Maldiveslike

CAMPSITES are getting cooler – letting you have a family holiday with all the frills but without the expensive costs.

One of the most fun ones on the block is Alannia Costa Blanca Resort in Spain, one of the largest of it’s kind in the country.

The five-star camping resort isn’t one where you’ll be pitching tents, but instead with holiday lodges instead.

But the main attraction is its huge tropical waterpark, with Indonesian Island stone heads overlooking it.

It has loads of pools (one of which is heated) as well as slides and splash zones.

Adults can head over to the spa centre or gyms, if they want a break, or take the kids to the many sports facilities including tennis and padel.

SI YA

Spanish city with 300 days of sunshine & £2.50 beers named top place for Brit expats

STAR BUY

Spanish city where you can get 5-star stays for under £40pp & it’s 37C next week

You won’t have to leave the resort for anything – even with a hair salon and supermarket on-site.

Otherwise the main restaurant has both local and international dishes, or grab drinks and ice creams from the poolside bar.

When the sun goes down, there is lots to do as well with a vast programme of activities including discos, shows and bingo.

While the resort isn’t on the beach, the nearby Costa Blanca coastline is around 20 minutes away by car.

If you’re visiting in the peak summer season, expect prices to be around £1,719 for a week’s stay.

Visit outside of the peak summer season and you’ll pay just £554 for a week’s stay – and with lodges sleeping five, this works out to just £16 each a night.

Rooms range from premium two and three-bedroom holiday homes to larger lodges and chalets.

Families have raved about the campsite online, with one saying it was the “best camping site they had been to”.

Another said the pools “make you think you’re in Thailand“.

A third added: “The Tahiti pool is out of this world. Felt like we were in the Maldives.”

WE AREN’T all lucky enough to be close to the coast, so when it comes to hot weather days, it can be hard to find a spot to enjoy the sun.

Yet across the country there are a number of inland beaches you can head to – so we’ve rounded up the best across the country.

Cotswold Country Park & Beach

The UK’s largest inland beach can be found in the Cotswolds at Cotswold Country Park and Beach, where you can head to the Main Beach for some swimming or dip in the Paddling Lagoon.

The beach is then backed by a grassy area, ideal for picnics.

But don’t worry if you haven’t brought your own food as there is the Beach Shack serving light bites as well as an Ice Cream Hut.

Admission varies depending on the time of year, but during peak season pedestrians and cyclists can access the park from £5 per person and a car of up to five people costs from £18.18 (around £3.64 each).

Read more on travel inspo

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

STAYCAY

Our travel experts’ best-kept-secret UK holiday spots for summer – from £37 a night

Ruislip Lido Beach, London

Ruislip Lido Beach in Hillingdon, West London, is a long stretch of sand with its own palm trees.

Even though you aren’t allowed to swim at the beach, you can sunbathe making it the ideal spot for city dwellers to escape to.

There’s plenty to keep kids occupied though, including a pirate ship play area and a splash pad.

Entry to the beach, splash pad and play area is free.

Loch Morlich, Scotland

Loch Morlich Beach can be found in the Cairngorms National Park, near Aviemore, in Scotland.

The unique beach sits 300 metres above sea level in Glenmore Forest Park and while sunbathing on the beach you can even see the snow-topped Cairngorm mountains.

When it comes to the water, it is one of the cleanest freshwater beaches in the UK where you can rent paddleboards and kayaks if you fancy.

The beach is free to visit.

Wallingford Beach, Oxfordshire

Found close to Wallingford Bridge, you can head to Wallingford Beach which stretches 35 metres long.

The Thames-side beach is backed by grass too which is ideal for a picnic.

Despite being a river spot, the water tends to have little to no current during the peak season but is also a designated swimming spot, so the water is tested regularly.

The spot is free to visit.

Rutland Water Beach, East Midlands

In the East Midlands, you can head to Rutland Water Beach which stretches 140 metres.

The spot is the first bathing location in England to achieve both a Blue Flag and Seaside Award for its water quality.

While the beach is open all year round, you can only swim in the water in the summer months from May to September, with opening hours varying from 10am to 6pm.

Access to the beach is free.

St Andrews Lakes, Kent

Close to Rochester, St Andrews Lakes has not one but two beaches with sunloungers and pretty blue waters to swim in.

There’s also a Nordic-inspired wellness centre with a hot tub and wood-fired sauna.

You can even stay at the lakes too in overwater lodges that look like ones in the Maldives.

Entry starts from £7.50 per person.

Hemsworth Water Park, West Yorkshire

Hemsworth Water Park in West Yorkshire has not one but two lakes.

Even though you can’t swim in the lakes, the sandy beaches are the ideal place to chill out in the sunshine.

There’s also Playworld by the beach, which is an outdoor adventure playground with a tower slide and climbing frames.

The attraction is free to visit but if you want to go to Playworld, it costs £3 per person.

River Dart Country Park, Devon

Near Dartmoor in Devon, you can head to River Dart Country Park which is home to a beach at the edge of a lake.

In the middle of the lake you will also find a partially sunken pirate ship.

There’s also a desert island with sand and faux palm trees.

Admission costs between £10 and £14.95 per person depending on whether you visit on a weekday or at the weekend.

Church Stretton Reservoir, Shropshire

Located at National Trust‘s Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton Reservoir has a man-made beach ideal for a day in the sun.

While on the beach you can look out to Long Mynd as well.

You can swim in the reservoir as well.

The spot is free to visit and there are a number of nice walks in the area too.

Gaddings Dam, West Yorkshire

Famous for having England’s highest beach, you can head to Gaddings Dam in West Yorkshire.

