14 of the best affordable short breaks in the UK under £180

Times

2 days ago

With a growing demand for glamping (smart shepherd's huts, cool cabins) and posh pubs, the UK accommodation scene is undergoing a revolutionary moment. No longer is 'luxury' synonymous with 'expensive'. And while that might not apply to London, holidaymakers elsewhere in Britain can find five-star stays for three-star prices. Factor in that you've already saved big by not forking out for international flights or train travel, and that should leave plenty in the kitty to spend on nice meals and experiences. However, note that the starting rates here are based on dates in low season when the crowds are thinner — if you travel in high season prices are usually higher. In desirable hotspots around the country, from the Cornish coast to the Scottish Highlands, here are some of the UK's best value places to stay.
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For a low-cost Lake District base, try this upmarket B&B on Ambleside's fringes. It delivers reliably good breakfasts, decent amounts of free parking — a rarity in these parts — and complimentary teas and coffees all day. Location-wise, it will take you no more than 15 minutes to walk to the town's outdoor clothing shops, cafés, various restaurants or pier, from which steamer boats chug off across Windermere. It's a great base for hiking too.
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Another Georgian townhouse, this time grade II listed, Darwin's is well positioned in a quiet street within Shrewsbury's bustling, medieval centre, which rises steeply around a meander of the River Severn and features wonky, half-timbered buildings. Both the B&B's name and decor inside its 19 rooms refer to the fact that Charles Darwin was born in the town; you'll also find beautiful 18th-century plasterwork across the honesty-bar snug and octagonal lounge. There's a conservatory and a garden too; bee hives in the latter contribute honey to the excellent breakfast spreads, which otherwise use artisan local suppliers.
The tiny fishing port of Porthleven is becoming a foodie enclave, with a hip coffee roastery nearby (Origin Coffee) as well as buzzed-about homegrown restaurants and its own spring food festival. But it's also charming and timelessly Cornish — expect plenty of local seafood and a 17th-century pub (the Ship Inn) too. Situated right on the quayside, Harbour Inn is cosy and characterful, with an Alpine cabin feel; it has just 15 boutique rooms to check in to, all with hip, nautical-influenced interiors, breakfast included and dog-friendly options for an extra £15 a night per pooch.
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Norfolk is remarkably overlooked when it comes to UK holidays: madness, given its swathes of unspoilt countryside and wild coastline. Godwick is a country house for hire set in 100 acres of parkland, but not everyone knows about its bargain accommodation in the grounds. The estate's shepherd's huts are stylishly kitted out with hot showers, wood-burners and mini-fridges. Plush double beds and chic tongue-and-groove decor means they feel far more hotel suite than campsite snug. The team also rents bell tents sleeping four. There is a minimum two-night stay here.
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The Bradley Hare is one of those country inns that you can't believe is still so reasonably priced. Chic, neutral rooms have antique furniture; the pub restaurant serves seasonal dishes inspired by Wiltshire and Somerset's rich local produce, and there's a zero-waste spirit to all catering here. Close to the village of Maiden Bradley are verdant walks, the arts hub of Bruton and Longleat House, not to mention the city of Bath. Yet the smallest rooms (the Den and the Burrow) are priced from just £135 a night (breakfast is an extra £20 per room).
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The great British pub with rooms isn't just a tradition; it's an ever-evolving trend. And this coastal Kent hideaway in Deal shows how owners can reinvent the genre. You'll find kitsch, doll's house-like rooms featuring vintage dressers, second-hand books and bright printed headboards, which complement the cutting-edge restaurant on the ground floor. Downstairs you'll feast on local, seasonal fare from a menu that would look at home in Hackney. The cocktail list is just as seductive, while shingly beach strolls, seafood cafés and naval history make rising-star coastal town Deal a pleasure to explore.
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The wild stretch of historic coast and walking trails north of Newcastle is having a moment. You don't come here for the sunshine — instead, think blustery walks along moody beaches or Hadrian's Wall before retreating to a cosy base with a roaring fire. The dog-friendly Lindisfarne Inn is handy for Northumberland's highlights, from Holy Island with its 12th-century ruins and dolphins to Bamburgh with its showstopping castle, plus boat trips to the Farne Islands, home to puffins. Smart but simple rooms with white linen and tartan accents are a calm base for walkers, with a Northumberland brekkie thrown in.
