat options to choose from. This could be the peaceful Norfolk Broads or the bustling River Thames. You will certainly be able to find something to suit any needs.
New Forest, Hampshire
A mere 90 minutes from London this idyllic National Park is home to the famous New Forest ponies, stunning cycle ways and beautiful towns and villages.
We stayed in the gorgeous Green Hill Farm Holiday Park which was perfect for a family break (ad gifted stay).
For children its a fantastic region for day trips and the brilliant Paultons Park (home to Peppa Pig World) is close by as well as the fantastic National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.
Glamping
Have you ever tried to find the right mix between camping and staying at a hotel or an airbnb? Well, the perfect answer is Glamping! Becoming increasingly popular in recent years Glamping mixes together the best of both worlds. Often the ‘tents’ have running water and toilets, even in some cases, they have showers! But to keep the rustic feel lighting comes by candle light and heating from a wood burning stove.
We stayed at a Featherdown Farm (ad gifted stay) Glamping site and it’s still one of the girls favourite holidays. It felt different and adventurous but we didn’t sacrifice any home comforts.
London
I couldn’t write this article without including London could I?! We live 30 minutes away so have spent many happy days in this fantastic City. As for what you can do there on a visit, the world is your oyster. If you want Museums you can find some of the best in the World here – Science Museum, TATE Britain and TATE Modern, Natural History Museum and the British Museum to name but a few. Or if Royalty is more your thing then how about Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace or the Tower of London?
If views are more your thing then the London Eye is a must see, or the Sky Garden and Shard offer equally spectacular views.
As for where to stay, there is a wealth of options and, even in these expensive times, there are still bargains to be had. Check out Hotels.com for a full range of ideas or Airbnb for other options.
Summary
I hope you have enjoyed this post and are now inspired by some of the best things to do in England in 2022. We really are lucky that despite being a relatively small island, the UK (and this post didn’t even cover Wales, Scotland or Northern Island!) is so rich with historical sites and scenery and is without doubt a great choice for a holiday.
Thanks for coming to read Best England staycations: 10 beautiful destinations to visit in 2022. If you’d like more details on our holidays mentioned above check out these blogs here. Cornwall, Glamping, Lake District, Peak District.
