The best winter staycations in the UK

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is home to a whole host of traditions around Christmastime. The Edinburgh Christmas event programme in 2022 runs from 25^th November until 3^rd January, and there is a plethora of activities – from the traditional and family friendly to the downright weird and wacky – to get involved with.

Hogmanay (the Scottish new year celebration) is an unmissable event in the capital, and a chance to experience all of the traditions surrounding new year in Scotland. Take part in a ceildh (pronounced kay-lee), have a steak pie on New Year’s Day, or participate in Loony Dook if you’re feeling particularly brave! Whatever you choose to do, you’re guaranteed to have a great time in the Scottish capital.

Average winter temperature: 3-7°C

Hay-on-Wye, Wales

Hay is known for its spring festival which features storytelling, music and comedy, along with plenty of food stalls and too many activities to count. Perhaps lesser known is the Hay-on-Wye Winter Weekend, a mini version of the main festival that takes place just before Christmas. You can still expect the same entertainment, food, and family activities – simply with a more festive spin. The event takes place at the end of November at various locations throughout Hay-on-Wye, starting with the Christmas light switch-on.

Aside from the festival, the town also has book shops, independent stores and all of the cobblestoned quirkiness to be expected from a small town in Wales.

You may also want to consider hiring a classic car to make your trip to Wales that little bit more memorable.

Average winter temperature: 4-8°C

Bath, England

Speaking of cobbled streets, Bath practically wrote the book on how to be a historical and charming English city.

Bath is beautiful year-round with a good blend of shopping, hospitality, and culture, but the thing that sets it apart in the winter is its unique thermal spas. The Thermae Spa is the perfect place to warm up and enjoy some rest and relaxation in the restorative waters of the natural hot spring.

Once you’re relaxed, a stroll around the streets will have you immersed in stunning Georgian architecture, and with a Christmas market to boot, there’s lots to do and lots to love in Bath.

Average winter temperature: 4-8°C

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland – Derry to Cork (2500 km/1600 miles in total)

The Wild Atlantic Way is a stunning driving route that spans 1600 miles through Ireland. The route runs from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale, Cork, and boasts incredible views and wild terrain. Plus, on clear midwinter nights, the unpolluted skies offer a chance to spot the Aurora Borealis.

Be warned though: the drive during winter is not for the fainthearted, as the Atlantic Ocean is as unforgiving as it is beautiful. Weather conditions can change in an instant, and the terrain in some areas is far from smooth-sailing. However, you don’t have to drive the route; staying anywhere along it will give you an equally scenic experience with more chance to explore the secluded bays and rugged coastlines.

Average winter temperature: 5-9°C

Cairngorms National Park, Scottish Highlands

Scotland may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of ski resorts. The Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands is home to quite a few, with slopes suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels and ages. Away from the slopes, there is ample opportunity to enjoy the majestic surroundings with 1,768sq mi of national park to explore, and independent hotels, museums and activity centres scattered throughout.

For those who want to experience something a little more Christmassy, the hills are home to the UK’s only free-roaming reindeer herd that were reintroduced to Britain in the 1950s with great success. There are various tours available to those who want to see the deer up close.

Average winter temperature: 2-5°C