UK short break ideas

With the school holidays just around the corner, you’re probably on the lookout for fun things to do in the UK this summer. The good news is that there’s a whole host of activities to enjoy nationwide without spending a penny, and the great news is that we’ve pulled together a list of just some of our favourites to give you a little innspiration!

Whether you’re soaking up the views from the London Eye or admiring famous works of art at The National Gallery, the capital is bursting with fun family activities and cultural attractions. Plus, thanks to our great-value meals, free Wi-Fi and super-comfy beds, you can always rest easy when you stay at one of our Premier Inn hotels in London.

UK towns and cities have so much to offer, you’ll struggle to fit everything in one trip! So to help you plan your getaway, we've used our expert local knowledge in UK towns and cities to provide you with local insider guides. From London to Glasgow or from Bath to Newcastle, spending New Year in Edinburgh and the summer in Blackpool, our guides can help you plan what to do.

We’ve come up with a unique idea for people missing international travel to ‘see’ some of the world’s most famous landmarks without even setting foot outside the UK. We’ve ‘twinned’ some of the world’s most popular tourist landmarks with places in Britain that look almost identical.

We used machine learning to identify which foods and landmarks featured most often in 20,000 images of Britain on Instagram. Then we spoke to 1,012 Brits and Americans (who visit the UK more than anyone1) to find out which of those foods and landmarks are the best recognised and best loved.

We've laced up our walking boots and ventured out to see some of the most stunning free parks and recreational areas around the UK. So leave your back garden for some of the best in the UK and discover new picnic spots to enjoy this summer. 

Looking for ways to make the most of the school holidays and time with the family? Look no further! We’ve got great boredom-busting ideas for fun-packed family breaks to keep kids of all ages entertained, amused and even educated (but don’t tell them that!).

Make a football match into an amazing short break with our guides to the best bars, pubs and places to eat near sporting venues such as Anfield and Goodison Park in Liverpool, St. James' Park, Old Trafford, The Etihad, Elland Road and Ibrox and Celtic Park in Glasgow.

If you need retail therapy, make a weekend of it and discover a new city at the same time. From vintage boutiques to designer villages, we’ve got the ideal shopping breaks. Birmingham Bullring? Trafford Centre? Or shopping in London. The choice is yours.

Sometimes you just need to switch off, get away for a couple of days and enjoy a good break. Which got us thinking, what is the most relaxing city in the UK to escape to? Enjoy a change of scene and reset with these top 10 most relaxing cities in Britain. Whether you discover a new place to unwind or you’re just craving wide open spaces, what will you do?

The UK boasts some of the largest areas of dark sky in Europe which means there’s lots of twinkling stars just waiting to be seen. Head down to Exmoor National Park in Devon to see the Orion constellation shining above you or work your way up to Scotland’s Galloway Forest to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way – what will you do? Find the best seat in the house and watch the best show in the sky.

Since 2001, award-winning location scout and manager Tom Howard has been sourcing the most picturesque UK locations for film and television. He shares his top hidden treasure picks with us.

We’ve taken some of Great Britain’s most popular landmarks and detailed a selection of the very best places to go to photograph them.

To help plan your trips to each landmark and their photo-perfect vantage points, we’ve also created this trusty map, pinpointing each landmark and where to photograph it. You’ll never get photo-envy again!

Look beyond the bright lights of London and you soon realise how many hidden gems are competing – and winning – when it comes to culture, nightlife, entertainment and shopping. They may not share the same reputation or size as the capital, but these towns and cities are quietly laying a claim to the best tourist destinations in the nation. They are the UK’s hidden tourist capitals.

The United Kingdom has always been filled with landmarks, from the likes of Stonehenge, to London’s Tower Bridge. However, a whole host of alternative landmarks are popping up thanks to the enduring popularity of Instagram. With this in mind, we’ve scoured the country for these places and ranked them using the number of photos shared of each one.

Make time for each other with a romantic weekend break in great locations right across the UK. Whether you’re foodies, thrill-seekers, socialites or adventurers, we’ve got the perfect break away for you and your loved one.

The beautiful thing about the UK’s wildlife is that it’s all around us. You can visit one of over 200 National Nature Reserves, not to mention nearly 50 zoos and several safari parks right here in the UK. There’s really no excuse for not enjoying a date with nature now and then. To help you plan your next trip, we’ve gathered the best locations to see some of the nation’s favourite species right on your doorstep.

You don’t have to spend a single pound to enjoy fantastic attractions in the UK – you can find adventure, fun trips for the family and explore the UK’s rich history without breaking the bank. Great memories can be free when you take a day out in the UK.

There are so many fun days out to be had in the UK, it really comes down to what you enjoy the most. Whether you’re looking for classic trips through British culture, intense high-speed rollercoaster rides or activities for the kids, there’s something for everyone.

For many people, taking in local art and culture is one of the most exciting parts of exploring a new place. Luckily for those visiting the UK, our cities and towns are bursting with cultural hot spots – from world-leading galleries to tiny venues that host the hottest gigs.

How well can we map our home country or locate our hometown? Is our mind’s eye akin to satellite navigation or a geographical Etch-A-Sketch? To find out, we surveyed 1,007 British people and asked them to draw a map of the British Isles, locate major UK cities and their hometown, and draw England’s most contentious boundary – the north-south divide.

Whether you’re in town for a music concert, a comedy gig, or an exciting show that the whole family can enjoy, you’ll find a Premier Inn hotel close by so there’s no need to worry about catching the last train or beating the traffic. Simply settle in, enjoy those encores and get the most out of your trip.

We've created the ultimate emoji location guide by pinpointing the top emojis for each city across emotion, food, sport, drink and gestures. This gives you an insight into cities around the UK. For example, who knew Cardiff is the destination for rugby, beer and a laid-back vibe.

With picture-perfect scenery and top cultural attractions across the country, Germany should be on everyone’s list of places to visit in Europe. Whether you’re visiting historic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate or Munich’s Marienplatz, exploring scenic spots like the Englischer Garten and the Speicherstadt district, or enjoying action-packed days out at top attractions like the Olympiapark München, there’s so much for couples and families alike to discover.