Summer is upon us and cities all around the UK are on hand to make our long-awaited summer dreams a reality. Whether you’re celebrating with a Great British Summer activity, a festival or a cultural city escape, there’s plenty to look forward to. Check out these 10 best summer city breaks perfect for your summer city staycation.
1. Cambridge – Gin Punting tour
On a nice warm sunny day, what could be better than gently floating on the River Cam with a drink in hand? Scudamore is offering a gin punting tour amongst their other themed tours that combine traditional punting, with a fun fact-filled tour of one of the world’s most renowned university cities. Hop aboard, grab a locally sourced glass of gin, sit back and get ready for a very close encounter with some of Cambridge’s most iconic sights including the Bridge of Sighs.
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2. London – Neverland
Beaches are not just found on coastlines, there’s one right in the capital to serve all your ‘chillaxing’ needs. This summer, Fulham Beach is offering visitors the ultimate and long-awaited city beach escape complete with all the seaside perks including lots of refreshing and tasty cocktails, mouth-watering food, games and deck chairs galore so you can relax and sink your toes into the sand. Events such as Drag Bingo are going on at the beach all summer long so grab your mates and your best beach gear.
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3. Liverpool – Beatles Tour
If you’re a Beatles fan then Liverpool is probably the best and only place to come to celebrate the Fab Four. Known as the birthplace of the greatest rock bands in history, Liverpool is full of the Beatles spirit with traces of their musical legacy around every corner. From the countless themed giftshops selling merchandise, the Beatles Story Museum full of their stories, The Cavern Club that hosted their earlier performances, to the Beatles Statue in front of the Liver building facing out onto the Mersey, Beatlemania is fully appreciated here.
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4. Manchester – Pride festival
This August, Manchester will once again proudly host its own Pride event. Full of colour, energy, positivity and party vibes, this summer extravaganza is not one to be missed. Promising 3 days of fun, you can expect insane performances from DJs to drag queens, market stalls, packed-out bars, and so much more. Whether you’re attending as a member of the community or as an ally, this bank holiday celebration will certainly be one for the history books. Activities are taking place all across the city for the whole weekend of 25th- 28th August so get your friends and family together for an unforgettable time.
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5. Brighton – Van Gogh Alive
Prepare to be transported into the captivating world of Van Gogh like never before. Van Gogh Alive, the globally acclaimed immersive sensation that has captivated 8.5 million enthusiasts across 80 cities worldwide, is at Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange until September 2023. Embark on an interactive journey that uses projections and an array of immersive setups to highlight the life and masterpieces of Vincent van Gogh. In this exceptional showcase, life-sized renditions including a chamber filled with mirrored sunflowers offer a new perspective on Gogh’s famous work. For the first time, Brighton’s visitors can experience the brand-new ‘Starry Night’ installation as the exhibition expands its horizons. Tickets for adults begin at £22, concessions are priced from £17, and children under five years can delight in the experience free of charge.
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6. Bristol – International Balloon Fiesta
Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta takes to the skies again this August for another spectacular show held at Ashton Court Estate. The annual event is much loved amongst locals and visitors alike and is Europe’s largest balloon gathering, with over 100 hot air balloons from across the globe joining the airborne fun. Whether it’s your first fiesta or your 100th, the view is always breathtaking and can be seen for miles around. As well as seeing these globe-trotting balloons, you and your family can take part in the fun of the fair with great trade stands, fairground rides and fantastic entertainment.
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7. Oxford – Blenheim Palace
Blenheim Palace is set for a jam-packed summer this year with the annual Battle Proms Picnic concert, Salon Privé and Paddington™ Lo-Commotion amongst the most anticipated events. Alongside this, the palace itself is also worth a visit. The former home of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim has taken pride of place in Woodstock for over 300 years and boasts beautiful gardens that burst into life in the summertime with lots of great events to get involved in – you can see more information on their ‘What’s On’ page.
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8. Glasgow – Tour the museums and architecture
Glasgow is one of the UK’s top cultural and creative cities, and with a walk around, it’s easy to see why. Around every corner is another stunning piece of Glaswegian artwork or a beautifully elaborate building inviting a closer look. The City Centre Mural Trail is worth discovering with dozens of local creative works free for all to see on a street art tour. Many of the city centre buildings are home to galleries and museums such as Kelvingrove. Kelvingrove boasts a huge collection of world-class exhibits and artefacts from centuries ago while Kelvingrove Park is the perfect pit stop for riverside picnics or watching the world go by beneath the shade of the trees.
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9. Edinburgh – Edinburgh Zoo
Get ready to let out your wild side once more this summer with a visit to Edinburgh Zoo. Alongside the thousands of wildlife species, the large parkland zoo is also home to some extra special and rare animals including the UK’s only collection of Koala Bears. Meet these curious creatures up close in their large exhibits and learn more about them from their keepers at one of the many keeper talks happening throughout the zoo. Immerse yourself in new habitats with Wallaby Outback and Budongo Trail allowing you to see the fascinating animals as close to their wild behaviour as possible. Other popular animals include the beautiful Malayan Sun Bears and the UK’s only Pandas. But you’d better visit soon as after calling Edinburgh Zoo home for over a decade, the Pandas are returning to China towards the end of 2023!
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10. York – Museums and heritage
There’s something to suit everyone in the famous walled city of York, from those wanting a relaxing retreat to those wanting a cultural escape. There are plenty of ways to discover York’s heritage; whether it’s wandering around one of the many museums, relaxing on a city cruise, having a spot of retail therapy at The Shambles or going on a delicious York Chocolate Story adventure, there’s something for everyone.
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