Holiday in the UK on a budget

Here's how to pinch the pennies on your next staycation

After spending a lot of time at home lately, it’s safe to say that we’ll all be craving some sun, sea and sand this year. But with holidays abroad still looking uncertain, many of us will be eager to take a well-earned break right here in the UK.

There are so many brilliant destinations to explore, from camping in the countryside to seaside breaks to family resorts. However, travelling across Britain can be anything but cheap and with such a high demand for holidays at home, the price of staycations are soaring.

But not to worry, because there are ways you can enjoy a fun-filled holiday in the UK without breaking the bank. Here are some of our top tips to keep costs down when planning your next staycation.

Travel discounts

In an effort to kick-start holidays at home, the government is introducing a new version of the BritRail Pass that will offer discounted travel across Britain. The pass will allow UK residents to travel for cheaper on certain days of the week and may even allow children to travel for free. Further details are yet to be announced, but this is one to definitely keep an eye on to save a bit of money. If you’re looking to book normal train tickets, always try to travel at off-peak times to cut the cost.

Choose a cheap destination

An important thing to consider when finding a budget-friendly break in the UK is the area you want to visit - and it’s not just cheap accommodation you should be on the look-out for. Research the local area to find out how much you could be forking out on food shops, meals and drinks out and local attractions.

Which? compiled a list of the best-value UK holiday destinations so you can see exactly where you’ll get the most bang for your buck. Bamburgh, Northumberland came out on top as the best-value seaside town, while Liverpool proved to be the most budget-friendly city break. Be sure to also check out Essential Travel for their great guide of Top 10 Budget Destinations – you might just be surprised at a few places on the list!

Plan low-cost activities

Forget expensive restaurants or splashing out on excursions, holidays at home are all about cheap and cheerful activities, and there are plenty of ways you can keep yourself busy on a budget.

• Get your walking boots on, ask the locals for the best routes and go and explore. You’ll be sure to stumble on some incredible views along the way. Plus, walking is the cheapest mode of transport, so save your taxi money and take a stroll to the pub instead.
• Attractions like museums, galleries and nature parks tend to be free or charge a small entry fee, so make a list of nearby tourist hotspots and spend a day or two visiting them.
• If you want to visit bigger attractions like theme parks, make sure to look online for vouchers or discount codes before you book tickets. You tend to find family deals or seasonal offers online so take advantage of them!

Stick to a daily budget

If you really want to watch the pennies, you can set a daily budget. Figure out what you’re willing to spend on food, drinks, travel and activities each day and try not to go over your limit. Prioritise what you want to spend the most of your budget on for the day. For example, you could make your own cheap and cheerful breakfast and lunch so you can spend a little extra on an evening meal out.

Use price comparison websites

Although it’s pretty simple advice to give when talking about saving money, price comparison websites really can help you get the best deals out there. So if you think you’ve found the perfect holiday, don’t rush into booking anything. Make sure you spend a bit of time comparing hotels, car hires and transport costs. You might just save yourself a nice chunk of money that can go towards your holiday spends!

Here a few helpful websites you can use:

Travel Supermarket

Trivago

Dealchecker

So, don’t be put off by those expensive staycations. There are ways you can keep costs down and enjoy a cheap summer break in the UK this year. Remember to look for discounts and special offers before booking anything and stick to a reasonable daily budget so you don’t go overboard on the spends. Anything you save can be put away towards your next holiday when we can (hopefully) jet off abroad!