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Times
04-07-2025
- Times
14 of the best affordable short breaks in the UK under £180
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. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue 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. • Best things to do in the Lake District• Best hotels in the Lake District 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. • Best affordable hotels in Cornwall• Best things to do in Cornwall 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. • Best hotels in Norfolk• The quirkiest hotels in the UK 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). • Best hotels in Wiltshire• Best UK pubs with rooms 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. • Best hotels in Kent• Best dog-friendly hotels in the UK 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. • Best hotels in Newcastle• Best walking holidays in the UK 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. • Best hotels in Suffolk• Best seaside hotels in the UK 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. • Best things to do in the Highlands• Best hotels in the Highlands 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. • Best hotels in the Peak District• Best places to visit in the Peak District 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. • Best things to do in York• Best hotels in York 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. • Best hotels in Devon• Cornwall v Devon: which is better? 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. • Best campsites in Cornwall• Best beaches in Cornwall 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. • Best hotels in Wales• Unusual places to stay in the UK
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Controversial Hawkshead petrol station plan approved
Controversial plans for a petrol station and shop to open in a rural village have been given the go-ahead, despite Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has given permission to James Hall & Co to build on land at Bragg Field in Hawkshead, near included concerns that the development would be too close to nearby homes about 65ft (20m) away, economic impact on the village and pollution.A LDNPA report said the issues were "finely balanced", but planners were "not convinced" the Spar shop and petrol station would cause more disturbance than the current car park on site. Initial plans by Hall & Co had attracted more than 40 objections and after they were amended to take into consideration some of the concerns, a further 30 were received by the Christopher Stewardson said he believed there were enough petrol stations in the surrounding area."This is just promoting a modern gluttonous need for amenities," he added the plans showed a "total disregard" for the residents of the nearby Bragg Field Cottages, who would have petrol pumps "less than 50m from their kitchen window". Hanne Crank, another objector, said she feared people would just "fill up and go", instead of visiting Hawkshead and its businesses."It is highly likely that the effect will be an economic disaster for the village as the current shops will be adversely affected," she amended plans, however, also received 11 letters of support, with people highlighting the benefits of more amenities and the potential positive impact on the village's Whitworth said the development would be an "asset", serving locals and visitors alike."It would save a 12-mile round trip on many occasions," he LDNPA's report said the site's current use as a car park meant residents of Bragg Field Cottages "already experience vehicle movements throughout the day"."I recognise that vehicles using the car park are typically likely to remain for relatively long periods of time compared to those visiting the shop or petrol station, and therefore vehicle movements are likely to be greater as a result of the development," the report added: "Moreover, there is likely to be more activity in the evening than is currently the case."The plans were approved with a condition that the shop would only operate between 07:00 and 22:00. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Calls for 'lifeline' bus cap to remain in place
Calls are being made for a "lifeline" cap on bus fares to remain, as the government prepares to announce its spending Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale in Cumbria, asked transport minister Heidi Alexander to commit to keeping the £3 cap to ensure people could "actually afford to get to work".The minister said any plans for bus fares would be announced on Wednesday, but she was "fully aware" of the importance of an affordable bus Nesbitt, 40, who lives in Kendal and works at Grasmere Gingerbread, said he noticed his bus to work had been much busier since the cap was introduced. The sales and merchandising manager said: "You definitely see more people on the buses now than you used to before the price cap came into play."It's quite a remote place to work in, Grasmere."It's not that far in mileage, but just in terms of day-to-day travel, anything that makes it as easy as possible and isn't causing a financial strain is something that should be welcomed."Farron told the transport minister that, before the price cap came in, the bus journey from Kendal to Ambleside was the second highest in the said with many people on low income working in Cumbria, high bus fares meant they could spend up to a quarter of their salaries on transport. 'Ease congestion' Mr Nesbitt said if the bus cap was to be removed his bus journey to work would be unaffordable."Going back to what it used to be - about £7 a journey or £50 a week for a pass - I just don't think I'd be able to sustain that long term," he said."Salaries do vary, but at least [the bus] is a lifeline that people can use to actually get here. "It's a job - you've got to take the job where you can get it."The Conservative government first introduced a cap on bus fares in 2023, meaning people would never pay more than £2 per single Labour came to power last year the new government chose to continue to fund it for 2025, capped at £3. Farron, a LibDem MP, said he would like to see the cap lowered to £2 again, to make transport "even more accessible."He said: "By making the bus fare cap permanent, we can help people with the cost of living, ease congestion on our busy roads, support struggling local businesses, and reduce our carbon emissions."Alexander said the £3 cap currently only applied to one in six journeys because people who used buses regularly to go to work used weekly or monthly passes, rather than buying single added: "I am fully aware of how important it is that people have an affordable bus network, that they have access to buses."That is something that I have been discussing a lot over recent weeks with the chancellor and we will be making making our announcement in due course."Government plans on the bus fare cap are expected to be announced on Wednesday. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Daily Mail
