With just 99
days until the London 2012 Olympic Games
get underway, athletes the world over are limbering up for the biggest
competition of their lives. But as London
is set to become it’s busiest during the Games,
why not take a break and have a weekend getaway?
As money is as
tight as a shrunk pair of leggings right now, the perfect spots for relaxation,
and escaping from the hustle and bustle of the capital for a while, might be closer than you think. For a great
weekend away, with family or friends, forget that pricey week abroad, and
venture nearer to your own doorstep.
1.
Bournemouth:
With
all the appearance of a tropical island, the best spot on the South Coast boasts over seven miles of
sandy beach. Bournemouth is
fundamentally a a student town, but has always been popular with an older crowd
as well as families, so there’s always a good mixture of people. The shoreline
is also home to the Oceanarium, The Bournemouth Eye (a huge, tethered hot air balloon), Bournemouth Pier, fun-fair attractions, typical tourist-hotspot
slot machines, and spectacular scenery. The town centre is also full of all the
best high street shops and restaurants, and a wide selection and variation of
hotels. Just two hours from London by
train, travel to Bournemouth can be
as little as £13 return and hotels may only set you back about £100 for 3 nights for a double room.
2.
York:
For
a bit of a cultural break, hop up North for the UK’S best destination for
wonderful architecture, authentic cobbled streets, and York Minster; World-class good, a fantastic Gothic cathedral, right in
the centre of town. Home to Guy Fawkes, York, the capital of the county of Yorkshire, is also home to a modern café-culture,
with hundreds of Indie musicians scattered along the cobbled city streets
busking throughout the day. Stunning night or day, York is also famous for fantastic homely pubs and pub meals. Also
renowned for its historical links to the Romans,
the Vikings and Medieval periods, York boasts guided walks of all the historical
features, as well as great ghost walks and York Dungeons. Disney’s ‘Pirates
of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ is made up of some scenes
filmed right on the city’s iconic narrow, cobbled side streets, known as the Shambles. You can get to York in just
over 2 hours from London, for about £15 one way with National Express. Accommodation prices vary, but start around £30
per night for 2 people.
3.
Newcastle:
If
you’re willing to travel a little further, Newcastle
is definitely worth a trip. As the UK’s best (and cheapest) night out, the
city centre is buzzing with an array of pubs, clubs and bars. In just over 3
hours by train, and for under £60 return, Newcastle
could be just the escape you need. The area also has more theatres than
anywhere else in the UK, along with Castle Keep, one of the country’s best
remaining architectural buildings. Possessing some amazing art galleries, miles
of coastline, a student-based centre,
all the shops you could ever dream of, and historical museums. Drawn from the
defensive fort of Hadrian’s Wall, Newcastle has everything you’d ever
want in a holiday and endless varieties of things to do, and places to go, to
suit a number of tastes.
4.
Edinburgh:
Home
to the world-famous Edinburgh Castle and
spectacular music venues, this Scottish gem sits just a large stone-throws away from London. You can travel cheaply by train,
coach or air, but train tends to be the cheapest and quickest if you book as
far enough in advance as possible, with single travel starting from £20. You
can forget about the hustle and bustle of the capital with a quiet afternoon
relaxing in one of Edinburgh’s hundreds of coffee shops, or take a trip into
town for some serious shopping! With its mixture of unbeatable natural scenery,
and all the makings of a city, Edinburgh
is unspottable. Head to the great markets for souvenir shopping, and no sign
for a Union Jack to be found! Or get
cultured-up and visit the city’s Celtic museums,
enjoy an affordable bite to eat, or a walk or sunbathing session on one of the
beaches, (that’s if you’re lucky enough to visit on a sunny day). Edinburgh is also renowned for its
music shows, so why not head down for the Jazz
and Blues Festival or Festival
Fringe.
5.
Cornwall:
With local destinations like Newquay & St. Ives why bother staying in London? St. Ives is said to have some of the best British scenery out
there, and Newquay is a brilliant
hotspot for a younger crowd; its breath-taking beach is a home from home for
thousands of tourists every year. Also renowned as a caravan hotspot- the Cornish coast is also popular with a variety
of people, some for the cheap entertainments, along the lines of slot machines
and Fun-Fair based rides, some for the astonishing natural views, and some for
the unbeatable food. You’ve never had a scone before you’ve been to Cornwall; they really are to die for,
and that’s not even considering Cornwall’s
signature dish; ice cream. Look out for the smaller shops, a little more off
the beaten track for cheaper options.
Travel by coach starts from just £10 one way.
For the cheapest travel
and accommodation, get searching!
pasties?
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