twenty fourth Jun 2025
Studying Time: 7 minutes
Have an inexpensive vacation within the UK to save cash and nonetheless really feel such as you’ve had a break!
Though in Britain we could not have assured sunshine all through the summer time months like most of our European counterparts, we do have an abundance of historic cities and exquisite landscapes. From weekend breaks staying in cityside B&Bs, to getting away from the hustle and bustle while exploring the countryside, there are many methods to maintain prices down and have an inexpensive vacation within the UK.
Ditch the Resort
The UK provides a lot in the best way of free actions, from countryside walks and hikes within the highlands to stress-free weekends spent on seashores. The UK has 15 beautiful nationwide parks to discover, and over 7,000 miles of shoreline to see, which make exploring the nation’s landscapes an ideal vacation getaway.
To completely immerse your self within the countryside, tenting is the proper method to preserve issues low cost and get a real genuine expertise.
Tenting
Spending a vacation underneath canvas is the best method to save a bit of cash on vacation, however it may well additionally turn out to be a part of the journey and magic of the journey. It’s an ideal getaway whether or not you’re after a peaceable solo weekend, a bunch outing, a household journey, or romantic {couples} journey.
Many campsites additionally enable canine, so you possibly can take your pooches with you – which is a good way to avoid wasting on kennel prices, too!
Discover out numerous tenting hacks for a really price range trip right here.
Pitch costs differ relying on location and time of yr, however they will value as little as £8-10 an evening, per particular person. In case you are tenting throughout a busy season think about selecting a campsite barely additional away from the principle vacationer websites within the space for even higher costs.
Wild Tenting
In Scotland, you possibly can legally wild camp. And, because of a latest court docket case, it’s also possible to wild camp in Dartmoor. This implies you don’t must camp on a set web site, however as a substitute can pitch up in any appropriate space.
It’s a good way to get into the true Nice Outdoor – and saves cash on pitch charges, too! Remember that in the summertime months, there are some restrictions round locations like Loch Lomond between 1st March and thirty first September every year so be sure to verify whether or not you want a allow. Usually, you don’t have to get the landowner’s permission however all the time verify earlier than you go to.
Wild tenting isn’t authorized in England, Wales, or Northern Eire. Some areas, such because the Lake District, have a ‘blind eye’ coverage in the event you comply with the essential guidelines (arrive late, depart early, depart every part as you discovered it, and keep no multiple evening in the identical place). Countryfile has a helpful record of untamed tenting locations to attempt throughout the UK.
If you already know one other spot you’d prefer to wild camp, discover out who the landowner is and ask their permission to camp there. Don’t simply rock up and pitch up: ask prematurely, and get to know the landowner to allow them to see you’re reliable and can depart every part as you discovered it.
Glamping
Glamping is another choice. It’s nonetheless moderately low cost however with a bit extra luxurious for these not fairly at house underneath moist canvas. With glamping, you may have higher amenities like a non-public sizzling bathe and totally functioning kitchen.
PitchUp is a good web site devoted to discovering low cost tenting and caravan parks, additionally exhibiting customers the closest strolling routes, bike hires, actions, and pubs! Campsites is one other simple web site to make use of to seek for low cost tenting websites for pitches, touring, and glamping. All in all, tenting is difficult to beat at maintaining issues low cost.
Options to Tenting
Discovering various lodging is likely one of the easiest methods to avoid wasting on vacation. Resorts are notoriously costly and actually not definitely worth the cash when there are many different choices accessible. Even if you would like a city-based break, you’ll discover numerous choices reminiscent of close by caravan parks, in-city guesthouses, and different choices that get you away from costly resorts.
Caravan Parks
Like campsites, static caravan websites supply price range vacation lodging for {couples} and households. This selection prices a bit extra, from round £20 an evening relying on the variety of folks the caravan sleeps and what amenities it provides.
You’ll be able to rent a caravan pitch to your personal, or rent a caravan out for the week or weekend for round £40 an evening (relying on measurement and site). Learn how to have a low cost caravan vacation right here.
This may be a very good time to spend money on a caravan. See what we are saying about probably shopping for a caravan right here.
B&Bs and Guesthouses
Farm stays, B&Bs, and guesthouses are different alternate options on supply. Nonetheless cheaper than resorts, you may have your individual house and amenities and a bit extra consolation then in a tent! It’s additionally a great way to discover new locations with out risking the questionable British climate. The choices are additionally splendid if you wish to discover cities moderately than the countryside, too.
Strive Air BnB, native Fb teams, and FarmStay to search out alternate options to tenting – for each countryside AND metropolis breaks.