JEFF PRESTRIDGE: NatWest leaves tourist hotspot without a single bank branch
A friend Chris recently spent a few days in the Lake District – I'm going up there myself for some walking and wild-swimming in a month's time and I can't wait. When he emailed to tell me how his trip had gone, he attached some pictures. Not of glorious mountains or stunning tarns, but of two bank premises – one rather pristine and the other long shut. I wasn't surprised. Chris knows all about my borderline fetish for bank branches, especially those housed (or previously housed) in magnificent buildings as befitting their once proud role as pillars of communities. 'Saw this strange sight on my trip,' he explained. 'It looked like an open branch of NatWest in a busy town but I might have been hallucinating.' Tongue in cheek, he added: 'I better not say where it is in case the head office hitmen realise it's still open and shut it.' Chris went on to say: 'The other building in the same town looked like an old bank but it was 'to let'. The nearby bus stop was called 'Barclays', which might have been a clue as its previous occupant.' Well, I knew straight away the location of the NatWest branch because I've run and walked past it countless times while staying in nearby Ambleside over the years. It's located at the top of Windermere, not far from the railway station I disembark at when visiting the Lakes. As for the 'to let' property, Chris was right – it was a Barclays branch until 2022, when it shut. Yet sadly, Chris seems to have been hallucinating after all – because NatWest had closed the Windermere branch a couple of weeks before his holiday. It leaves the town, a popular tourist hotspot, without one single bank (the nearest ones are now seven miles away in Kendal – a tortuous journey at the best of times). Before Barclays complains, I dismiss its 'local' service which operates out of the town's library once a week and opens for five hours. Given cash and cheque transactions are not catered for, I'm not sure what banking purpose it serves. It's nigh on superfluous – banking window-dressing. You would have thought that bankless Windermere would now be ripe for a banking hub: a community bank which customers of all the big banking brands can use. Unlike Barclays' 'locals', hubs are cash-friendly, provide basic banking services and are key for small businesses (retailers especially) wishing to deposit cash. Yet the town hasn't passed muster. A hub can be set up only if cash machine network Link, acting on behalf of the big banks that fund them, thinks it is necessary. And according to its assessment of the town's banking services, Windermere can survive without one. The local population, Link says, has access to banking services via two post offices – and access to cash via three ATMs. It's a baffling decision which I can't quite get my head around. Whatever season it has been when I've visited, the town has always been bustling. And I'm not the only one left baffled. Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, is appalled that, outside of Kendal, there are now no bank branches in his constituency – and no replacement hubs in towns abandoned by the banks – the likes of Ambleside, Coniston and now Windermere. Earlier this year, after the NatWest closure in Windermere was announced, he said: 'We desperately need banking hubs so locals, especially elderly and vulnerable people, have access to face-to-face banking services.' Last Thursday, MPs raised similar concerns in a backbench debate in the House of Commons on banking hubs and branch closures. Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, led the way. He is frustrated that a community request to get a hub in Bedlington, Northumberland, was recently knocked down by Link. Other MPs referred to bankless towns in their constituencies where hubs had not been approved. Link says the rollout of 160 hubs has resulted in 1.6 million people having local access to banking services (within three miles) that otherwise would not be available. Adrian Roberts, Link deputy chief executive, told me: 'Cash is proving key in the event of system failures and cyber attacks. That's why we need a resilient national cash access network that serves everyone, and why we have a key role in recommending new services including ATMs and banking hubs. We've recommended 226 hubs to date and expect many more.' Labour wants 350 up and running before 2029. Behind the scenes, there is a fierce debate going on about hubs. Some say they should not be introduced into towns where they would undermine the role of the Post Office in providing local banking services – in effect, hubs run by the Post Office – as that would cannibalise the existing businesses of sub-postmasters. Others warn that if Link was pushed into taking a more relaxed approach to approving hubs, some could subsequently close as a result of a lack of local demand for their services. Something that would be hugely embarrassing for Link and for Labour. However, some believe hubs are too restricted in what services they can provide – and that the rules should now be eased to broaden their appeal. Unless this happens, they say many hubs will struggle to survive. The road ahead for banking hubs will not be without its twists and turns, that's for sure. But the fact remains: Windermere still needs a banking hub. Sink or swim for Reeves' cash Isas plan Cash Isas are more popular than ever. The latest Bank of England figures show £14 billion was deposited inside these mini tax havens in April – that is the largest monthly amount since the 'Old Lady' started collating data on them in 1999. The fact they are all the rage is not because of juicy interest rates – these have been heading down this year. It is primarily a result of Rachel from Accounts, our splendid Chancellor (tongue firmly in cheek), wanting to clip their wings. The result is a mad scramble for cash Isas while stocks last. In recent months, Ms Reeves has let it be known that she wants to reduce the annual maximum that can be deposited inside a cash Isa from £20,000 to £4,000. In future, only investors, she has hinted, will be able to use the full £20,000 annual allowance. All part of her broader mission to help boost the UK stock market and raise capital for British businesses and massive infrastructure projects. But nearly everyone I have spoken to on this Isa makeover believes it's a nutty idea, impacting on the prudent, young and old. It's why we launched our 'Hands Off Our Cash Isas' campaign. Let's hope Rachel from Accounts sees sense. If she does, I vow to go up to Loughrigg Tarn in the Lake District and, irrespective of water temperature, swim 20 (not 20,000) victory lengths.
