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Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Daily Record
Scottish city crowned best 'budget friendly staycation' destination - and it may surprise you
You don't need to leave the country to have a great holiday. A Scottish city has been named the best in the country for a "budget-friendly staycation". It was noted for its free attractions and safety. As living costs continue to rise, many Scots are foregoing international holidays in favour of more affordable staycations. According to SumUp, searches for 'cheap last minute holidays' have risen 44 per cent over the past month. In response, the experts have shared a list of the 10 best cities in the UK for a low-cost staycation. SumUp looked into cost-related metrics, as well as cultural and recreational amenities like museums and galleries. Topping the list for Scotland, and coming in at number two on the UK-wide roundup, is Edinburgh. The Scottish capital, which is often viewed as an expensive place to go, received an overall score of 60.85 out of 100. According to SumUp, Edinburgh is a "firm favourite for those seeking a staycation steeped in history and culture". The Scottish capital earned the highest score for museums—26 of them per 100,000 people—with the city home to the free National Museum of Scotland. Other popular free attractions in Edinburgh include the Museum of Childhood and The Writers' Museum. The Museum of Childhood features historic toys, games, clothes, books, and dolls, while The Writers' Museum is dedicated to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. The experts also found that there are 15.92 art galleries per 100,000 people in Edinburgh. These include popular free attractions such as the National Galleries of Scotland and the City Art Centre. Edinburgh was also named as the safest in the ranking, achieving a safety score of 69 out of 100. According to SumUp, this makes it "an appealing choice for families and solo travellers alike". Meanwhile, the average cost of a meal in Edinburgh was found to be £15. The average price of a coffee and beer are £3.89 and £5.50, respectively, according to the experts. Elsewhere, Derry was named the best location in the UK for a budget-friendly staycation with an overall score of 71.32. The city performed particularly well in affordability, with the lowest average meal cost at just £10 and a pint setting punters back just £3.97 on average. Following Edinburgh in third place is Liverpool, which received a score of 58.39. Rounding out the top five are Preston and Belfast, with scores of 57.42 and 53.31, respectively. Product Marketing Lead at SumUp Corin Camenisch commented: "With an increased focus on domestic travel, as well as the cost-of-living crisis still being prevalent, we wanted to highlight the most cost-effective cities for a staycation in the UK. "Not only does this encourage budget friendly travel, but it also encourages local spending and supports local businesses due to extra traffic and tourism. "While some of the cities in our report are popular hotspots among tourists, we hope to shed insight on budget-friendly locations that can also provide memorable experiences that are rich in culture without breaking the bank." The full list of the top 10 cities in UK for budget-friendly staycation can be found below. More information can be found on the SumUp website. Derry Edinburgh Liverpool Preston Belfast Kingston upon Hull Nottingham Leicester Sheffield Stoke-on-Trent
North Wales Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Swinney concerned about budget after ‘chaotic and shambolic' welfare reforms
The First Minister responded after Sir Keir Starmer's Government was forced into a last-minute climbdown in order for welfare legislation to pass its first parliamentary hurdle. In a late concession on Tuesday evening, ministers shelved plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes now only coming after a review of the benefit. The changes, which were made to meet demands from Labour backbenchers, are expected to put pressure elsewhere in the UK Government's budget. Speaking during a visit to the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh, Mr Swinney said he welcomed the fact the original proposals had been dropped, saying they were 'completely and utterly unacceptable'. He told the PA news agency: 'The UK Government has essentially abandoned the heart of their welfare reform proposals, as a result of the chaotic and shambolic handling of the issue by the Labour Government. 'The credibility of that Labour Government is now severely undermined as a consequence of what has happened.' The credibility of the Chancellor and Prime Minister has been 'undermined', he added. Asked what the changes could mean for the Scottish Government, Mr Swinney said the situation will be monitored 'carefully' for any potential impact on the devolved budget. He said: 'I'm concerned about the implications of all of that. 'But it's clear to me that an agenda of punishing the vulnerable and those with disabilities is a completely unacceptable agenda, and I'm glad the House of Commons recognised that.' The First Minister also vowed he would not replicate the Pip changes in adult disability payment, which is the equivalent benefit north of the border. Social Security Scotland is responsible for some welfare payments in Scotland. Mr Swinney said: 'We will not make the changes or to make the cuts that the UK Government was proposing, we've made that crystal clear.' Responding, Labour insisted the UK government was providing record amounts of money for Scottish public services. 'The Spending Review will deliver an extra £9.1 billion, which the Scottish Government must now ensure reaches the front line,' said a party source. 'Under the SNP, NHS waiting lists continue to rise, the educational attainment gap continues to grow, and employment support has been cut – all of which is making it more difficult for people to enjoy the dignity and security of work. 'John Swinney has run out of ideas and his government has run out of steam, Scotland needs a new direction with Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour.'