In addition to the beach, you can swim in the dam which has previously been described by visitors as a “wild swimmer’s paradise”.

It is free to visit, but you’ll need to hike for around 30 minutes to get to the spot.

A HOLIDAY park with bright blue waters compared to the Maldives has been named the best in the UK.

Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa won the best Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year in VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence 2026.

Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa is a 98-acre estate that sits outside of Clawton and is described as a “Devon delight” surrounded by private bright blue lakes.

It’s popular for those wanting a break involving fishing, open water swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking.

Surrounding the lake is its accommodation from overwater bungalows called Lake Pods, floating lodges and “Luxury Cocoons”.

The pods are set across a private lake and look like they could be in another country.

CHEAP THRILL

UK’s best-value theme parks MAPPED, plus hotels nearby for £29 & cheap parking

BUDGET BREAKS

The stunning Europe beach resorts you can fly to for £15.99 – plus £34 hotels

One visitor even said: “Clawford Lakes is an absolutely stunning venue. The lakes look like something from the Maldives – such a stunning blue colour! It’s nice and peaceful as well.”

Visitors can also enjoy views across the water from a private deck.

Even if it’s raining, the views can still be seen as the pods have floor to ceiling windows, they also have open plan living and dining areas with a kitchen.

They sleep up to four people, with a double bed and sofa bed meaning both couples and families can stay there – all of them are dog-friendly too.

The Luxury Cocoons are for those who want to try glamping – they have an open plan double bed, kitchen, dining and living area.

Other accommodation options include luxury apartments, holiday lodges and homes.

For those who’d prefer not to swim in the lake itself, the holiday park opened a new 25-metre heated outdoor pool last year – and it has three flumes.

It might be an angler’s paradise, but there’s plenty more to do for those less interested in fishing.

Guests can sign up to try their hand at archery, hire bikes and head out around the resort and during the school holidays there’s family entertainment.

For relaxing, guests should head to the spa where an infinity pool hangs over the lake.

There are lots of treatments on offer too from facials to massages, reflexology and even sessions with a nutrition expert.

With so much to do, many guests return to Clawford Lakes with lots commenting on how ‘beautiful’ and ‘peaceful’ it is.

Another said: “Clawford Lakes is perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing and peaceful getaway surrounded by the beautiful Devon countryside.”

While the accommodation comes with full-fitted kitchens, there’s also an onsite is a restaurant and bar called The Apple & Grape for those who don’t fancy cooking.

If visitors fancy a trip to the beach, nearby is Bude, Widemouth Bay, Simmerleaze Beach, Crooklets Beach and Padstow.

THE heat is on and there’s a spot in Kent with an enormous lake and beach that people say feels more like being abroad.

Found at the site of a former quarry, St Andrews Lake in Kent is where you can do everything from open-water swimming to paddleboarding and kayaking.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

On a summer‘s day, the water is so blue that it’s even been called a ‘taste of the Mediterranean’, by author Lisa Drewe.

During the summer season, visitors can book a session for its aqua park, which is the largest in the county (from £26 per session).

The aqua park has inflatable slides, a climbing wall, swings and other obstacles to jump around on.

LOOK OUT

Your fave North East seaside eats – from beach bars in boats to pirate chippies

SUSSED OUT

Sun readers’ fave family spots in Sussex – top-rated beaches to pirate festivals

There’s another inflatable park for smaller children which is specifically for those two to six years old – from £16 per child.

Around the lake there are even beach spots – so you will be able to feel even more like you’re on holiday.

In fact, there are two beaches at St Andrews Lakes; ‘Carp’ and ‘Coots’ – both have soft sand, sun loungers on the shore, free parking, and lifeguards are on duty.

For adults, entry starts from £27.50 per adult which is for all-day access and includes a deluxe sun lounger.

Entry for children starts from £7.50 per person which doesn’t include a sun lounger (children under two go free).

On the water, visitors can rent and have a go on the kayaks, pedalos, stand-up paddleboards, Mega SUP and Bell Boats.

Not all activities involve getting in the water, there are plenty of things to do on dry land too.

There’s a 24-foot climbing wall with 15 different routes, archery, axe throwing, yoga and the zip wire.

The zip wire is a great way to get spectacular views over the lake, which whizzes above the waters below.

When it comes to relaxing, there’s a place for wellness too with either a 1.5 or three-hour sessions.

Here, take a dip in a lakeside hot tub, detox in a wood-fired sauna, and refresh with a plunge in the natural lagoon.

On-site is also a pizzeria, cafe, ice cream hut and during the colder months, a crumble bar.

If one day here isn’t enough, there are options to stay, one of which is by bringing your own motorhome or campervan on one of the eight hard-standing pitches.

Or book one of the ‘luxury floating lodges‘ – each comes with private decking, a hot tub, and views across the lake.

One recent visitor said: “I never imagined that I could be blown away on a holiday in Kent. St Andrews Lakes lodges or boat houses are just amazing.

“If you want the Maldives but don’t want to pay or travel too far, then this is as good if not better – I’m talking from experience.”

One of the smaller lodges is Point Lodge which sleeps up to two people.

Inside is a double bed, kitchen, small table and chairs, TV, bathroom, and decking over the water with two fold-out deckchairs for sunbathing.

Seven-nights at Point Lodge starts from £569 – or £40.60pppn

The Lakeside is the largest of the overwater lodges, it sleeps up to five people and has two bedrooms.

Inside is a separate living area with a dining table and huge windows so even if the sun isn’t shining the views can still be admired.

The decking wraps around the lodge with the hot tub back on dry land to the side.

Prices for The Lakeside starts from £609per week.