The British holiday is fashionable once again. So why bother to renew your passport when there's so much to try here?
The British holiday used to have a terrible reputation. Screaming children, queues for the guesthouse bathroom and rain that sets in for days. No wonder that back in the 1970s many Brits were lured abroad by searing sun, crystal blue seas and a menu more adventurous than fish and chips.
Fast forward and, after a long reinvention, the British holiday is fashionable once again. Chic boutique hotels, cultural treasures, luxurious spas, adventure sports: all are on offer in a nation that's shaking off its image as a dowdy, down-at-heel destination.
'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,' said Dr. Samuel Johnson. Visit for just a weekend and you'll see what he meant. From West End theatres to the new boho of multicultural Brick Lane, from the stupendous spaces of Tate Modern's main hall to the equally awe-inspiring dome at St. Paul's Cathedral, from Soho coffe houses to swishy, Michelin-starred restaurants, London really is a city that's got it all.
Whether you've got a week or a weekend, exploring the capital's history and culture is always rewarding. And for those who already live in London, why not visit Newcastle to see the Baltic at Gateshead, one of the most exciting contemporary galleries in Europe?
www.visitlondon.com
www.newcastle.gov.uk
Three decades ago, Rick Stein fetched up in Padstow on the beautiful North Cornwall coast and became the owner of a nightclub. Thankfully for lovers of great grub, the club was a flop. Instead, Stein opened a seafood restaurant, an eatery that helped transform a small fishing village into a fine food paradise.
Similar reinventions have been happening all around Britain's coast as old-fashioned resorts and coastal towns have begun to spruce themselves up. In Clevedon on the Bristol Channel, for instance, the Grade One-listed pier has been lovingly restored, evidence of a nation reinventing the old-school seaside holiday.
www.rickstein.com
www.clevedonpier.com
The Shropshire Union Canal may seem an unlikely getaway for A-list Hollywood stars, but in 2004 Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart enjoyed a relaxing boat holiday on the waterways around Chirk and Llangollen. If it's good enough for Indiana Jones and Ally McBeal...
Britain has 2,000 miles of canals, largely built during the early days of the industrial revolution to link factories, mills, markets and ports. Today, a network that was once crucial to the nation's economic health has become the perfect stress-busting escape - imagine floating 116 feet high above the valley floor on the marvelous Pontycysyllte Aqueduct or viewing the grandeur of the Scottish Highlands from the Caledonian canal.
www.canaljunction.com
As anyone who's ever stood at the peak of Snowdon or Ben Nevis will tell you, there really is no need to go abroad in the search for stunning scenery. The journey through Snowdonia alone features sumptuous views, a cosy B&B or hotel makes for an intimate overnight and then the trek up the mountain is manageable by most healthy, well-prepared walkers and is a joy for the eyes and the lungs throughout.
Three-and-a-half hours later, you'll be at the summit. Or, if you're feeling lazy, why not take the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which you can board at the town of Llanberis?
White-water rafting, canoeing, mountain biking and horse riding are all easily available in the area, or why not just get away from it all and go walking in the wilderness?
www.eryri-npa.co.uk
www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk
Long gone are the days when hotel accommodation came with a Basil Fawlty-style snarl and a retirement home veneer. Hoteliers have woken up to the fact that people are crying out for something a little different.
Broomhill Art Hotel in North Devon, for instance, offers Victorian-style accommodation and spacious gardens featuring 300 sculptures. Those looking for a romantic getaway might like to try the Crazy Bear chain in Oxford and London, with its often-eccentric design, double baths and champagne on draught in the bar. As for city stops, they've rarely been as chic as they are at the cunnigly cool Hotel du Vin range, offering bistro food and stylish decor to venues now ranging from Brighton to Harrogate.
www.broomhillart.co.uk
www.crazybeargroup.co.uk
www.hotelduvin.com
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