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Despite its excellent seafood and fascinating history, the Suffolk Heritage Coast has remained largely under the radar, including preppy Aldeburgh with its Georgian high street, genteel music festival and unbeatable fish and chips. It's on the up, but you can still snag a well-priced room at the Brudenell, an elegant old sea-view hotel that's modernised by becoming dog-friendly and adding a swish restaurant (crab thermidor? We're sold). Bright-tiled bathrooms and beach house-styled bedrooms, many with soothing sea views, complement the dinners downstairs. Arts and shopping complex Snape Maltings and the Anglo-Saxon burial site of Sutton Hoo are nearby.
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Scotland's budget stays pack some extra wow-factor thanks to remote locations and natural splendour — though we can't guarantee good weather. At Loch Tay, you'll awake to mirror-smooth waters hugged by evergreen forest and craggy rocks, with a mini marina for boat hire and foodie options high and low: the smart Boathouse Kitchen and Bar serving modern Scottish cuisine, or a sizzle-your-own fire pit. Itching to get outside? You can try your hand at axe-throwing, archery or canoeing. Accommodation includes pods and eco-domes.
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The Peak District has a glut of affordable pub and boutique accommodation surrounded by cheek-rosying walks — but spa lovers will adore this nod to Buxton's pampering heritage as a Roman spa town. A heated indoor-outdoor pool, whirlpool zones and a saunas will help outdoorsy types to thaw out in the colder months, while snug but tasteful Attic rooms — the ones that come in at under £150 a night — have sloping ceilings, wood beams, skylight-style windows and queen beds. Most photogenic of all is the Georgian crescent façade of the hotel, which also serves afternoon tea in Bridgerton-esque surroundings.
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In the history-steeped city of York you want digs that deliver on romance and atmosphere. Enter the birthplace of the UK's most famous gunpowder enthusiast, Guy Fawkes, which now houses a gastropub downstairs and 13 unique bedrooms upstairs. Take a walking tour with the local historian David Haw to get the full story. Spiralling wooden four-posters, antique dressers and painted fireplaces will also give you a ticket to the past; while one of Europe's most magnificent cathedrals, York Minster, is just opposite. Helpfully, the Sunday roast here is legendary — with hefty Yorkshire puds, naturally.
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This good old-fashioned pub sits on a sleepy creek just off the River Dart, with alfresco benches for sipping pints as small boats putter by. Inside its 18th-century frame, interiors are humble, with meadow flowers clustered in jars, but don't be deceived — the Maltsters has a menu that brings residents and tourists from all over the county. Spider crab croquettes and salt-baked celeriac sit alongside pub classics. Upstairs, basic but modern bedrooms make a comfy base for nearby beaches, wine tasting and walks.
the-maltsters.co.uk
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There's real Swallows and Amazons fun to be had at this unique glampsite near Port Isaac in Cornwall. As well as various pitches for those bringing their own tents or camper vans, there are 20 tepees. You'll also find a lake with rowing boats and canoes, campfires to cook over and Cornish surfer beaches a five-minute drive away. Decent showers in smart wooden blocks and odourless compost toilets feel a million miles from shoestring camping, but the tepees are rustic: you'll need to bring your own bedding, though you do get sturdy camping mats as well as Turkish rugs and candle lanterns. A pretty onsite café serves homemade cakes and hosts themed world food nights. Dogs are not permitted on the site.
cornishtipiholidays.co.uk
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A stylish eco-glamping site for a new generation of campers, Bert's is a dream for getting the kids back to basics. Unroll your tent in a wi-fi-free wildflower meadow, ramble to a private shingle beach and cook dinners on a wood-fired barbecue — all on north Wales's under-radar Llyn peninsula, with walks on all sides. Parents who like their creature comforts will love the chic restaurant with its long communal table, serving steak, 'nduja pizzas and goodies from Bert's titular veg patch. You can hire four-person tents, two, three or four-person huts or camping pitches. Dogs are not permitted.
bertskg.com
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