If you’re planning on taking a UK trip this winter, you may have found yourself short of options.
With low temperatures, rain and even snow, winter can be a tough time to enjoy a trip away.
Check out our useful guide if you need help finding the best UK winter staycation spots and ideas, as well as useful advice for your winter trip.
Should I take a winter staycation?
If you’re looking for fun in the sun, a winter staycation is probably not the way to go.
But if you want to explore cities, hit the museums, try some amazing food or go on a shopping spree, a winter staycation could be the answer.
Winter staycations can also be easier on the wallet and allow you to dodge airport stress. You don’t even need a passport!
What to pack for a winter staycation
If you’re about to set off on a winter trip, consider packing:
- a warm and waterproof coat
- waterproof shoes
- a hat, scarf and gloves
- thick socks
- an umbrella
- cold and flu remedies
- an extra change of clothes (on top of your packed clothes) in case you get wet
If you’re going somewhere rural, wellies and waterproof trousers are also a good call.
The best spots for winter staycations
Bath
Bath has everything you need for a winter staycation: museums, restaurants, lots of shops and Christmas markets in November and December.
It’s also somewhat near to a few lovely outdoor spots, like Stonehenge and Cheddar Gorge.
London
There’s no shortage of things to do in London, regardless of the season. Whether you just want to wander around the city or want a packed schedule, London will work for you.
If you want a quieter trip, London may not be the choice for you. London gets very busy during Christmas time, more so than most other cities in the UK.
York
When it comes to history and culture, York is a top spot for a winter staycation.
It has all sorts of winter activities on offer, including night time ghost tours and quirky shops.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a great city to visit in the colder months, though its northern location in Scotland makes it a very frosty option.
With lovely restaurants, stunning architecture and vibrant nightlife, Edinburgh could be the perfect winter staycation spot for you.
If you live in the southern part of the UK or in Northern Ireland, you can catch a plane to Edinburgh airport to cut down the journey time.
The best winter staycation activities
Museum hopping
Visiting a city’s museums can be the best way to understand not just the history of the city itself, but the history of the world around it.
A lot of UK cities have many museums, ranging from national history to fine art and fashion.
Shopping
Whether you want to treat yourself or have a long list of Christmas gifts to grab, many UK cities have fantastic shopping malls and high streets.
Ice skating
If you’d like to try your hand at ice skating or show off your skills on skates, you can usually find a rink in a city’s annual Winter Wonderland amusement park.
Consider booking in advance to skip the long queues.
Pub crawl
Brits are known for their pub culture, and lots of UK cities are filled with stunning pubs that have been around for years. So, why not go on a pub crawl to explore?
If you want to get dancing, most UK cities have great bars and nightclubs too.
A spa day
There’s nothing more relaxing than a nice long spa day, especially when the weather’s cold and gloomy.
If you do some research, you should be able to find a range of spa locations to choose from, from budget to pricey.
Skiing or snowboarding
That’s right, you can actually ski and snowboard in the UK!
Spots like the Scottish Cairngorms and Snowdonia in Wales offer authentic snow-based skiing and snowboarding at certain points in the year.
Other spots have artificial (or ‘dry’) ski slopes that can be used year-round, both indoors and outdoors.
Is Northern Ireland a staycation?
While Northern Ireland is further afield than a lot of popular UK trip locations, it is on UK soil, so can still be considered a staycation.
Like travelling to England, Wales and Scotland, you can benefit from taking out travel insurance when you take a trip to Northern Ireland.
Can I get travel insurance for a winter staycation?
You should get travel insurance if booking trips away in the UK. Although medical costs are covered by the NHS, there are still other important things that you will be covered for, such as needing to cancel or cut short your trip.
We offer annual multi-trip and single trip travel insurance to keep you covered while you explore the UK. You need to be staying at least 25 miles from home in pre-booked holiday accommodation such as a hotel or holiday park (rather than staying with friends or family).
On annual multi-trip policies, we only cover UK trips that are two nights in duration or longer. A single trip policy can cover a one-night trip.
Check out our travel insurance page to learn more.