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Swinney concerned about budget after ‘chaotic and shambolic' welfare reforms
The First Minister responded after Sir Keir Starmer's Government was forced into a last-minute climbdown in order for welfare legislation to pass its first parliamentary hurdle. In a late concession on Tuesday evening, ministers shelved plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes now only coming after a review of the benefit. The changes, which were made to meet demands from Labour backbenchers, are expected to put pressure elsewhere in the UK Government's budget. Speaking during a visit to the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh, Mr Swinney said he welcomed the fact the original proposals had been dropped, saying they were 'completely and utterly unacceptable'. He told the PA news agency: 'The UK Government has essentially abandoned the heart of their welfare reform proposals, as a result of the chaotic and shambolic handling of the issue by the Labour Government. 'The credibility of that Labour Government is now severely undermined as a consequence of what has happened.' The credibility of the Chancellor and Prime Minister has been 'undermined', he added. Asked what the changes could mean for the Scottish Government, Mr Swinney said the situation will be monitored 'carefully' for any potential impact on the devolved budget. He said: 'I'm concerned about the implications of all of that. 'But it's clear to me that an agenda of punishing the vulnerable and those with disabilities is a completely unacceptable agenda, and I'm glad the House of Commons recognised that.' The First Minister also vowed he would not replicate the Pip changes in adult disability payment, which is the equivalent benefit north of the border. Social Security Scotland is responsible for some welfare payments in Scotland. Mr Swinney said: 'We will not make the changes or to make the cuts that the UK Government was proposing, we've made that crystal clear.'
Leader Live
02-07-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Swinney concerned about budget after ‘chaotic and shambolic' welfare reforms
The First Minister responded after Sir Keir Starmer's Government was forced into a last-minute climbdown in order for welfare legislation to pass its first parliamentary hurdle. In a late concession on Tuesday evening, ministers shelved plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes now only coming after a review of the benefit. The changes, which were made to meet demands from Labour backbenchers, are expected to put pressure elsewhere in the UK Government's budget. Speaking during a visit to the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh, Mr Swinney said he welcomed the fact the original proposals had been dropped, saying they were 'completely and utterly unacceptable'. He told the PA news agency: 'The UK Government has essentially abandoned the heart of their welfare reform proposals, as a result of the chaotic and shambolic handling of the issue by the Labour Government. 'The credibility of that Labour Government is now severely undermined as a consequence of what has happened.' The credibility of the Chancellor and Prime Minister has been 'undermined', he added. Asked what the changes could mean for the Scottish Government, Mr Swinney said the situation will be monitored 'carefully' for any potential impact on the devolved budget. He said: 'I'm concerned about the implications of all of that. 'But it's clear to me that an agenda of punishing the vulnerable and those with disabilities is a completely unacceptable agenda, and I'm glad the House of Commons recognised that.' The First Minister also vowed he would not replicate the Pip changes in adult disability payment, which is the equivalent benefit north of the border. Social Security Scotland is responsible for some welfare payments in Scotland. Mr Swinney said: 'We will not make the changes or to make the cuts that the UK Government was proposing, we've made that crystal clear.'
South Wales Argus
02-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Swinney concerned about budget after ‘chaotic and shambolic' welfare reforms
The First Minister responded after Sir Keir Starmer's Government was forced into a last-minute climbdown in order for welfare legislation to pass its first parliamentary hurdle. In a late concession on Tuesday evening, ministers shelved plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes now only coming after a review of the benefit. The changes, which were made to meet demands from Labour backbenchers, are expected to put pressure elsewhere in the UK Government's budget. Speaking during a visit to the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh, Mr Swinney said he welcomed the fact the original proposals had been dropped, saying they were 'completely and utterly unacceptable'. He told the PA news agency: 'The UK Government has essentially abandoned the heart of their welfare reform proposals, as a result of the chaotic and shambolic handling of the issue by the Labour Government. 'The credibility of that Labour Government is now severely undermined as a consequence of what has happened.' The credibility of the Chancellor and Prime Minister has been 'undermined', he added. Asked what the changes could mean for the Scottish Government, Mr Swinney said the situation will be monitored 'carefully' for any potential impact on the devolved budget. He said: 'I'm concerned about the implications of all of that. 'But it's clear to me that an agenda of punishing the vulnerable and those with disabilities is a completely unacceptable agenda, and I'm glad the House of Commons recognised that.' The First Minister also vowed he would not replicate the Pip changes in adult disability payment, which is the equivalent benefit north of the border. Social Security Scotland is responsible for some welfare payments in Scotland. Mr Swinney said: 'We will not make the changes or to make the cuts that the UK Government was proposing, we've made that crystal clear.'
