Jennifer Birtles
twenty fourth Jun 2025
Studying Time: 7 minutes
Have an affordable vacation within the UK to save cash and nonetheless really feel such as you’ve had a break!
Though in Britain we could not have assured sunshine all through the summer season months like most of our European counterparts, we do have an abundance of historic cities and exquisite landscapes. From weekend breaks staying in cityside B&Bs, to getting away from the hustle and bustle while exploring the countryside, there are many methods to maintain prices down and have an affordable vacation within the UK.
Ditch the Resort
The UK provides lots in the way in which of free actions, from countryside walks and hikes within the highlands to enjoyable weekends spent on seashores. The UK has 15 beautiful nationwide parks to discover, and over 7,000 miles of shoreline to see, which make exploring the nation’s landscapes an ideal vacation getaway.
To totally immerse your self within the countryside, tenting is the right technique to preserve issues low-cost and get a real genuine expertise.
Tenting
Spending a vacation underneath canvas is the only technique to save a piece of cash on vacation, however it may well additionally change into a part of the journey and magic of the journey. It’s an ideal getaway whether or not you’re after a peaceable solo weekend, a bunch outing, a household journey, or romantic {couples} journey.
Many campsites additionally permit caninesso you’ll be able to take your pooches with you – which is a good way to avoid wasting on kennel prices, too!
Discover out plenty of tenting hacks for a really finances trip right here.
Pitch costs range relying on location and time of 12 months, however they will value as little as £8-10 an evening, per individual. If you’re tenting throughout a busy season contemplate selecting a campsite barely additional away from the principle vacationer websites within the space for even higher costs.
Wild Tenting
In Scotland, you’ll be able to legally wild camp. And, due to a latest courtroom caseyou may also wild camp in Dartmoor. This implies you don’t must camp on a set website, however as an alternative can pitch up in any appropriate space.
It’s a good way to get into the true Nice Outside – and saves cash on pitch charges, too! Bear in mind that in the summertime months, there are some restrictions round locations like Loch Lomond between 1st March and thirty first September annually so be sure you verify whether or not you want a allow. Usually, you don’t must get the landowner’s permission however all the time verify earlier than you go to.
Wild tenting isn’t authorized in England, Wales, or Northern Eire. Some areas, such because the Lake District, have a ‘blind eye’ coverage in the event you observe the essential guidelines (arrive late, go away early, go away every thing as you discovered it, and keep no a couple of evening in the identical place). Countryfile has a helpful checklist of untamed tenting locations to strive throughout the UK.
If you already know one other spot you’d prefer to wild camp, discover out who the landowner is and ask their permission to camp there. Don’t simply rock up and pitch up: ask prematurely, and get to know the landowner to allow them to see you’re reliable and can go away every thing as you discovered it.
Glamping
Glamping is an alternative choice. It’s nonetheless somewhat low-cost however with a bit extra luxurious for these not fairly at residence underneath moist canvas. With glamping, you’ve gotten higher services like a non-public sizzling bathe and absolutely functioning kitchen.
Pitchup is a superb web site devoted to discovering low-cost tenting and caravan parks, additionally exhibiting customers the closest strolling routes, bike hires, actions, and pubs! Campsites is one other straightforward web site to make use of to seek for low-cost tenting websites for pitches, touring, and glamping. All in all, tenting is difficult to beat at retaining issues low-cost.
Alternate options to Tenting
Discovering different lodging is without doubt one of the easiest methods to avoid wasting on vacation. Lodges are notoriously costly and actually not definitely worth the cash when there are many different choices out there. Even if you’d like a city-based break, you’ll discover plenty of choices equivalent to close by caravan parks, in-city guesthouses, and different choices that get you away from costly resorts.
Caravan Parks
Like campsites, static caravan websites supply finances vacation lodging for {couples} and households. This feature prices a bit extra, from round £20 an evening relying on the variety of individuals the caravan sleeps and what services it provides.
You’ll be able to rent a caravan pitch in your personal, or rent a caravan out for the week or weekend for round £40 an evening (relying on measurement and site). Learn how to have an affordable caravan vacation right here.
This may be time to spend money on a caravan. See what we are saying about doubtlessly shopping for a caravan right here.
B&Bs and Guesthouses
Farm stays, B&Bs, and guesthouses are different alternate options on supply. Nonetheless cheaper than resorts, you’ve gotten your personal area and services and a bit extra consolation then in a tent! It’s additionally a great way to discover new locations with out risking the questionable British climate. The choices are additionally very best if you wish to discover cities somewhat than the countryside, too.
Strive Air BnBnative Fb teams, and Farmstay to search out alternate options to tenting – for each countryside AND metropolis breaks.
