After the year we've had, we were all hoping for at least a decent summer. But let's be realistic - this is England, and it rains. As someone wise once said, "if it wasn't for the rain it would be The Crater District, not The Lake District."
The key to holidays in this country is to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. To start with, packing for all eventualities is important, so check out this list to make sure you're covered (literally).
If it's nice, go for one of these walks. If it's not so good, then don't panic - here are ten options to keep you and your bubble entertained, and possibly dry.
Wherever you are in the country, membership to English Heritage will have you covered. With over 400 historic sites to choose from, you could be stunned by Stonehenge or wowed by Whitby Abbey. One of the best things is that each adult member can take up to SIX kids free with them, so it's great value for money. Better still, if you use code EH2021 you can get 15% off the price of an annual membership. You're welcome!
Everyone loves Lego! LEGOLAND Discovery Centres (in Birmingham and Manchester) are the ultimate indoor LEGO playgrounds with 3 rides, 10 LEGO build & play zones, a 4D cinema & more! Featuring a whole host of exciting attractions from the Kingdom Quest ride to an amazing recreation of the North West's most iconic buildings, the Centre not only provides fun for LEGO fans young and old, but fantastic educational benefits too. The Centre involves just one entry fee, with all attractions included in the cost. If you've got extra days available, you can double up and get entry to Sea Life too for £27.50
There are now 5 Royal Horticultural Society gardens dotted around the country, including one that's under 20 minutes from Manchester Camper Hire, so a great option before or after your trip.
RHS members go free, and can take a guest with them, or adults are £12 each if you're only going to visit the once. As well as the gardens there are cafes, shops, and of course a garden centre too. There are even play areas for the kids, so a great way to while away an afternoon.
With 12 Sea Life aquariums across the UK and Ireland, there's probably one that you can visit on your trip. Sea Life aquariums are fantastic family attractions with stunning marine habitats and displays. There are always offers on 'multi-attraction tickets' (they're owned by the same people as Legoland) or annual passes if you're expecting to visit again later in the year. With thousands of underwater species to spot, the whole family will be entertained for hours...and you'll stay dry the whole time.
If you're going to Cornwall, it's pretty much the law that you have to visit The Eden Project. Nestled in a former quarry, the giant translucent biomes look like something out of a Bond film, (partly because they are - it's Gustav's ice palace in Die Another Day!) but it's what's inside that counts. You can walk through Tropical and Mediterranean worlds, follow a treetop walkway through the largest indoor rainforest in the world, see over 1000 species of plant, and enjoy being in temperatures as warm as 35ºC whilst it's cold and rainy outside. There are flowers 2 metres tall, a natural rainwater waterfall, and even a bar where you can stop for an 'indoor al fresco' refresher.
Still not wet enough? White water rafting is a real adventure with a choice of natural white water in Scotland or Wales, or custom built courses in central England. Whichever you choose, you're bound to face steep drops, tight turns and masses of white water. A great adrenaline-filled day out that's guaranteed to tire everyone out before a night back at the campsite.
Okay, so if it's raining then you probably won't be going hot-air ballooning, but this is definitely a great alternative adventure for your UK holiday. Virgin do balloon flights from sites all over the country. It might take a couple of attempts to get the weather to be on your side, but it's absolutely one for the bucket list. Even though you have to be lucky with the weather, if you build your weekends away around the potential flight, then when you do get to fly as well, it's a bonus!
Use code Discount10 to get £10 off National Flight Vouchers
Love having the freedom to explore? That's where the National Trust for Scotland come in. A huge number of our customers head to Scotland every year, and joining NTfS means you can see some of the highlights for a great price, whilst also contributing to protect the places that make Scotland so popular. Whether it's castles, gardens, museums or monroes, with prices starting at £3 a month it's much better value than paying as you go.
Joining the National Trust for Scotland lets you show your support for their work, taking care of the places you love:
Over 100 historic properties to visit
100,000 plant varieties to admire
245 miles of footpaths to explore
300,000 precious artefacts to discover
76,000 hectares of countryside to roam
If you're going to get wet, get really wet! You might be tempted to try your hand at surfing, but you can't control the waves, or the weather. At The Wave, near Bristol you can surf on consistent, safe waves all year round. They're open 7 days a week with waves to suit beginners and experts alike. Located just off the M5 it's great for a day out if you're stopping in South Wales or Devon. Don't worry if surfing isn't for everyone in your group - spectators can hang out at the cafe and watch whilst you get to grips with the board.
NOTHING!
Of course, as I like to say, sometimes doing nothing counts as doing something. Yes, it's usually met with an eye-roll, but the point is it's okay to light the fire during the day, stick a pot of coffee on, get your favourite book and stay in the Glawning by the fire and read these books! You're on holiday after all!
I hope this has offered a little bit of inspiration. Don't let a little bit of rain stop you from having fun.
Thanks for reading! Nick 😄🚌
I've personally chosen the items to include in my blog - I haven't been paid or given free stuff! However, I may earn a small referral fee if you buy something through one of the above links, but this doesn't affect the products I include or the price you pay. Thanks!