STAYCATION ROUND-UP: MY FAVOURITE UK HOLIDAY SPOTS
With holidays abroad in an uncertain spot as restrictions change weekly, there’s never been a better time to explore the best the UK has to offer and support local business. Keep reading for some of my favourite British holiday spots and some ideas for what to do there. Britain is so eclectic and has so much more to offer than meets the (London) eye — from Margate’s seaside idyll to Totnes and its zero-waste supermarket, the first in the country. And of course be sure to do some research prior to going as in these times what's open and what's not is likely to change!
WATERGATE BAY
My most recent getaway! A beach 3 miles from Newquay, Cornwall, Watergate Bay is a haven of peace and surf. There you’ll find the Watergate Bay Hotel, as well as loads of special dining experiences and activities for the whole family.
Stay at: Watergate Bay Hotel
Eat at: Emily Scott Food — which used to be Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen — for simple elegant seasonal and local food. Try their fine dining experience or go for The Beach Hut (their sister restaurant for the hotel) for the whole family while overlooking the sea.
Do:
Hang on the beach for a proper British family holiday all day — bring windbreaks, a beach tent, plenty of towels and a bucket and spade and get the kids (or be the kids) and build yourself a sandcastle fort. It’s only time to leave once the tide comes in at the end of the day and washes it all away. Bring a mini BBQ and sandwiches or pick up sundries from the local eateries on the beachfront.
Surf lessons for the whole family are available directly from Watergate Bay Hotel — just pick your preferred date here. They also offer yoga, pilates and swimming lessons.
Coastal hikes — there are gorgeous walks to do nearby and all around Cornwall.
Drive-in cinema — Wavelength surf magazine is hosting outdoor cinema to watch from the comfort of your car. Go rewatch a cult classic that’s aptly ocean and/or summer-themed like Point Break, Grease or the Cornish-filmed Blue Juice.
GLASTONBURY
Glastonbury, so much more than just the festival, is a bit of a spiritual hotspot, where they love their myths and legends. There are beautiful views to see, as well as great alternative shopping and healthy eats. The Glastonbury Tor (more on that below) rests in the “Vale of Avalon,” which you may remember is associated with the legendary King Arthur. Glastonbury Abbey also claims to have the bones to prove Arthur is buried on its grounds. The town sits on St. Michael’s ley-line, an alignment connected to several other spiritual sites named after Saints Michael and George, two legendary “dragon slayers.” So if you’re into the mystical, this is the destination for you.
Stay at: The Covenstead, a guest-house located in a beautiful listed building just of the main high-street. The rooms are decorated in true Glastonbury style and shelves upon shelves of unusual curiosities will keep you entertained when you’re not exploring the area.
Eat at: Rainbows End Cafe and Lazy Gecko Cafe
Head to Hawthorn’s Hotel for live music and the most delicious selection of curries from a limited and revolving menu.
Do:
Glastonbury Tor — a hill overlooking Glastonbury, Somerset and the Isle of Avalon with a rich and slightly grim history. Perfect for your kids who can’t get enough stories of historical beheadings. At the top of the hill sits the only remaining tower, built in the 15th century, of one of the churches that were originally up there.
Happy Glastonbury crystal shop, which sells jewellery made with crystals as well as the stones themselves, and Star Child, a spiritual shop wafting magical fragrances that sells essential oils, sage bundles, candles, ceramics and more.
Glastonbury Abbey — another monument rich with legends and spirit, the Medieval Abbey is known for being the burial place of King Arthur (for obvious reasons, this is disputed). A beautiful and tranquil place to visit.
St. Joseph’s well in the Abbey was a historically popular place of pilgrimage that was accessed through a passage in the crypt. Pilgrims believed the well’s water had healing powers, making it a necessary stop on a spiritual tour of the town.
Chalice Well gardens and the White Spring Well. Take your spiritual search to another level and retreat in the quiet mysteries of these two must-see sites.
Courtesy: Visit Kent
MARGATE
A favourite seaside destination for a short trip or for those who can’t quite stomach the blazing sun of the French Riviera, Margate is a beautiful town with a sandy beach perfect for this warm British weather we’re having. In true British coastal town fashion, the great attraction in Margate is the Dreamland amusement park, but here you’ll also find great restaurants and culture.
Stay at: The Walpole Bay Hotel, a family run hotel full of British charm. Having featured in countless TV shows, fashion shoots and films, the hotel’s reputation precedes it. Take the 1927 Otis Trellis gated lifts up to the 4th floor and have a gander at the hotel’s very own museum or head to the basement and have a game of snooker on the pink table.
Eat at: Angela’s of Margate, a small sustainable fish restaurant serving delicious, ethically sourced seafood alongside simple, seasonal vegetable-based dishes.
Do:
Visit The Shell Grotto, an underground cave intricately decorated in shells. It was discovered in 1835 and no one knows how it came to be.
Have a walk around Margate’s “Old Town” and its vintage shops. Peony Vintage, with its bright pink facade, is a must-visit.
Check out the Dreamland website to find out what’s going on — rides aren’t open this summer but there’s other fun to be had.
Go to The Flamingo Amusements with all your spare change and see how many tokens you can collect.
Indulge in some culture with a visit to the Turner Contemporary gallery and spot Margate resident Tracey Emin’s neon artwork on Droit House nearby.
Treat yourself to a seaweed treatment at Haeckels, and if you’re lucky enough, see if you can bag a visit to their community sauna.
Courtesy: Visit South Devon
TOTNES
Totnes is a market town in Devon on the River Dart. It’s a picturesque English town known for its production of ethical products, whole foods and fair trade goods and embracing a more natural lifestyle. They created their own legal currency, the Totnes Pound, to promote local economy, but it was discontinued in 2019.
Stay at: The Bull Inn, the newly refurbished organic foodie pub with rooms.
Eat at: The Bull Inn of course, as well as Ben’s Wine and Tapas at Riverford Farm. A 12-minute drive from there and you’re at Riverford Field Kitchen, an organic restaurant with delicious seasonal food (note that the restaurant is currently closed, but they are open for dining experiences on Fridays and Saturdays — see their website for more info). While you’re there, visit the Riverford farm shops and the farm itself.
Do:
Forge Yoga offers everything from Tibetan yoga and Somatic yoga to Feldenkrais (a type of exercise meant to balance the mind-body connection) in a lovely wooden space.
Vintage shop Revival — if you like your vintage more than four decades old.
Totnes Town Market — find antiques and bric-a-brac, carved olive wood delights for the kitchen and home, a chai stall, not to mention amazing locally sourced produce including artisan breads.
The general market takes place every Friday and Saturday all year round, while a new indoor market now takes place every fourth Friday of the month. Every third Sunday of the month is Totnes Good Food Sunday Market.
Every Tuesday morning from May to September, check out the Totnes Elizabethan market, where traders dress up in period costumes.
Breathe in some fresh air — a large proportion of the countryside beyond Totnes is the gorgeous South Devon, which is teeming with wildlife and perfect for those who love a nature walk. The River Dart is also great for watersports.