Our guide to planning your perfect UK getaway on a budget 

With the summer holidays here and the sun trying to shine, it seems like the perfect time to plan a summer staycation.  We have rounded up a few of our favourite ideas to help you plan your ultimate summer holiday here in the UK, whilst saving on expenses along the way.   

Location 

The first step to planning any holiday is choosing your destination, and we are spoilt for choice in the UK. There are options for a city break, outdoors adventure, countryside retreat or a relaxing beach getaway. The key to finding a cheaper holiday location is to be open-minded and to opt for destinations that might not be on your radar yet or are so close to home that you hadn’t even considered them. We have scouted the UK to choose our favorite three holiday locations.  

York – For the history lovers  

You don't have to go far to experience decades of rich history and ghoulish stories of the past. York is a city in the Northwest of England that is steeped in history and full of life. The city itself was founded by Romans, yet the architecture is filled with gothic influence. The city boasts many galleries, museums and walking tours to soak up the scenery, as well as many historical hidden gems. One of the must-do attractions in York is visiting the York Minster, one of the world's most magnificent cathedrals.  

Pembrokeshire – A road trip for the adrenaline junkies  

Pembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales and is any thrill seeker or nature lovers’ dream. Pembrokeshire makes for the perfect road trip destination, but it can also be accessed via train, tickets from London start at £40. The beautiful coastline consists of a national park, a 186 mile national trail and rugged coastal cliffs. The Pembrokeshire landscape provides ample opportunity for rock-hopping, swimming, cliff jumping, swell riding, surfing and cliff climbing. Alongside the epic waterside activities, the national park is home to various wildlife species including seals, bats, crabs and even dolphins. You can read more about the Pembrokeshire National Park here.  

Bamburgh  – Relax by the sea 

Pristine coastlines, rolling sand dunes, historical castles and amazing seafood, what more could you ask for? Bamburgh beach is an unsuspecting holiday location on the Northeast Coast, in Northumberland, England.  The beach itself has been voted one of the best surfing beaches in the northeast, the Bamburgh Golf Course is one of the most scenic in Britain and the history steeped Bamburgh Castle sits proudly above the beach. In proximity to Bamburgh beach, there are numerous walking trails, boat trips and multiple castles to explore, which you can read more about here.  

Accommodation 

With popular accommodation websites offering overnight stays in a castle, a glamping tent, a 5-star hotel or someone's spare bedroom, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the choices, and book overpriced accommodation because it is the easiest option. There are many cheaper alternatives for accommodation that are often overlooked. Here are some suggestions for cheaper holiday accommodation options for you and your family this summer. 

Camping  

There are many places in the UK where you can camp, some with your campervans or caravans, some with permanent cabins and some that offer sites to pitch a tent. Some campsites even offer tent space for as little as £6 per night, which makes this an affordable option to enjoy a few nights away. Pitchup is a great website for finding affordable campsites in your desired destination.  

Another great way to save money whilst camping is to hire camping equipment instead of purchasing your own. FatLama offers rental services for a huge range of camping equipment so you can find exactly what you need for a fraction of the price of purchasing it.  

House swapping 

House swapping is a trend becoming more and more popular across the globe, with many people swapping houses with those on opposite sides of the world. This doesn't mean house swapping must be a global event; it works just as well domestically in the UK. The concept of house swapping is that you swap your house or apartment with someone else's in a different location, and for a limited time you stay in their house, and they stay in yours. Sometimes this is as simple as a direct swap with no obligations and sometimes this involves looking after their pets or watering their garden.  

If you’re not in a position where you can offer up your home in a swap, and you’re still interested in the idea of staying in someone else’s home, then you could consider house sitting or pet sitting. Trusted Housesitters is a great network to identify these opportunities.  

Activities and dining 

Now that you have chosen your perfect UK holiday destination and decided how you’ll lodge, it is time to plan your itinerary. Adding activities to your itinerary can be an expensive task, but with some simple cost-cutting hacks you can jam as much into your holiday with as little impact on your budget as possible.  

Remember, there will also be some fun free activities you can do, check local council or tourism destination sites for a list of what's on in your holiday area. 

Coupon websites 

With so many discount websites available for different attractions, it seems a little preposterous to pay full price for an activity when you can get it for a fraction of the cost. All you need to do is take your time to scout for a deal online. Here are some of our favorite discount sites for this summer's hottest attractions.  

• Planet Offers 
• GroupOn 
• Activity Superstore  

Dining deals  

Much like the activity coupon websites, many local restaurants offer discounted options for diners. Some of these even offer the same food menu and the same dining experience for up to 50% off the bill! If you want to treat yourself to a nice meal out on holiday, browse the sites below to see if you can get a deal before venturing out. These deals often snap up fast – to avoid disappointment you will want to book in advance.  

• The Fork 
• First Table  
• Planet Offers  

If you’ve chosen your dream UK location, sorted your budget friendly accommodation and booked your discounted attractions, you are all set for the perfect summer staycation. All you can do now is hope for some sunshine to tie it all together!