11 best places to visit in the UK in the summer
Ice cream vans, fish and chips on the beach, long walks with the dog and afternoons in the arcade; the British summer is packed full of nostalgia. Our holiday cottages are spread throughout the United Kingdom, from the tip of Scotland to Cornwall’s Land’s End. Whether you’re a beach junkie or a mountain fanatic; a city slicker or an off-the-gridder, we have a cottage to suit you. Get some inspiration for your next holiday with our guide to the best places to visit in the UK over the summer.
1. Lake District
Best for: Iconic mountain views
If you long for green spaces over the summer months, then the Lake District should be at the top of your list. It’s a giant adventure playground that combines awe-inspiring mountain views, lovely chocolate-box villages and wild swimming opportunities in the eponymous lakes. Perfect for both families and active couples alike, it’s a holiday destination that has something for everybody.
Place to stay: Cherry Trees is an exceptional cottage, sleeping up to ten people, which benefits from stunning views of Lake Windermere.
2. Cornwall
Best for: Golden beaches and (almost) guaranteed sunshine
The coast of Cornwall needs no introduction. With its sheltered harbours, craggy pirate coves and atmospheric inns serving Cornish beers and ciders, the county has an identity beyond the beautiful golden sands. Go surfing, paddleboarding or coasteering by day, and spend the evening eating fresh fish at a local restaurant.
Place to stay: With a balcony that overlooks the crescent beach of Carbis Bay, Harbour View does exactly what it says on the tin.
3. Yorkshire Dales
Best for: Friendly people and gorgeous countryside
Fall in love with God’s Own Country on a holiday to Yorkshire. The best time to visit is summertime when you’ll find the market towns coming to life and the hillside dappled in sunlight. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is home to an array of old ruined abbeys, gorgeous villages and a landscape of rolling farmland.
Place to stay: The grade-II listed Monks Cottage is ideal for a romantic couple’s getaway, with a history that dates back to the 13th Century.
4. Northumberland
Best for: Discovering hidden gems
Northumberland has been slowly growing in renown as a holiday hotspot of choice, and with good reason. It not only hosts a coastline packed with magnificent castle ruins but is also home to a Dark Sky reserve at Kielder, one of the UK’s best bookshops at Alnwick’s Barter Books, and heaps of Roman history along Hadrian’s Wall.
Place to stay: Glanton is a secluded log cabin that offers couples the chance for a remote holiday, yet still close enough to seaside towns for ice cream on the beach.
5. Pembrokeshire
Best for: Getting active along the coast
The beaches of Pembrokeshire are perfect for active holidays, with outdoor shops doing a roaring trade in surfboard and paddleboard rentals, and the coastline offering spectacular walks. With secluded coves and wild swimming spots, the county is similar in looks to Cornwall but without all the crowds.
Place to stay: The charming and traditional Fisherman’s Cottage is perfect for small families, with outdoor barbecue facilities, an open fire and sandy beaches close by.
6. North Norfolk Coast
Best for: Wildlife and stately homes
The North Norfolk Coast is beloved by bird-watchers, with salt marshes and chalkland providing perfect wild habitats. Wells-Next-The-Sea or Cromer are great bases to explore Norfolk’s sand dunes and seaside spots. Large stately homes such as palatial Sandringham and Holkham Hall are just a short drive away too.
Place to stay: This Log Cabin in Norfolk is outstanding, with room for 10 people, an immaculate open plan living space and a short walk to the beach at Mundesley.
7. Scottish Highlands
Best for: Going completely off the grid
A holiday to the Scottish Highlands will whisk you away to blissful solitude. From the Isle of Skye to Loch Lomond, the region is packed full of epic scenery and the chance to escape the crowds. Take a day trip to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, not only an incredible feat of engineering but also a famous Harry Potter filming location. Or take your four-legged friend to one of our dog-friendly cottages, and enjoy the great outdoors.
Place to stay: Relax your mind with a spot of forest bathing at Dunaivon Cottage, a traditional cottage set in beautiful woodland near the seaside village of Rhu.
8. Dorset
Best for: Fossil-hunting and unusual beaches
The image of Durdle Door and its gorgeous crescent beach is synonymous with Dorset. The Jurassic Coast extends along the county’s shoreline and is the UK’s only natural World Heritage Site, with 185 million years of history behind it. It was here that the fossil expert Mary Anning made her world-famous prehistoric discoveries, and now the beaches both amaze and wow holiday-makers and fossil-hunters alike.
Place to stay: Apple Tree Lodge is ideal for families seeking comfort and that holiday feeling, with a pizza oven and BBQ facilities on the deck.
9. Snowdonia
Best for: Combining both beaches and mountains
What the Lake District is to England, so Snowdonia is to Wales. Home to the nation’s tallest mountain, Mount Snowdon, and the UK’s longest zip line, along with deep caves, sandy beaches and fascinating mining heritage, the region offers a really diverse and fun holiday. Choose to relax at your holiday cottage or go out exploring the great outdoors; the choice is yours.
Place to stay: The romantic Snowdon Vista Cabin is perched above the treeline of the Beddgelert Forest, with a viewpoint of Snowdon’s rugged peak.
10. Isle of Wight
Best for: Feeling like you’re travelling abroad
Big news - there a way to feel like you’re in a foreign country without even packing a passport. The ferry trip over to the Isle of Wight blows away all the cobwebs of your mundane routine and creates the illusion of a trip to the continent without so much as a . Go to the UK’s oldest amusement park at Blackgang Chine or spend the night stargazing in some of the darkest skies in the UK.
Place to stay: The Hideaway is a gorgeous cottage, built for romance with a private hot tub and beautiful sea views.
11. Peak District
Best for: Cycling and hiking
Despite its incredibly convenient location in the heart of the UK, the Peak District is often overlooked for the popular climes of the Lakes or Snowdonia. But why? With stunning villages such as Bakewell and Hathersage offering amenities and charm, and heather-topped hills giving keen walkers endless views, the county has everything going for it.
Place to stay: The Old Weighbridge is a quirky little cottage offering a slice of cosy railway life in bustling Bakewell.
