There’s no getting away from it - it’s bleak out there right now. Craig and I get up around 6am everyday and it’s freezing cold, dark and depressing. And the day doesn’t get much better from there on in - you’ll find yourself switching lights on at 4pm, and continually testing the radiators to make sure the heating is still on. With all that doom & gloom, you can definitely see why winter breaks are on the increase.
With this in mind, here are my top UK weekend breaks for when it all gets a little bit too much to bear:
Christmas Shopping (… and a little Art & Culture)
With Winter Wonderland and a whole host of Christmas-themed shows on in the West End, there’s no better time to head on down to our nation’s capital and sample some of what makes us so brilliant. As tourism also suffers from a slight dip come the colder months, you also get some great deals on attractions and museums (meaning you might to get to see some of the old favourites in relative calm for once!). The National Gallery go all out during the festive season and there’s plenty of talks, drawing sessions, and even gospel choirs to enjoy.
If theatres and galleries aren’t your thing, the comedy circuit heats up too. The Comedy Store in Piccadilly Circus is welcoming back some old favourites with Paul Merton, Josie Lawrence and Phil Jupitus all making appearances on select dates throughout December.
My biggest tip is to stay over in a central London hotel (St Georges Hotel on Regent Street is a great option for access to shops and shows) and then get some Christmas Shopping out-of-the-way on Oxford Street in the morning. It might not be relaxing, but sometimes “a change is as good a rest” - and you’ll be so busy you won’t have time to think about your freezing cold toes and fingers!
R&R on a Country Escape
Whenever you watch an American film about us Brits set in the winter, there’s always a beautiful log cabin tucked away in the woods somewhere. There are open fires, dodgy British accents, and country pubs. In reality, these are pretty tough to find, and many are too isolated to give you any real peace of mind.
Instead, quiet country hotels like the Wentbridge House Hotel in West Yorkshire are your best bet for a country retreat - with grounds to explore, plenty of places to hide yourself away, but the all-important staff on hand to make it a truly relaxing experience. There’s plenty to explore in the winter months too. The Theatre Royal in Wakefield has a fabulous mix of music, comedy, and big stage productions including Ruby Wax, Ed Byrne, favourites from the Rat Pack era, and re-workings of the Nutcracker and Jack and the Beanstalk.
As it’s a well-known fact, that relationships are most under strain in the winter, it can be the perfect tonic to stop you bickering with the man (or woman) in your life. I know Craig and I could really do with some time to ourselves right now - won’t be long and we’ll be a newly formed family of four with all the pressures and strains that come with it!
A Coastal Jaunt
You might not instantly think of the seaside as somewhere you’d like to escape to in the winter, but the British coast is breathtaking in the colder months. There’s nothing better than long walks in the country wrapped up in your thermals, exploring local villages, pubs and eateries, or even just gazing across the open water, to make you appreciate just how meaningless and insignificant your troubles actually are.
The Ox Pasture Hall in Scarborough is an excellently appointed hideaway with both the Yorkshire Moors & Dales on your doorstep, and the seaside towns of Whitby, Scarborough and Filey to explore too. My top tip for a night out has to be a ghost walk. The Yorkshire Coast is so steeped in history, there are simply hundreds of long-running tours to choose from. Far from being a spooky experience, these are performances in their own right with actors and well-planned twists to give you a lighthearted fright. I can only imagine this being a million times more atmospheric in the dead of the winter!
So what would be your winter break of choice? Let me know if I’ve missed out your favourite UK winter destination.
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