WHITE sand beaches, enormous castles, and peaceful canals – no I’m not describing France or Spain or Portugal as you can find all of this in the UK without spending much money.
Sometimes we Brits don’t appreciate what we have on our doorstep, and let’s face it, exploring the country can be costly – but here are some truly bucket list spots that you can see on a budget.
Richard Madden has been exploring the country on foot, by rail, road even boat for his new book Great British Journeys – and has given Sun Travel an insight into his favourite finds.
Richard says: “Obviously travelling on a budget depends where you start from – but walking, whether it’s on the coast or in the countryside is free.”
By foot
He started by saying: “I was brought up around the Lizard Peninsula, and here are some incredible places to walk to, like Kynance Cove.
“In Sussex, my most favourite walk is along Seven Sisters which is spectacular with Cuckmere Haven, where the estuary meets the sea.
“It’s also big news that the King Charles III England Coast Path has just opened.”
The coastal path project was 18 years in the making – it’s now the longest coastal path in the country and is around 2,700 miles long.
It circles the entire English coastline with it’s start (or end) point at Berwick-upon-Tweed all the way to Land’s End.
By train
But, if you don’t fancy walking miles, give your legs a rest and hop onboard a train because you can see plenty from a train window.
Along the East Coast Main Line (which stretches from Newcastle to Edinburgh) you’ll get pretty views of beaches and seaside towns like Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
On the fastest services, the full length of the journey takes around 1hr38 and one-way tickets can cost as little as £7.70.
Richard says: “That whole line is beautiful with coastal views and castles.
“You don’t even have to do the whole thing – just go on a couple of stops like to Alnmouth, or go further up and you’ll pass Dunstanburgh Castle.”
On the full stretch of the line, passengers will also see the Tyne Bridge, Lindisfarne Castle, the Edinburgh skyline and Firth of Forth.
Further south, another popular route is onboard the Bluebell Line which is just around the corner from National Trust‘s Sheffield Park.
Tickets for adults to board the heritage steam train start from £27 and when you book, check for children’s rates which are just £1 with their ‘kids for a quid’ offer.
The West Highland Line, also dubbed the ‘Hogwarts Express‘ is another incredibly scenic journey.
Actually called the Jacobite Steam Train, the 41-mile round trip goes between Fort William and Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands (from £72.75).
However if you’re on more of a budget but still want to get the views, hop on a public service line instead.
A ticket from Fort William to Mallaig which crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct, typically starts around £9.20.
When exploring the UK – why not check into some of our favourite hotels?
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Margate House, Kent
This stylish boutique hotel is in a seaside townhouse, a short walk from Margate’s coolest bars and restaurants. Decked out with plush velvet sofas, flickering candles and striking independent art, inside feels like a warm welcome home. Rooms are stunning, especially the ones that give you a glimpse of the sea.
The Alan, Manchester
The Alan looks extremely grand, built into a beautiful Grade II listed building. Spread across six floors, with 137 rooms, each one looks like a fancy design magazine. From the concrete coffee tables to the pink plastered walls, the industrial-inspired designs perfectly replicate the history of the city.
The Queen at Chester Hotel
This historic hotel has welcomed the likes of Charles Dickens and Lillie Langtry through its doors. Rooms have richly-patterned carpets with super soft bed linen and premium toiletries in the bathroom. Go for a superior room for extra goodies including bathrobes and snack boxes.
The University Arms Hotel, Cambridge
This Cambridge hotel is in the ideal spot, within walking distance to bars, shops and hotspots like the university colleges and Parker’s Piece. The inside couldn’t be prettier, with huge stained glass windows, grand chandeliers, and rooms with enormous clawfoot bath tubs.
By Boat
To explore the country, most of us will hop into the car, but Britain is so well connected through its waterways.
Richard is no stranger to canal boating and reveals some of his favourite journeys to do around the country.
He says: “The Shropshire Union Canal is one I’ve done on quite a few occasions.
“That one goes to Cheshire, and you get these fantastic views of the Roman walls, so it’s a particularly good one.
“Another that I’ve done quite a few times is the River Wye, on the border of Wales.
“It’s Wordsworth country and it’s got incredibly beautiful surroundings in that area like Tintern Abbey which go past on the water.
“To make it better, there are lots of pubs along riversides, so you can moor up and go in.”
One very famous waterways spot is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, where you’ll find the Bingley Five Rise Locks.
Renting a 6-berth narrowboat for a week generally costs between £900 and £1,500.
If you split that between a group of six, it can work out as little as £21pppn – but this varies depending on the season.
Richard also has some top tips for those planning a staycation or day trip around the UK to reduce the costs.
He says: “My key tip is to work it all out beforehand – the further you book in advance, the cheaper things will be.
“Go through your options as well, like how you’ll travel there and if it’s cheaper to take the bus, or if it’s worth going by train than by car.
“You can consider options like camping to keep costs down, but I would say it’s only worth doing that if you enjoy it – don’t if you’re not going to have a good time.
“There are so many different landscapes in the UK and generally, you don’t have to go far to see them.”
Great British Journeys by Richard Madden (National Trust Books, £14.99) is out on April 9.