Taking more short breaks within the UK as a family

**This is a collaborative post**

If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll know that this year we have finally taken the plunge and have booked a rather exciting holiday abroad in October. It will be the first time the children have ever been abroad, and both myself and Paul absolutely cannot wait to explore all that a warm beach holiday has to offer with our children.

That being said, our sunny holiday is still quite a distance into the future, so we’ll be looking to plan a couple of short breaks to enjoy within the UK up until then. We’re huge fans of staycations, and often up roots and head off camping to different parts of the country, and this year will be no different. After the glorious weather we enjoyed last summer, we’re definitely hoping for a repeat this year so that we can enjoy some of the fantastic outdoors that the UK has to offer, in fact we are currently on holiday in Cornwall and the weather so far has been kind to us.

Why you should be taking more short breaks as a family

Short breaks are the perfect family bonding experience and are a fantastic way to get out and about and see different parts of the country in which you might not normally visit. When everyone is so short on time, it’s important to try and set some aside to spend quality time as a family, and a quick mid-week or weekend trip away is the perfect way to make sure you’re making new memories.

City break or country escape?

Once you’ve made the executive decision to take a family break, the next important step is to choose the type of break that you want. With so many different areas to discover, it can be hard to make the right choice for your family. One of the easiest ways to break down your choice into smaller chunks is by first deciding do you want to visit a city, the seaside or the countryside? Or perhaps you want the option of all three on your break? Narrowing down your choice to one of these three options will then give you scope to explore the different areas that you can visit that will give you exactly what you’re looking for. For us, city breaks are the more appealing choice in autumn and winter, country escapes are fantastic for witnessing spring wildlife and blooms, and summer is, of course, the perfect time for a beach trip.

When is the best time to go?

We often find that half term is the perfect time for a short break. Half terms tend to come and go in a flash, so taking a quick breakaway is a great way to ensure that you’ve really made the most of time off with the children. Easter break and May half term are both particularly favoured times to enjoy a different part of the UK, as the weather should be brighter, and most attractions should be winding up ready for high season, but won’t be overly crowded.

Hotel or self-catering

Whilst the appeals of a hotel are great, with no cooking or cleaning required and room service on tap, travelling as a family often means practicality has to come first. Self-catering properties mean that there’s enough space for each member of the family and can act as a ‘home away from home’. Another reason we favour self-catering properties for short breaks is that they don’t restrict you, giving you the freedom to have the option to eat out at different places, immersing yourselves in the local cuisine and the community.

So where next?

With spring on the horizon, the children are itching to get out into the outdoors and enjoy an activity-filled break. We’re considering everything from water sports to hiking, and the Lake District is somewhere that can offer us both of those things. We’re also considering where we might stay and have always wanted to visit Windermere, so there could be a great place to start. After a day packed full of energy spending activities, it’s going to be important to choose somewhere appropriate to rest our heads, so we’ve been looking at Lake District Cottages from Lakelovers which can cater to our family thanks to their privacy and abundance of outdoor space.

Will you take a short break this year?

Taking a short break with the family is a great way to spend quality time together, making new memories and seeing parts of the UK that you may not normally get to visit. There’s a whole host of family-friendly activities on offer, and with appropriate accommodation and (fingers crossed) fabulous weather, a short break could be just the ticket for enjoying family time just that little bit more.

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