Home Swap
To avoid wasting TONS of cash, you could possibly all the time home swap! Usually, that is completed internationally – however you are able to do it within the UK, too. Clearly, that is topic to creating certain your property is totally cleaned and protected for any guests, as many individuals are asking for that. Nevertheless, home swapping is a good way to avoid wasting masses of cash and see new locations. Learn our full article about home swapping right here.
Rent a Canal Boat
If you wish to discover the attractive Norfolk Broads or the 4,700 miles of canal networks within the UK, a ship is an excellent method to have an explorer’s vacation with out leaving our shores. Do you know the longest canal is the Grand Union Canal, which is 137 miles lengthy and goes from London to Birmingham? It takes round 72 hours to navigate continuous!
Strolling Hostels
If you happen to’re an enormous fan of the outside and the camaraderie that comes with hikers throughout the UK, plan a strolling journey. You may wish to do only a lengthy weekend on the principle peaks or scaling Snowdon, however you could possibly tackle an extended vacation with a coast-to-coast or 100-mile shoreline journey. Strolling hostels are an inexpensive method to spend the evening underneath a strong roof to get a correct evening’s relaxation, however they’re primary – so it’s a step up from tenting. YHA hostels are a number of the finest to attempt.
Save Cash on Journey
Keep away from any pointless journey prices. For instance, in the event you’re driving to your vacation spot, refill your automobile earlier than setting off because the gasoline at your native petrol station can be cheaper than at petrol stations alongside motorway routes. Grocery store petrol stations are positively the most affordable round.
If you happen to’ll be travelling for an extended time period, pack a picnic and snacks for the household as station and providers cafes and retailers are inclined to have extortionate mark ups on their merchandise and also you’ll find yourself paying much more than it is best to. Keep in mind to take reusable water flasks like Sho flasks, to avoid wasting on prices – many locations will refill them free of charge and it’s higher for the atmosphere.
Analysis different journey choices which may be cheaper. If you happen to’re travelling with out youngsters or have gentle baggage, public transport is an effective various to think about. It might be simply as handy as driving however show to be a less expensive possibility. Additionally it is value investing in a railcard in the event you’re eligible and plan to take both a number of rail journeys or one large costly one.
Omio is a helpful web site for planning a route by public transport and evaluating value versus time. In case you are travelling by public transport, reserving nicely prematurely, travelling at off-peak occasions, and investing in a rail or coach card will all make your journey cheaper.
Peak Occasions Imply Peak Costs
Avoiding the college summer time holidays and financial institution vacation weekends as a lot as you possibly can will prevent from shopping for into the worth will increase at these occasions of yr. Though in the event you’re a household with youngsters that is a lot tougher to keep away from.
Vacation costs usually drop by between 10 and 15% from the final week of August and into the start of September so timing your vacation proper might get you higher offers.
Additionally think about taking your large household vacation in the course of the Easter holidays subsequent yr as a substitute. Usually the UK will get good, sunny climate round this time and the costs can be cheaper as nicely. Subsequent yr, Easter 2025 falls virtually proper on the finish of April (twentieth) which improves your probabilities of good climate.
Do your analysis earlier than you journey and take a look at if there can be any large occasions happening while you hope to be there. Issues like soccer matches, large concert events, or race days will sadly whack the costs up on lodging within the space and you could possibly find yourself paying much more.
Strive One thing Completely different
Cities like London, Oxford, and Tub are all very talked-about vacationer locations however costlier than another UK cities. Northern England and Scotland have some superb locations worthy of visiting which are nice metropolis breaks however with out the massive price ticket. Liverpool was revealed to be the very best worth metropolis break within the UK! Whereas different nice choices embrace Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Aberdeen.
Additional Tricks to Save You Cash
If you happen to’re on a super-tight price range however really want to get away this summer time, attempt these tricks to save more money.
- Why not hire out your property while you’re on vacation? You’ll be able to join AirBnB simply to host your property and have some more money coming in while you’re away.
- First time tenting? Borrow the tenting gear from a pal or household in the event you can earlier than you spend lots of on stuff you might not use fairly often. If you must purchase although, make your purchases out of season for a lot better offers.
- Profit from offers and cashback. Web sites like lastminute.com often have some actually good offers accessible so it’s value signing as much as see what you will get. One other concept is to make use of cashback websites like Quidco when reserving your vacation as you possibly can obtain as much as 13% again.
- Make use of age-related reductions. You’ll have to preserve your ID on you however being underneath 18, a pupil, or over 60, means you possibly can profit from discounted entry charges and journey passes.
- Make your property a vacation vacation spot with slightly creativity. If you happen to dwell in or close to a metropolis, discover it as in the event you’re a vacationer – and you may gain advantage from an area resident low cost, too! Or take day journeys into your close by countryside to get into nature. Do not forget that the Nationwide Belief and English Heritage each have loads of free websites to go to.
