5 must-see staycation spots in southern England

 Well hello to you my reader chums! It's no secret that a lot of us are missing the travel way of life (including myself) and are desperate to get on a plane and set off to somewhere hot and sunny. However, it's not entirely clear when international travel is going to go back to normal any time soon and that's why it's a great time to appreciate the joy of staycations and see what's on our doorstep. 

Whether you're looking for a seaside getaway or city break, here are my 5 must-see staycation spots this summer in southern England.

Kent coast

I've lived on the Kent coast my entire life and it's somewhere I'm incredibly grateful to call home and has so much to offer both locals and visitors alike. The Kent Coast is bigger than it looks and has a bit of something for everyone, whether you're into a more relaxed getaway or somewhere with a bit of excitement.

Botany Bay beach Kent

There's everything from the pebbly shores of Whitstable and Deal to the hidden gems of Thanet's sandy beaches. A trip to the Kent coast can mean not only exploring the secluded beaches and bustling promenades, but it's an opportunity to dive into the history of Kent, visit local restaurants, wander along coastal paths, and have that feeling of home wherever you go. The Kent coast is my happy place and I'll rave about how serene and incredible it is all day long - and for those who haven't visited, you're guaranteed to love the seaside way of life.

London

England's capital and one of my favourite ever cities, you really can't beat the bustle of London. The city has something for everyone and is a place, I'm always finding new things to discover, whether it's a restaurant, cute street, shopping area, or vibe, London is completely versatile in every way.

Piccadilly circus London

I'm quite lucky to live around an hour train journey away from the Big Smoke as it means I've had the opportunity to visit regularly and work my way around my favourite parts of the city. Whether it's to hit up a show in the west end, go for a shopping spree, mooch around Covent Garden, go for a bar crawl, or to dine in a fancy restaurant, London has a bit of everything for a day out or a long weekend away. It's one of those cities where there is always more to discover on every occasion you visit - and has a buzz that'll always stay with you.

Brighton and Hove

Despite loving visiting London on a regular occasion, I'm not a huge city lover. I love the buzz of visiting for a day or two but the coastal way of life has my heart and that's why I adore Brighton so much. It has the bustle of a city but also the quiet and serene atmosphere of the coast.

Brighton pier England

Brighton is a hub for all types of entertainment from funfair rides on the pier, boutique shopping down the Laines, beach relaxing on the pebbles, exciting brunch spots to quaint residential streets, and candid photo opportunities. It's one of those cities which has more in store than first meets the eye with plenty of sightseeing activities in-store also. 

Hove is next to Brighton and is an upmarket city with a slightly quieter appeal than the main stretch of Brighton pier and marina. The main stretch of pebbled beach is a tranquil spot with a promenade packed with colourful beach huts and the level of greenery is high. There's plenty of things to see and do from museums to pizzeria dining and a coastline that'll welcome you.

Weymouth, Dorset

Dorset is a large county in southern England and had many different areas to explore. Weymouth is a seaside town with sandy beaches, beautiful architecture, and plenty of surrounding nature trails to explore. 

Weymouth Dorset

The sights of Weymouth are perfect for couples, families, or groups alike visiting for a trip away to experience coastal life. There's everything from the stunning harbour which is lined with restaurants and bars, the many beaches including Weymouth beach and the famous Chesil beach to museums and lakes. Nearby, you can also visit the Isle of Portland for jaw-droppingly good cliffside views (especially if it's a sunny day) and the Jurrasic Coast touches in Dorset, which means, you're not far away from experiencing the sheer beauty of the waters.

Oxford 

Located in the centre of southern England, Oxford is a city that is most famous for its university, however, the city is more than that with a long list of must-see things to add to your agenda for your visit. 

This city is definitely a place for the history buff that loves nothing more than learning, adventuring and discovering more about a new place. Museums come in the bucket load, there are charming cathedrals to visit, castles and many pieces of architecture that'll leave you wowed as you roam through. Its high street will fulfil any shopping desires you're after and with the number of parks in store, there's the opportunity for a bit of peace after a busy roam around this esteemed city.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Where are you planning to go next?

Thank you for reading <3

67 comments

  1. I've been to Brighton once and the beach and pier are beautiful! x

    Lucy | www.lucymary.co.uk

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  2. London does have an energy all of its own! Dorset is place I'd often wanted to visit, maybe this year I may get around to it!

    https://www.girlwelltravelled.net/post/2018/08/19/gone-gallivanting-at-the-gallivant

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  3. Thank you for including such a mix of places in this list; great post!

