The best places to find your next UK staycation

I love looking for holidays — just browsing is half the fun, right? Google can be a bit vast without a starting point, and Instagram, though great, can sometimes be a bit too much of a highlights reel, so where do you look for staycation inspiration? I get a lot of messages asking for suggestions for cabins, campsites, and cute country hideaways, so I thought I’d put together this post, sharing my favourite places to seek out unique UK accommodation, from seaside hotels, to tiny cabins and everything in between.

Canopy and Stars

My absolute go-to when it comes to looking for super special staycations. All of Canopy & Stars’ listings (and they have a lot) are all rooted in nature and promise to get you closer to the great outdoors. From shepherd huts to yurts with hot tubs, treehouses hovering in the sky, Scottish bothies and luxe cabins on private lakes, they’ve got all the options with plenty of places to suit all budgets — some spots are seriously good value. All the info on the site is super useful, most properties have loads of reviews to read through for reassurance, and, should you be looking further afield, they’ve got heaps of ‘glamp-sites’ across Europe too. We stayed at the ultra cool and cosy Ditchling Cabin back in Jan — ultimate cabin porn!

Kip Hideaways

Kip Hideaways is a bit like a member’s club for staycationers. They’ve got a small but growing diverse portfolio of holiday homes to hire out, ranging from beachy houses in Whitstable to converted train carriages in Somerset, and charming Cornish cottages. Their houses range in size, sleeping 2-6, and you can filter your search down in various ways, including ‘near a train station’ — very handy for those who don’t drive. Earlier in the year, we stayed at this gorgeous Peak District Barn, a gorgeous stone barn in Alstonefield, and it really was stunning and so serene. It definitely impressed us so we’d absolutely use Kip again. 

Cool Camping

If you’re a keen camper (or maybe just keen to give camping a go), Cool Camping is the ultimate online resource for finding and booking tried-and-tested campsites. There’s all sorts on there, from family-friendly sites to off-the-grid pitches, and places to camp in the middle of the woods. I actually have the Cool Camping UK book which I’d recommend too — it fills me with wanderlust to just flick through and dream of that slowed-down pace that camping gives you. 

Pitch Up

Similarly, Pitch Up is another great online site for finding and booking great campsites. I’ve found places tend to get booked up less fast on Pitch Up so it’s a good place to hunt if all the campsites you’ve contacted so far have said they’re full. It’s easy to use, the facilities are easily outlined, and the whole country is well covered. 

Smith Hotels

If you’re less about communal shower blocks and more about roll-top bath tubs at the end of the bed, Smith Hotels is  where you want to look. Always, always my first port of call when I’m thinking about beautiful boutique hotels, be it for a city break, a far flung adventure or a cosy countryside retreat. They’re got heaps of beaut options in the UK — some slightly out of the price range — but some great, luxe affordable options too. The Rose, Deal is high on  my list, as is The Scarlet, Cornwall’s eco hotel on the beach. 

Airbnb

Airbnb needs no introduction but I always forget about it when thinking of UK staycations. It’s actually great, especially for bigger groups or family get-togethers with so many larger house options in all sorts of beautiful places. I also just love the ease of the site and how everything saves so nicely in the app, which I’d definitely recommend. 

Cool Stays

Cool Stays is all about unique and unusual stays. How about a fishing hut on the Scottish borders? Or a mill keeper’s cottage in Norfolk? Whilst some on the sightlier whackier end of the scale, there are loads (and I mean, loads) of ultra gorgeous, super chic places — lots of romantic spots for couples and also great open-plan houses for get-togethers and  family trips. I want to get the fam together and stay at The Cob — a super sharp barn conversion near Bude. 

Sand and Stone Escapes

If you’re looking for somewhere swish to escape the city, Sand and Stone Escapes has a compact collection of unique holiday cottages, big and small, scattered across Cornwall, Devon and The Cotswolds. Their places are seriously plush with proper dreamy interiors, and surprisingly well priced too — especially for larger groups. Bledington Barn is at the top of my list —  a sustainably-minded converted old dairy in the Cotswolds which sleeps six. As for ultimate wow-factor, check out  Little Cottage — a seriously slick open-house home in Cornwall with sea-views and space for 10.