It’s officially the year of the staycation, with record numbers of Brits choosing a UK holiday over one abroad. In the past few months, thanks to scorching temperatures, pictures from the Scilly Isles could have passed for those of Sicily, while Donegal's sun-soaked beaches rivalled Dubrovnik’s. And staycations aren’t just for summer – as we head into autumn, a no-fly holiday looks equally appealing.
As well as avoiding airport stress and high fares, staying in Britain at this time of year means lower accommodation prices, fewer crowds, and water that's often pleasantly pre-heated. Yes, the weather will be a little less predictable, but there are plenty of spectacular UK enclaves that have just as much to offer for a shoulder season break as some of Europe's holiday hotspots.
From surfy St Ives in Cornwall, with its impressive art scene, to the recently recognised Rother Wine Region in the south of England, these are the most exciting destinations on UK soil to book this season.
Read more: I’ve been holidaying in Cornwall since childhood – this is why off-season is the best time to visit
Swap France’s surf capital Biarritz for St Ives, Cornwall
Best for: Surf breaks and arty days out
With its golden sands and rolling waves, St Ives is one of the UK’s best-loved seaside towns and surf spots. Set on Cornwall’s north coast, this sheltered bay rewards visitors with majestic sunsets and spectacular seafood, making it a worthy rival to Europe’s laidback surf capital of Biarritz.
Come autumn, the crowds are fewer, while the waves at Porthmeor Beach opposite St Ives bay are more consistent than the preceding months. After a few hours of shredding, head to the recently opened Kiln Sauna (£12 for 45 minutes) above the beach to soothe achy muscles. The two 12-person saunas (one is strictly silent) have huge picture windows and look out to St Nicholas chapel. There are also cold plunges, ice showers and a meditation garden.
St Ives’ famous narrow cobbled streets are also quieter in autumn, so take your time browsing the artists’ studios. Don’t miss a visit to the Brutalist-designed Tate St Ives, which pays homage to contemporary local artists, such as painters Alfred Wallis and Patrick Heron. The nearby Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden features otherworldly bronze monoliths by the 20th-century Cornish icon.
When dinner time rolls around, saunter a few minutes away to Michelin Guide-listed St Eia, which serves seasonal small plates of mouthwatering local produce alongside a stellar wine list.
Read more: Best hotels in Cornwall for beach breaks, walking retreats and sea views
Where to stay
If you’re travelling as a group then the beautifully beachy Bamboo House – 10 minutes out of town – is ideal. It has three double bedrooms, each with an en suite, and a stunning minimalist open-plan living area, with light wood fittings and beams, microcemented floors, and breezy linen upholstery. Plus, there’s a deck for stargazing and a private sauna to soak in.
From £630 per night
Swap Finnish Lakeland for the loughs of Northern Ireland
Best for: Watersports, wellness and folklore-themed adventures
Finland’s impossibly calm, clear waterways are having a moment, with trips that include cabin stays, paddle boarding, and sauna culture shooting to the top of bucket lists. Though much closer to home – albeit on a smaller scale – Northern Ireland’s loughs offer the chance to immerse yourself in the lakeside lifestyle.
One of the most tranquil places to experience it is Finn Lough, a unique retreat spanning 50 acres of woodland on the banks of Lough Erne, the country’s second largest lake region. Like its Nordic counterpart, the area has deep connections to folklore, myths and legends, so it’s perfect for a storied staycation.
Start your day with a bracing morning wild swim, rent a kayak to explore nearby caves and islands, or glide across the lake on a stand-up paddle board (SUP), then take a forest walk or borrow a bike to speed around the peninsula. For that all-important dose of sauna culture, follow the “spa trail” through hot and cold therapy rooms along the lake.
Food is foraged from the land and lakes; try small plates made with local produce at Lasair restaurant, and grab a nightcap at House Bar, where creative cocktails lean into local flavours and speciality spirits.
Venture further into County Fermanagh to discover the Lough Erne Pilgrim Way, which takes in 14 key early Christian monastic sites along the water, or head to Lough Navar Mountain to marvel at epic views. Back at base, you can end the day with a modern legend, as the on-site cinema hosts nightly screenings.
Where to stay
When it’s time to turn in, opt for one of the cladded River Cabins at Finn Loch, designed with floor-to-ceiling picture windows to blend beautifully with the surrounding land. Flagstone floors, deep onsen-style baths and antique wooden furniture add to the zen vibes. Breakfast hampers are delivered to your door.
