Summer in the UK can be a bit hit and miss (to say the least). Yes, there can be rain but when the weather is good, it is a fantastic place to be in the summer months. From beaches to rolling hills, quaint villages and magnificent cities, the UK has got it all. As a child I spent most of my summer holidays on the coast and have fond memories of the beaches of Cornwall and Devon. But where else is good to explore during the long summer days (and even longer school summer holidays)? I have enlisted the help of some of my favourite travel bloggers to share their top UK destinations and why they are worth visiting.
Whitstable, Kent
Katy at Untold Morsels
Summertime in England is very special time of year. Blue skies, mild heat and sunny days are perfect for outings and there is no better place to do this than the English seaside. Quaint little towns dot the often pebbly coastline and offer a coastal experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Whitstable in Kent is a perfect example of a pretty English seaside town. Colourful beach boxes perch on the shore front. Fishing boats come and go from its small harbour and the town itself has many small alleyways and nooks to explore.
Although the beach at Whitstable is pebbly, it slopes gently into the sea making it perfect for paddling. Kite flying and lounging on deck chairs in the sun are other popular activities. From Whitstable Harbour you can walk, cycle or take your scooters along the foreshore either to Tankerton or west towards the wonderfully named village of Seasalter.
When you get hungry there is a wide variety of seafood and, of course, delicious fish and chips to try at the many eateries on the harbour and along the shore front. Do make sure you try the oysters. Whitstable is famous for them and even hosts its own Oyster Festival each year at the end of July.
Devon
Claire at Tin Box Traveller
When I was a child I spent many a summer enjoying camping holidays in Devon. It gave me such fond memories of the West Country, which I’m now lucky enough to call my home.
Every year tens of thousands of people flock to Devon for their summer holidays and with good reason. It has two coastlines and some of the UK’s best beaches alongside neighbouring Cornwall. But while the delights of a traditional seaside holiday draw in many tourists, there’s a lot more on offer in this rural idil.
For anyone inspired by the space exploits of British Astronaut Tim Peake, Exmoor is an International Dark Skies Reserve – ideal for budding stargazers.
If your kids enjoy rollercoasters there are family fun parks right across the county, from Crealy Adventure Park & Resort in the South to The Milky Way in the North. The South Devon Railway and Totnes Rare Breeds Farm are also great family pleasers.
For those that enjoy an adrenaline rush you can go mountain biking or kayaking on Dartmoor. Or why not try out the high ropes course at River Dart Country Park?
A trip to Devon wouldn’t be complete without a cream tea with locally produced Devon clotted cream. Yum! And what better place to enjoy such an indulgent treat than in one of the county’s picturesque harbour towns like car-free Clovelly or my home town, Dartmouth.
Wales
Penny at Parent Shaped and A Residence
North Wales has the perfect mix of everything a child needs for a happy holiday – long sandy beaches, castles full of adventure, beautiful countryside to run wild in, and myths and legends galore to fuel those adventures.
Wales rarely feels crowded; your family, the coastal path, and some sheep, horses and cows. I used the Wales Coastal Path app to find the best family beaches and an interesting walk on Anglesey – you can actually walk all the way round Wales via this path. We chose Porth Dafarch via the app, a blue flag beach with a description that included rock pools.
The magic of the past and its castles is really brought to life in Wales. Art installations at Conway Castle bring the people, sights and sounds of the past to life and the views from the castle are awe inspiring. At Denbigh Castle it was exciting to walk in through the castle entrance and trigger a dramatic sound collage: horses, the portcullis, soldiers shouting. Harlech is another childhood holiday castle favourite.
Llandudno is a perfect day out experiencing the faded glamour of a British quintessential seaside town. Just make sure you guard your chips or donuts carefully from passing gulls. Barmouth and Colwyn Bay are also perfect for seaside nostalgia.
Yorkshire
Jo from Kiddie Holidays
I’ve lived in Yorkshire for most of my life, but still don’t feel I have seen or ‘done’ all of my home country. Summer is the perfect time of year to get out and explore though. The breathtaking scenery of the Yorkshire Dales looks better than ever, and the seaside towns on the East of the county come alive with all the families making the most of the sun.
We love a day out to York. This beautiful city has everything you need for a summer’s day out. We love hiring a boat and exploring the River Ouze, taking a picnic to the Museum Gardens or having a walk around the City Walls. Our favourite place for an ice cream is Two Hoots Ice Cream which is an ice cream shop on a boat! They moor up at various places on the river and serve amazing flavours of ice cream such as Peaches and Cream, Lemon Curd and Salted Caramel.