Home Swap
To avoid wasting TONS of cash, you can all the time home swap! Usually, that is executed internationally – however you are able to do it within the UK, too. Clearly, that is topic to creating certain your private home is absolutely cleaned and secure for any guests, as many individuals are asking for that. Nonetheless, home swapping is a good way to avoid wasting masses of cash and see new locations. Learn our full article about home swapping right here.
Rent a Canal Boat
If you wish to discover the attractive Norfolk Broads or the 4,700 miles of canal networks within the UK, a ship is a superb technique to have an explorer’s vacation with out leaving our shores. Do you know the longest canal is the Grand Union Canal, which is 137 miles lengthy and goes from London to Birmingham? It takes round 72 hours to navigate continuous!
Strolling Hostels
In case you’re a giant fan of the outside and the camaraderie that comes with hikers throughout the UK, plan a strolling journey. You would possibly wish to do only a lengthy weekend on the principle peaks or scaling Snowdon, however you can tackle an extended vacation with a coast-to-coast or 100-mile shoreline journey. Strolling hostels are an affordable technique to spend the evening underneath a stable roof to get a correct evening’s relaxation, however they’re fundamental – so it’s a step up from tenting. Yha hostels are a number of the finest to strive.
Save Cash on Journey
Keep away from any pointless journey prices. For instance, in the event you’re driving to your vacation spot, replenish your automobile earlier than setting off because the gas at your native petrol station might be cheaper than at petrol stations alongside motorway routes. Grocery store petrol stations are undoubtedly the most affordable round.
In case you’ll be travelling for a protracted time period, pack a picnic and snacks for the household as station and companies cafes and retailers are likely to have extortionate mark ups on their merchandise and also you’ll find yourself paying much more than you must. Keep in mind to take reusable water flasks like Sho flasksto avoid wasting on prices – many locations will refill them without cost and it’s higher for the setting.
Analysis different journey choices that could be cheaper. In case you’re travelling with out children or have gentle baggage, public transport is an effective different to contemplate. It might be simply as handy as driving however show to be a less expensive choice. Additionally it is value investing in a railcard in the event you’re eligible and plan to take both a number of rail journeys or one massive costly one.
Oxygen is a helpful website for planning a route by public transport and evaluating value versus time. If you’re travelling by public transport, reserving properly prematurely, travelling at off-peak occasions, and investing in a rail or coach card will all make your journey cheaper.
Peak Instances Imply Peak Costs
Avoiding the college summer season holidays and financial institution vacation weekends as a lot as you’ll be able to will prevent from shopping for into the value will increase at these occasions of 12 months. Though in the event you’re a household with youngsters that is a lot more durable to keep away from.
Vacation costs usually drop by between 10 and 15% from the final week of August and into the start of September so timing your vacation proper might get you higher offers.
Additionally contemplate taking your massive household vacation in the course of the Easter holidays subsequent 12 months as an alternative. Usually the UK will get good, sunny climate round this time and the costs might be cheaper as properly. Subsequent 12 months, Easter 2025 falls virtually proper on the finish of April (twentieth) which improves your possibilities of good climate.
Do your analysis earlier than you journey and take a look at if there might be any massive occasions occurring while you hope to be there. Issues like soccer matches, massive concert events, or race days will sadly whack the costs up on lodging within the space and you can find yourself paying much more.
Strive One thing Completely different
Cities like London, Oxford, and Tub are all highly regarded vacationer locations however dearer than another UK cities. Northern England and Scotland have some wonderful locations worthy of visiting which are nice metropolis breaks however with out the massive price ticket. Liverpool was revealed to be the very best worth metropolis break within the UK! Whereas different nice choices embody Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Aberdeen.
Additional Tricks to Save You Cash
In case you’re on a super-tight finances however really want to get away this summer season, strive these tricks to save more money.
- Why not hire out your private home while you’re on vacation? You’ll be able to join AirBnB simply to host your private home and have some extra cash coming in while you’re away.
- First time tenting? Borrow the tenting gear from a good friend or household in the event you can earlier than you spend a whole lot on stuff you could not use fairly often. If you need to purchase although, make your purchases out of season for significantly better offers.
- Benefit from offers and cashback. Web sites like lastminute.com often have some actually good offers out there so it’s value signing as much as see what you may get. One other concept is to make use of cashback websites like Quidco when reserving your vacation as you’ll be able to obtain as much as 13% again.
- Make use of age-related reductions. You’ll must preserve your ID on you however being underneath 18, a scholar, or over 60, means you’ll be able to profit from discounted entry charges and journey passes.
- Make your private home a vacation vacation spot with a bit creativity. In case you reside in or close to a metropolis, discover it as in the event you’re a vacationer – and you may benefit from a neighborhood resident low cost, too! Or take day journeys into your close by countryside to get into nature. Keep in mind that the Nationwide Belief and English Heritage each have loads of free websites to go to.