From £195 per night
Swap the Swiss Alps for Scottish peaks in Cairngorms
Best for: Hiking, biking and going off-grid
The UK’s largest national park may not be able to compete with the soaring Swiss Alps in terms of scale, though it punches well above its weight for dramatic vistas, with its deep glens and steep corries.
In autumn, temperatures are ideal for hiking and biking, and on clear nights the area’s designated dark skies serve up views of the Milky Way. It’s also rutting season, so you’ll spot roaring stags looking for their mates as they wander the glens.
Read more: My quest to the most northerly point of the British Isles
Where to stay
If you dream of going off-grid, the newly opened second outpost of architect-designed retreat Kabn delivers, with one 650 square metre cabin in a remote stretch of the Highlands near Aviemore. Tucked into ancient woodland, it has the spec of a luxury hotel suite, boasting a minibar stocked with bespoke whisky and a king-size bed, while gourmet food deliveries can be arranged for feasting.
To help you make the most of nearby Speyside’s trails and paths, a stay at Kabn includes access to Porsche e-bikes.
Larger groups can set up camp close to the shoreline of Cally Loch at Glen Glack, a collection of five larch-clad cabins on stilts, sleeping two to four. The estate sits just outside the park, but with longer trails leading into the Cairngorms’ rugged hills. Each comes with a log fire, outdoor tub and a tartan sofa, for added sense of place. Linger on your terrace, and you may spy ospreys, beavers and red squirrels.
From £231 a night
Swap the Italian Riviera for the Isle of Wight
Best for: A foodie break and beachy views
Hyper-local cuisine and rugged beaches are what Italian holiday fantasies are made of, but if you’re craving both closer to home, then head to the Isle of Wight. Thanks to its bountiful local produce and a growing number of Michelin Guide-listed restaurants, it’s fast become an emerging foodie destination. Plus, the isle gets more sun than anywhere else in the UK, and parts of the south coast boast a warm microclimate that helps subtropical plants and palms to thrive, giving the area a distinctly Mediterranean look from the shoreline.
If you plan to eat your way around the island, The Hut in Colwell Bay is something of an institution for long seafood lunches fuelled by rosé. Near The Terrace, Smoking Lobster on the seafront serves pan-Asian dishes so good that they spawned a “big sister” restaurant in Cowes, which also offers a daily tasting menu. Elsewhere, RT Cafe Grill from Michelin star-winning chef Robert Thompson at the Royal Maritime House in Ryde serves brasserie-style classics and is the place to get your lobster fix.
Where to stay
Victorian town Ventnor is dotted with Italianate architecture which adds to the area’s European vibe. Housed in one of these buildings is a six-room guesthouse, The Terrace Rooms & Wine, with an unbeatable location above the golden sand beach. It’s a calming, characterful space decked out with subtly nautical decor. Your stay includes a nightly tasting in the sea-view wine room, curated by co-founder Tom Fahey – who is ranked sixth amongst the UK’s top sommeliers – and an inventive four-course breakfast featuring the best of IOW produce.
From £250
Swap Bordeaux for Sussex’s wine region
Best for: A long weekend of wine and fine dining
With its award-producing terroir and a new guard of pioneering winemakers, the south of England’s Rother Wine Triangle (given its status just last year) is emerging as a rival to many of the world’s best winemaking regions. And it’s not just English sparkling the vineyards are known for – they’re growing an increasing variety of French grapes since changing weather in the UK has shifted the growing season.
Rother connects six Sussex vineyards, including organic Oxney and biodynamic-led Tillingham. The easiest way to pack multiple tasting pitstops into a day is with a tour. Vine and Country Tours covers Kent and Sussex, and is run by exceptionally knowledgeable locals Jamie Thompson and Steph Jones. A pick-up and drop-off is included from most local accommodations or train stations, and a delicious lunchtime pairing feast will be laid on at one of the wineries (£640 for up to four people for a full day).
Read more: This laidback wine region is Italy’s affordable answer to Champagne
Where to stay
Bordering Rother, Ashford is an ideal place to set off from, and it’s home to boutique country hotel Boys Hall. Who needs a chateau when you can stay in a stunning Grade II-listed nine-bedroom manor house? Its food credentials are also second to none for its size: it’s one of the smallest UK hotels with a Michelin key for its destination restaurant. Serving creative set menus and Sunday dinners with all the trimmings, it strives to be as close to zero-waste as possible. Below the floorboards is a 4,000-bottle wine cellar, helping you to sample yet more varieties on your wine weekender.
From £180