You can’t come to Yorkshire without visiting the Yorkshire Dales, and one of our favourite days out in the Yorkshire Dales is Bolton Abbey. We park at Embsay, and catch the steam train to Bolton Abbey. There is a river beach, stepping stones and a Welly Walk which is an activity trail for children. It’s a great day out and the perfect place for a picnic.
Sarah at Family Travel Times
London is always a magnificent destination but in the summer when (or perhaps if) the sun is shining, it becomes more beautiful than ever. This huge capital city, which teems with people and is always busy, is full of history and monuments, and boasts terrific views (try the London Eye or The Shard for some of the best, or The Monument or The Sky Garden for a cheaper, version).
But London is not just about its multitude of historic attractions (Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London), its many, varied, wonderful restaurants (not cheap, but fun), culture (museums, art galleries, theatre) or markets (don’t miss Camden or, for the bustle and food stalls, Borough, where you can walk quickly to the Golden Hinde or even Tate Modern afterwards).
It is also a wonderful place to enjoy the summer, whether that is walking along the South Bank of the Thames and admiring the stalls, restaurants, festivals and special events, or taking in the best of London’s parks. If you are with kids, don’t miss the Princess Diana Memorial Garden in Hyde Park, and add in a stroll through gorgeous St James’s (where you can admire the pelicans) or go boating in the lake at Regent’s Park.
Summer is also the perfect time to take a boat down the Thames to Greenwich, where you can enjoy one of the best parks in the city, plus the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and more. I love it!
Thank you so much to Sarah, Penny, Katy, Jo and Claire for contributing to this post and sharing their summer experiences. I hope you have got some inspiration (I know I have). Where in the UK do you enjoy visiting during the summer.
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What a lovely range! Thanks so much for including us. We need to fit in a trip to Yorkshire, and soon…..
Thanks for contributing Sarah! It has made me realise there are so many more places I need to visit!
nice places!
Tanja (the Red phone box travels) recently posted…Exploring Stockholm in 48 hours (part II)
Thanks Tanja…would London be at the top of your UK destination list too? x
Great list! I look forward to checking out a few of these places soon. #MondayEscapes
Kate | http://www.petiteadventures.org/
Kate recently posted…Checking Off the Last of the Madrid Bucket List
Thanks Kate… I have loads I still need to visit too.
More great tips – I do love Whitstable and Devon and Wales were staples of my childhood holidays too. #mondayescapes
Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…Packing essentials – getting contact lenses on holiday
I really need to explore some more of the UK – as an adult. I haven’t been to some of these places for a long time!
Love this post. Enjoyed reading about favourite summer destinations of different travel bloggers. One of my favourite summer destinations in the UK is the Lake district, which I enjoyed exploring last summer from Ambleside.
Ahila recently posted…A sense of connection with my birthplace
Yes! The Lake District is beautiful although I have to admit I have never been…it’s one of those places we keep meaning to go to but haven’t got around to it – yet!
Thanks for including fabulous Devon Elizabeth! What a great collection of recommendations. We have family in Yorkshire, so will definitely be adding that to our UK bucket list in the next year. Jo’s photos are beautiful!
Claire at Tin Box Traveller recently posted…Tin Box Traveller Diaries: June 2016
Thank you for contributing Claire – I would really love to come down to Devon again at some point. It has been years! You have definitely provided some inspiration.
I really need to head to the UK in the summer at some point. I’ve only visited in the cold and wet winter and spring. Lots of great inspiration here.
Oh wow – you do – it is a completely different place in the summer!
Those are definitely some great ideas! I am especially interested in Yorkshire! #MondayEscapes
Lolo recently posted…Blaubeuren’s Blautopf
Thanks – we go up to Yorkshire quite a bit as my husband is from there but it’s a large place with so much to explore… I have never visited any of its beaches but they look impressive!
Ohh my, so hard to pick only one! These are great places… as you I also spent most of my childhood on the seaside (back in Brazil), and for me it’s always the best way to enjoy the summer. I hope one of these summers I get to experience the UK seaside.
Happy to have you on #MondayEscapes 😀
Packing my Suitcase recently posted…Monday Escapes #38
The only one of these we haven’t been to recently is Devon. The last time we went I was pregnant with my 6-year-old, so a visit is well overdue! Fab list. #MondayEscapes
Nell (the Pigeon Pair and Me) recently posted…Six places to visit in Europe before 2018
Devon and the Whitsable Castle look amazing! I’m going back to the UK in less than a week, for the first time in five years, to visit Scotland – Edinburgh, a little bit of Glasgow and a short tour of the Highlands. I’m so excited! 😀
Vlad recently posted…Let’s Be Honest About Airbnb
Oh fantastic! It’s so beautiful up there. I haven’t explored loads of the area so look forward to hearing all about your trip Vlad! Enjoy!