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  4. I’ve been to London but I want to see more of England! Thanks for sharing your recommendations!

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  5. These are some great suggestions. Dorset is one of my most favourite places to visit. I'd love to do a little staycation there this year.

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  6. I really want to visit Brighton, the pier looks wonderful and the views of the beach are so pretty! Great post.

    Anika | chaptersofmay.com

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  7. Ah very inspiring I have been to London but would love to get to other parts of the UK, thanks for posting :)

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

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  8. Brilliant suggestions! I love the seaside town of Weymouth!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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  9. These are really great pictures and great suggestion. I love these so refreshing places! Thank you so much for sharing this. Love it totally.

    Mariann Yio
    https://www.mariannyc.com/four-tips-on-how-to-promote-yourself-on-social-media/

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  10. Southern England sounds lovely! It is definitely on my list of places to visit once I can travel internationally again. Thank you for the information. I really only know about London. It's great to hear from locals. :)

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  11. Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to get back exploring Dorset once we can have staycations :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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  12. I've been to Brighton, Weymouth, Oxford and lived in London but I've never been to the Kent coast so I'd love to try that later this year!

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  13. One of these days I'm going to get my arse off the East Coast of the US and actually see the world. When that happens, I know I'm dying to visit England! It's so helpful to see posts like this so I know exactly where to travel to when I actually get the chance to go!

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  14. I never been to Brighton or Oxford, but they are up on my list! I had a chance to visit Margate and Broadstairs years ago and the seaside there was amazing! Really need to bring the girls there, love the pictures x

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    1. I hope you can visit them! Broadstairs is my favourite ever place x

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  15. These are some great choices, although now I just want to visit all of them! I love London and we have a weekend booked at the end of July to go and see Hamilton.

    I definitely want to go back to Dorset as well, such a lovely part of the world x

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  16. Broadstairs is one of my favourite places! It has so many amazing spots!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  17. I love Brighton! We went for my 21st birthday three years ago and it was fab! It's such a lovely place to visit with so many quirky shops and restaurants!

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  18. Ah, these all look beautiful! I'm hoping to visit Dorset later this year, Covid depending! x

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  19. Some great recommendations and beautiful photos... looking forward to the summer! x

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  20. All places look beautiful and breathtaking! xx

    lenne | lennezulkiflly.com

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  21. Ahh I can't wait for traveling again! When I visit England again, I'll be sure to revisit this post, thanks for sharing lovely :)

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  22. These are all great places! I can't wait to travel again and see more of the UK - Oxford and Brighton are on my list!

    Serena / http://www.ramblingsofanotherunigraduate.com

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  23. I wish to visit England one day! Brighton seems so nice!

    xx
    https://anna-alina.blogspot.com/

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  24. Oxford is one of my favourite places to visit in the UK! I'm also really fond of seaside towns as I was born in one! Great choices x

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  25. Look at that view! So breathtaking! I would love to someday touch the sand on the beaches there. Your photos are amazing too. Thanks for sharing!


    www.lifebeginsattwenty.com

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  26. I've never really visited the South of the country, but these areas look so beautiful. I love that you've highlighted some great places to check out once lockdown is over x

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  27. I've been to london and brighton before, both are fab places. I'd like to visit more places in southern england though.

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  28. I've been to Kent a number of times but never to the Kent coast, actually! I live 20 mins from London and it's funny cos I'd never recommend it as a staycation spot haha I'm a bit sick of it tbh but that's just me! I prefer coasts and country! x

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  29. Amazing post! Thank you for sharing all of these staycation spots! I've been to London a couple of times and I love visiting it because there's loads to do! I haven't been to any of the other places but I really want to go to Kent and Brighton in the future!

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  30. nice spots, thanks for the amazing share. hope i could visit there oneday.
    4x4 closure wig

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  31. These look like some beautiful places to go! I've never been to Brighton so I'll definitely have to take a trip. Thanks for sharing x

    www.meera-abroad.com

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  32. London is on my bucket list already a long time! ♥
    I hope very soon we will be able to travel again and then - England, I am coming!!!!

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  33. I absolutely love Weymouth and beachy places like Poole and Dorset. I think it would be good for my soul to have a little staycation. Your picks are gorgeous. I'd love to go to Kent for a long weekend and explore Leeds Castle

    Rosie

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    1. Thank you lovely! I hope you can visit Kent soon x

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  34. Whitstable is my absolute favourite seaside town! I can't wait to start going there again!

    Katy | www.katystephenson.com | www.thegrownupsclub.com

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