George
Ah, the summer! It is the brightest time of year in any country. There is just something about the sun that puts that extra spring in your step. For me, even the smell of the air changes to a summery scent when the sun is shining. It's a mix of freshly cut grass, sun cream and sweet sweet ice cream. Nature always comes alive more too, you hear birds chirping everywhere and wildlife around every corner; even sadly in your bedroom. In England, we are lucky to get five of these glorious days a year; but as an optimistic I always hope for more. On the note of having that summery huge about myself, I thought I might write a list of suggestions as to what you could do this summer if you are staying in England to really make the most of your five days.
Beach
Yes, the beach! Where everyone flocks to as soon as they go to a typical holiday destination like Spain, Greece or Turkey. Well, it may sound revolutionary but we do have those here in England. They are just normally cooler with grey sand, sea and sky, so not as constantly appealing as Greece's crystal clear turquoise waters. However, when that sun comes out, the waves heat up and that typical holiday beach picture becomes a reality here in England. Luckily, as we are a small island, you can get to a beach within a couple hours drive. And then voila! You have your Greece for the day! Whilst at the beach you can read, sunbathe and the kids can make sandcastles. My favourite benefit about UK beaches is that they always feature arcades and arcade games too; my favourite is the 2p machine. After relaxing on the beach and playing at the arcade you can even go out for a nice meal and a few drinks to watch the sunset. If you are feeling fruity, then why not book a hotel and stay the night? Make it a proper staycation. All of this without even having to leave the country and in some cases the county.
Castles
Everyone seems to forget that England is one of the oldest countries in the world, and as such has a large history. A history of monarchs and wars as well as development and renaissance. Part of this history also includes a time when people were very invested in building and owning castles. This was often to protect themselves from the previously mentioned wars. The nice part of this is that many of the castles (or in some cases their ruins) are still available to visit today and are often a free attraction to do so. Due to how popular the castles were there is probably one a two-hour drive tops from you. Imagine this, getting a delicious breakfast and iced coffee for the road to drive an hour or so, to tour around a castle (or ruins) for the day before going out for a pub lunch. What a lovely way to spend a gorgeous summer's day. Just picture walking around the castle (or ruins), looking at lush greenery, with the sun beating down on you. You could just walk for hours soaking in the good weather and beauty of the past. You may even learn something historical or architectural.
Wales or Scotland
I have visited both of these places as they are so easy to drive or train to. Scotland has a more neutral palette than England and the Loch Ness monster, whereas Wales has the famous Barry Island and mountains to hike. I found Scotland to be a foodie heaven. There was a great waffle shop in Aberdeen and various other incredible chip chops. They also have some interesting local creations too. For Wales, I completed several hikes and enjoyed just living in the moment outside and enjoying nature in all of its summer glory.
Local Walk
If transportation or time are constraints that you have personally, then fear not as I have a final summer fun idea for you: a local walk. I know a local walk may sound silly, but they are actually lots of fun and normally have somewhere where you can buy a coffee or ice cream too. The best thing to do is just search for country parks near you, and a green space close to you will appear. You may not even be aware that it exists! Most country parks have maps or signs and give directions too, so there is no need to worry about getting lost. Some even have a choice of marked walks. This way you can switch off and go for a nice long walk around a new area in the sun and really enjoy that summer escapism, without even having to worry about making a misstep.
What are you waiting for? Get outside and enjoy the UK this summer, as you will have read above, it has a lot to offer! Make those summer memories from the comfort of your own country, without the faff around with planes, trains and passports. It will just be about you, friends and family soaking up that incredible vitamin D. If we are lucky, we will even get that cheeky sixth day of sun that I mentioned earlier.
