Perhaps 2020 was the year you’d planned to travel in a big way. The year you’d seek out secret beaches muttered about by in-the-know locals. The year you’d camp in a rainforest, see waters lit by bioluminescence and have a celebratory swig of something strong in the capitals city.
Instead 2020 was the year the world took a breath and travel had to reinvent itself. After the colossal earth-shake of the pandemic, what’s certain is that we’re going to be travelling more thoughtfully from hereon in. But perhaps, also more gleefully. We will appreciate every lingering orange-slice sunset: we will feel every grain as our toes sink into the sand. We’ll think harder about how our journeys affect local communities and do more research into where our money is best spent. And while the way we travel might change, what we want from our precious holidays is, and will always remain, the same.
Whethern you already live in the UK or are heading over to the UK, there are plenty of cities in the UK that will appeal to everyone. Whether you are looking for inspriation for weekends away for couples or family getaway. The UK has so much to offer, from pretty cool coastal towns to amazing historical cities perfect for relaxing weekend breaks in the UK or even cheap weekend breaks to keep the burn out at bay.
That’s why we’ve taken great care in selecting five holiday destinations for you in 2021. On the list you’ll find five amazing locations in UK that is certain to give you the joy and comfort you absolutely deserve.
There’s always something going on in Manchester, whether an international festival, a premiership football match or a high-profile musician performing in one of the city’s many venues. The buzz of the place is contagious and new bars and restaurants are opening every week, serving everything from Cicchetti to sushi.
One of the best things about the city is its diversity. Ultra-modern buildings share Manchester’s skyline with imposing neo-Gothic structures such as the Town Hall: one-off boutiques compete for shoppers with high-street stores: and the multicultural population means there’s a Chinatown, a Curry Mile and a gay village.
Even if you have visited Manchester several times or lived in the city for years, there is always something new to discover – from peaceful green spaces in the suburbs to a new music venue in the city centre.
Liverpool is a north-west port city may be best known for birthing The Beatles, but it has much more to (twist and) shout about than that. The Beatles and the Mersey are probably the first things to pop into your head when you think of Liverpool. This may be one of the weekend breaks in the UK, but did you know that it’s also a Unesco World Heritage City, home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe and that Liverpool FC is the only British football club to win five European Cups? Not to mention all the fantastic attractions, museums, restaurants and bars.
You certainly won’t be short of things to do in Liverpool. Look out for a couple more post on Liverpool on the blog. One of my favourite hotels in the city is the Marriott hotel which is right in the town centre and walking distance to the train station too.
It’s a top-class destination for culture and charm. You can’t get much more ‘old-school’ than Oxford. Frequented for its book shops, punting, pibs and colleges, it is easily explored in a day making it the perfect weekend break if you live in London. Oh, and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. Oxford is packed with beautiful independent shops and a cluster of these can be found in the famous Oxford Covered Market. The University of Oxford Shop makes sure visitors find their perfect Oxford-themed souvenir, Alice’s Shop sells a wide range of Alice in Wonderland souvenirs and the new Westgate Oxford in the city centre boasts an exciting mix of shops and restaurants. Jericho is another popular place for shopping and if you head down there, pop into Demijohn for a unique experience at this liquid deli.
A city that really needs no introductions, London offers one of the best weekend getaways in UK with an endless list of things to do in London. There is something for everyone. From Shoreditch, an area rich with creative and filled with colourful street art, cool cafes, and restaurants including markets. Then you have the Westend, treat for all those that love theatres and a little retail therapy and nearby you also have the colourful Neal Yard.
Self-isolating when you arrive in the UK
You need to self-isolate in the place you’re staying for the first 10 days after you arrive unless you’ve only visited an exempt country, territory or region/ This is because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
You may be fined up to £10,000 if you do not self-isolate when you need to. You can be prosecuted if you do not pay the fine on time.
The government will use the details you provide in the passenger locator form to check you’re self-isolating.
You may be able to end self-isolation early if you pay for a private coronavirus test.
Precautions to take when travelling due to the Covid 19 disease
The world as we know it has changed and as such travelling is no longer as easy as we used to have it. Here are some mandatory precautions to take while travelling for the holidays.
- Consider testing
Testing before and after travel can reduce the risk of spreading COVIS-19. Consider getting tested with a viral test one to three days before your trip. Delay travel if you’re waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your test results with you when you travel. After your trip considers getting tested again.
- Check local requirements and restrictions
Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks and requiring those who recently travelled to stay home for up to 14 days. Save yourself unpleasant surprises and delays by checking for restrictions at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.
- Hotels and other lodgings
Once you arrive at your room or rental. disinfect high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, tables, desks, phones, remote controls and faucets. Wash plates, glasses, cups and silverware (other than prewrapped plastic items) before using.
Remember safety first
Even the best-laid plans may need to be set aside when illness strikes. Stay home if any of your travel companions or you:
- Are sick or think you have COVID-19 even if you don’t have symptoms.
- Have been around someone with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 in the past 14 days even if that person didn’t have symptoms.
This post was working in collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own.