Here are some of the best ideas on how to spend your summer holidays peacefully. Whether you have no plans to leave the country this year, or are keen to explore more local activities, England has so much to offer in the summer months.
01. Camping in the Countryside
A great way to enjoy the varied English weather is by having a camping trip. A summer camp is ideal with the long days, and a cheap tent and disposable barbecue may be all you need to have a good time. But watch out for those rainy days!
02. A Day out in York
York is the most easy-going city for a day trip, with several activities suitable for any weather conditions. Summer is the perfect time to visit, so you can comfortably enjoy the history walks, free museums, boat trips, and tons of outdoor café scenes.
03. Explore Old Villages in The Cotswolds
For anyone based in Southern England, The Cotswolds is the perfect place to enjoy a summer break, even for a few days. The idyllic, old-English villages make stunning backdrops for special memories, and as a national area of outstanding beauty, the countryside is the ideal spot for fun activities.
04. Plan a Friends & Family Sports Day
Planning a fun sports day event with family members or your friend group is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon of physical activity. Find a big space in the great outdoors, and set up relay races, rounders, cricket, the egg on spoon races, hoola hooping etc., and enjoy a true test of physical health with your loved ones.
5. Plan a Week Long Road Trip
The UK is particularly great for road trips, as it has such varied and historic counties, you can have a very fun and enriching experience spending time in lots of different places. There is so much more to see outside London, this is one of the fun ways of visiting lots of the top tourist spots you’ve always wanted to find, all in one week.
06. Plan a Summer Afternoon Fruit Picking
Driving around in the summer time often means you will see lots of signage for picking fresh fruits. Strawberries in an English July & August are lovely, and if you are very lucky your local woods walks will have blackberry bushes for you to pick.
07. Make an Aesthetic Picnic
All it takes to make a beautiful picnic afternoon, is a large blanket and picky bits in your local park. If you love the Pinterest aesthetic, try other accessories like cake stands, pretty disposable plates, fresh flowers, and even cushions to sit on! It can make an event of Saturday mornings to start off your summer weekend in a positive way! Do your research to find the best green areas in your local area, and enjoy a hot summer day out of doors.
08. Early Morning Farmer’s Market
Try googling your local farmers market to see which day every month they appear selling locally made wares. It is a great way to spend some free time and get you up and out in the morning. It’s a simple, fun activity that you can do alone and enjoy some lovely food and drink with local sellers.
9. Find a New Outdoor Hobby
Lot’s of local parks in England have free tennis courts, gym equipment or running tracks for you to enjoy some casual physical activity. Try more unique outdoor fun like bowls, fell running, surfing and kayaking, even if its only for the summer!
10. Ice Cream Tasting at the Coast
You’ll find ice-cream parlours all over England, but the coast is where they have unique and interesting flavours. Try getting a selection in your summer and finding a new summer favourite.
11. City Scavenger Hunt
You can find fun scavenger hunt ideas in your nearest city with a simple google search, or if you are the type to love making your own treasure hunt, invent your own! If you have a group of friends you can split in to teams and compete to reach the final goal.
12. Climb the Three Peaks
Whether you feel up to climbing just one of the peaks, or are determined to climb all three, its a great way to spend a day in The Peak District and explore the great outdoors.
13. Find England’s Outdoor Obstacle Course
There are lot’s of outdoor courses in England suitable for adults and children, specifically with water park type obstacles and challenges. These are a great way to enjoy an outdoor activity together with a joint purpose. Here is one based in Wadebridge, Cornwall.
14. Visit a New City
City breaks are the best way to explore the more urban areas of England, and outside of London – there are some great and diverse options. Brighton is the greenest city in the country, whereas York is quaint and historic. All cities, big or small, have a unique offering and a unique vibe to offer new tourists.
15. A Scenic Boat Trip!
Find your nearest body of water and check online if they offer any boat rides, kayaks or pedalo’s to enjoy on a sunny day in England. Whether you’d prefer to sit back and enjoy a guided tour, or enjoy a physical activity and kayak across a lake, it’s one of the best things to enjoy in the warmer months. The most famed water rides in England are of course the punting boats of Cambridge, a quintessential English activity often guided by students.
16. Board Games in the Garden
Creating themed nights at home to enjoy in the prolonged daylight is a good way of making something simple exciting. As an added bonus, you don’t need to spend money for this activity. One of the fun things about being at home in the summer is that you get to be in your own comfort and are also not disrupting your daily routine.
17. Try Out The National Trust Sites Across England
The National Trust are an organisation that own lots of beautiful national parks, stately homes and areas of natural beauty in England, open for visitors or members alike. Some of the sites are used as famous film sets, period England locations or are part of extensive walking routes for those who enjoy the great outdoors. Here is Stourhead National Park, the film set to Pride and Prejudice, an extremely popular spot for those in the Wiltshire area.
18. Create a Summer Bucket List!
Before long, the summer feels like it’s passed us by, and we regret having missed out on some summer vacation activities. Making the ultimate list of things you want to do, and then working it in to your schedule is a great way of making sure you have allotted time to fulfil all of your ideas.
19. Cheap Day in Free Museums
Your local town or city may have free entry to public museums, art galleries and local libraries than you think. On a rainy days with no plans, why not take yourself to all of your city’s free resources and soak up all of the local culture. Often free resources will put on exhibitions and events, fun ideas to keep everyone busy in the school holidays.
20. Stay in a Cabin in the Country For One Night
A week holiday may be off the cards this year, but a night away for two in a cosy cabin is certainly possible. Find some things to do the morning of check in and the afternoon of check out to make your one night feel like a weekend away. You can have so much fun star gazing, playing card games and having a cosy barbecue. The best memories are often the simplest ones.
21. Try Out a New Festival
Festivals in England can often be rain-soaked events centred around drinking, which may be off-putting to those who enjoy a quiet life. But find one that is more calm and family friendly to ensure you feel at ease and have a great time. In the summer holidays, there are food festivals, music festivals and craft markets all over the country to keep you entertained. Finding festivals that perhaps aren’t the mainstream will also mean tickets and facilities are more affordable.
22. Visit an Outdoor Spa
Spa days are the ultimate treat, but ones with outdoor features are so relaxing in the summer time. You can lounge on the sunbeds with endless drinks, relax in the jacuzzi or even get treatments outdoors at certain spa’s across England. It may be the perfect way to spend a summer day without any plans, and in the school holidays it’s worth searching for spa deals and offers when they may have quieter periods, checking their Instagram is always a promising idea.
23. Go For a Day Long Bike Ride
Bike rides don’t need to be intimidating, long-haul events. But a slow, steady physical activity, with many comfort breaks, food stops and pub visits to keep you going all day!
24. An Afternoon in a Castle
England has so much to offer in the summer with its historic culture and architecture. Stately homes and castles are the best of our heritage, and can make great days out to enjoy a bit of learning and often stunning, well-cared for garden walks. Castles are the best way to explore some history first-hand, and often come with guided tours and their own events to attract visitors in the summer holidays.
25. Set up a Car Boot Sale!
An easy way to get rid of some of your pre-loved items and search for bargains yourself is a car boot sale. It’s a perfect time in summer to start an early morning by making a little extra cash, and enjoying a purposeful day out. Give yourself an excuse to finally give your home that clear out it needs and put some profit towards fun summer activities!
