Budget
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you have to scrimp and save on fun. We’ve plenty of ideas for cheap weekend breaks to take the pressure off your purse. With such rich landscapes you won’t need to spend much at all, just grab your bike or pull on your hiking boots and explore the countryside before tucking into a picnic hamper in front of a panoramic view that inspired Brontë or Turner. Next, soak up the works of those creative masterminds in any number of free museums and art galleries on cheap holidays in UK cities too. And nothing helps you get under the skin of a place like a free guided tour from a local Greeter.
View Chester from an open-top vintage bus
Ride the open-top vintage bus on a Chester Tour and see the city’s archaeological and architectural heritage.
Location: Chester, Cheshire
Be at one with birds of prey at Rosliston Forestry Centre
There’s something special about being close to a bird of prey; those round watchful eyes on high alert, fixing you with a dominating stare.
Location: Rosliston, Derbyshire
See The National Forest in bloom at Yoxall Lodge
Too many hours indoors during winter’s gloomy days and you’re looking to break out into spring’s fresh air and lengthening daylight hours.
Location: Yoxall, Staffordshire
Visit the Diamond Isle
Enjoy a 10 min trip on the Needles Park Chairlift and go dinosaur hunting.
Location: Isle of Wight
Pier to Pier in Bournemouth
Got a spare hour or two in Bournemouth? Then take a stroll between the two piers.
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset
Walking in the Cotswolds
Join a walking route from Bourton-on-the-Water to the Slaughters.
Location: Oxfordshire
Explore Dungeness
Dungeness attracts both visionary artists and nature lovers.
Location: Dungeness, Kent
Small pleasures come free at Dimminsdale Nature Reserve
Just a few small snowdrops bring cheer to the colder, shorter days of England’s winter, and seen at Dimminsdale, they’re simply breathtaking.
Location: Staunton Harold, Leicestershire
Experience the adventure and thrills of the Monsal Trail
Whizz through four former railway tunnels on your bicycle and enjoy breathtaking views on the Monsal Trail.
Location: Hassop, Derbyshire
See the oldest independent brewery in Buckinghamshire
The emphasis at Chiltern Brewery has always been to produce natural, wholesome beers using the best, class A malt and hops sourced in England.
Location: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Catch some waves at Woolacombe Beach
North Devon has some of the county’s most popular family beaches, including award-winning Woolacombe.
Location: Woolacombe, Devon
Cycle alongside the Exe Estuary
Jump on a bike to explore the beautiful Exe Estuary, taking in the lovely scenery, villages and landscapes along a 26 mile-long route.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Get back to nature at High Force waterfall
Explore a peaceful landscape of moors and hills, valleys, waterfalls and rivers dotted with picturesque villages and historic market towns.
Location: Durham Dales
Explore the city of York by bike
York is voted as one of the most bike-friendly cities in England with a wide range of cycle routes through the city and beyond.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
See a play under the stars
Experience theatre performed in the open air, amid the beautiful, green surroundings of Regent's Park.
Location: Regent's Park, Greater London
Take a guided walking tour and discover the real Colchester
Britain’s oldest recorded town has a raft of different tours exploring different aspects of the town’s history, all hugely enjoyable too.
Location: Colchester, Essex
Tour the tower of Lincoln Cathedral
For 300 years Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world. Take a tour of the iconic building for an unforgettable experience.
Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Star gazing like a Roman at Cawfields Roman Wall
Built in AD122, Hadrian’s Wall was once the largest frontier in the Roman Empire and remained that way for 300 years.
Location: Haltwhistle, Northumberland
Lose yourself in the Allen Valleys
Strap on your walking boots and explore a countryside full of contrasts. Prepare to be blown away by this picturesque part of the North Pennines.
Location: Allendale, Northumberland
Go walking with dinosaurs
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk alongside the dinosaurs that once roamed the earth? Well now you can…
Location: Sandown, Isle of Wight
July events: Open Studios Isle of Wight
It’s a rare opportunity to be invited into an artist’s creative space, but in the Isle of Wight, they’re happy to fling open their doors every July for you to come and take a look.
Location: Newport, Isle of Wight