Looking for a UK Winter Break? We share the best weekend breaks in the UK, perfect for a trip away this Winter.
Winter is a magical time of the year and Britain offers some perfect UK winter break choices for those looking to explore during the colder weather. I asked travel experts where their favourite Winter break holiday in the UK were and this is what they had to share.
Best Winter Breaks in the UK
The Lake District
Budget your trip
Hostel/budget hotel – £15
Midrange hotel – £40 – £70
Luxury hotel – £90 – £130
Dinner for two – £30
Street vendor – £5
Beer – £4+
Recommendations
Things to do: Walking, cycling etc as well as Brave the Cave, a Winter Course and of course, afternoon tea!
Affordable, luxury hotels: Wateredge Inn, Daffodil Hotel and Spa, Burnside Hotel and Spa, Regent Hotel By The Lake and The Whitbarrow Hotel at Whitbarrow Village.
Inverness, Scotland
Inverness has something for everyone: castles, the mystery and magic of Loch Ness, whisky, the northern lights and romantic tales. Come in winter and you’ll be marvelled by the fairy tale scenery: white hills surrounding the city, the Inverness Castle covered in snow, take a stroll along the Caledonian Canal, considered to be one of the most impressive waterways in the world. History lovers sharpen your cameras and explore the famous battlefield of Culloden, that is just right outside the city! Then relax and get cosy having a drink at Inverness’ first whisky bar, The Malt Room.
Budget your trip
Hostel/budget hotel – £14 – £ 25
Midrange hotel – £40+
Luxury hotel – £80+
Dinner for two – £30
Street vendor – £4 – £11
Beer – £3.50
Recommendations
Things to do: Inverness Farmers Market, Winter Wonderland, Eden Christmas Fair and the Aviemore Sled Dog Rally.
Affordable, luxury hotels: Highland Apartments by Mansley, An Grianan, Eildon Guest Houseand Dryburgh Town House.
York
York is a perfect winter destination, particularly over the Christmas period. There are so many wonderful things to do in York from the fabulous York Christmas Market to the other many Christmas events in and around the city where you can sample festive afternoon teas or take the children to visit Santa. The narrow Medieval streets in York feel wonderfully Dickensian, and you can feel like you have walked right into the pages of A Christmas Carol. There are several theatres in York where you can see traditional pantomimes in all their kitsch glory! Whatever you decide to do, a visit to York is like going back to a simpler, merrier time.
Nikki from Yorkshire Wonders
Budget your trip
Hostel/budget hotel – £13
Midrange hotel – £30 – £60
Luxury hotel – £80+
Dinner for two – £25 – £50
Street vendor – £2.50
Beer – £3 – £5.50
Recommendations
Things to do: York Minister, The Shambles, National Railway Museum, York Castle Museum, Richard III Experience and the York City Walls.
Affordable, luxury hotels: The Mount Royale Hotel & Spa, The Grand Hotel & Spa, Hotel Indigo York and Grange Hotel.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Despite the chilly weather, spending two days in Edinburgh is a fantastic choice if you’re after a weekend city break in the UK during winter. The crowds in Edinburgh are considerably lower than peak months of July and August, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the Old Town and the Royal Mile without the swarming crowds.
Edinburgh also hosts a number of great events in winter including Hogmanay over the New Year, Burns’ Night celebrations in January and several Christmas Markets over November and December.
Michael from The World Was Here First
Budget your trip
Hostel/budget hotel – £25
Midrange hotel – £50+
Luxury hotel – £90 – £130
Dinner for two – £40 +
Street vendor – £4
Beer – £5 +
Recommendations
Things to do: Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets, Silent Light, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh Castle, climb Arthur’s Seat and National Museum of Scotland.
Affordable, luxury hotels: Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square, The Balmoral Hotel, The Lane Hotel, The Inn Place and West Bow Edmonstone Close.
London
Christmas in London is very magical, and it is a great choice for a winter break. There are a lot of events going on to get people in the festive spirit. You can watch Christmas movies on comfy beanbags in a lovely winter setting in the Backyard Cinema or see the beautiful lights on Oxford Street or at Covent Garden.
There are several ice skating rinks set up all over the city, where you can show off your skills. One of the most popular activities during this time of the year is visiting Christmas markets. Winter Wonderland is the biggest in London. It has several food stalls, roller coaster rides and shows, so don’t miss it if you are in London during the festive season! Don’t forget to treat yourself to an Afternoon Tea or delicious treats at Harrods.
Eniko from Travel Hacker Girl
Budget your trip
Hostel/budget hotel – £20+
Midrange hotel – £50 – £90
Luxury hotel – £100+
Dinner for two – £30
Street vendor – £3+
Beer – £4.50 – £7
Recommendations
Things to do: Winter Wonderland, Leicester Square Christmas Market, Covent Garden, Tower of London, Borough Market, the British Museum and one of the many Afternoon teas! We have a list of free things to do in London to help you plan the perfect trip.
Affordable, luxury hotels: Montcalm Royal London House, CitizenM Tower of London, Donatello Room Aldgate and The Distillery.
How to save money in the UK
Helpful Resources
What to pack
- No matter where we travel to, I always take these trusty hand sanitizer’s and a mini first aid kit.
- We love these toiletry bags (especially great for smaller bathrooms) and choose a laptop bag like this as our hand luggage.
- We keep our devices charged on long travel days with these lightweight battery packs and bring these worldwide travel adaptors on all our trips.
- I still struggle not to overpack so stick to using an expandable suitcase like these, over backpack and always take my trusty luggage scales to avoid being charged at the airport.
Travel essentials:
- We LOVE this camera for our travel photography.
- For a cheap, easy and compact camera, we use this to vlog and take photographs.
- We use this travel drone (but make sure to check drone laws in your chosen destination first).
- This is our favourite travel Insurance because it covers so many activities and travel situations that could arise on longer trips but also offers year coverage.
15 Comments
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I agree totally with this. We always found travelling in the UK in winter is fantastic, because so many people *do* hibernate until spring. Prices are cheaper, and if you go for hikes, there are hardly any people out and about (even though it can be sooo pretty!)
Anyway yay. This is a great list. 🙂
All of these UK winter destinations sound magical, but especially Inverness, Scotland! I would love to see a castle covered in snow! Thanks for all the great suggestions.
UK is gorgeous to explore in the winter and yes, I love Scotland – just beautiful!
This is such a cool idea, I love your budget breakdowns especially. Makes me want to go back to the UK! 😀
Thank you so much! Hope it helps you plan your trip!
I agree totally with this. We always found travelling in the UK in winter is fantastic, because so many people *do* hibernate until spring. Prices are cheaper, and if you go for hikes, there are hardly any people out and about (even though it can be sooo pretty!)
Anyway yay. This is a great list.
Thank you so much! It is so much cheaper and quieter we find!
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