{"id":31907,"date":"2020-01-16T12:13:09","date_gmt":"2020-01-16T12:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/?p=31907"},"modified":"2025-05-19T21:00:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T20:00:07","slug":"beat-blue-monday-best-places-to-explore-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/things-to-do\/beat-blue-monday-best-places-to-explore-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Beat Blue Monday: best places to explore the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

We want to make ‘Blue Monday’ a thing of the past. Beating the January blues can be hard, with the back-to-work routine and the ropey weather. So check out our list of some of the happiest places to visit in the UK<\/span><\/h3>\n
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1. Hexham– A small Northumberland town with a huge heart<\/span><\/h4>\n

Tucked away deep in the heart of Northumberland, Hexham may not have been your first port of call when visiting the northeast of England. However, according to Brits, it\u2019s one of the best places to live which must mean it\u2019s also not a bad place to visit either. This small happy town in Northumberland is perfect for anyone wanting a traditional quiet and cosy staycation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Local things to see and do include farmers\u2019 markets, Viking-themed events, independent shops and historic cultural spots such as Hexham Old Gaol- reputed to be one of the earliest purpose-built prisons. The town is also a gateway to the tourist hotspots of Hadrian\u2019s Wall and Hexham Abbey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your stay in Northumberland<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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2. Brighton– Feel refreshed with some sea air and bracing coastal breezes<\/span><\/h4>\n

Visiting any seaside in January could be seen as a mad idea. However, in Brighton at least, there\u2019s still lots to see and do. Head over to the Theatre Royal<\/span><\/a> for a show, have a nosey around the Brighton Pavilion or Brighton Museum and Art Gallery<\/span><\/a> or browse the January sales and Churchill Square shopping centre. <\/span><\/p>\n

Seen by many as one of the happiest places to live and work, the Georgian seaside resort of Brighton has also fast become one of the UK\u2019s biggest tourist destinations. A diverse community, quirky shopping and a large LGBTQ population all welcome you whatever time of the year you visit. From lots of great theatre and exhibitions to keep you warm in the winter, to bike rides, festivals and a beautiful beach keeping you entertained in the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your stay in Brighton<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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3. Swansea– Wave off the January blues in action-packed, beautiful Wales<\/span><\/h4>\n

With lots of stunning scenery, and many things to see and do across the bay and even a little further afield, Swansea is a great place to visit in January or indeed the whole year round. For those still sticking to their \u2018keep fit\u2019 resolutions, water sports, walking trails, and cycle paths are a healthier alternative to the car and of course, the best way to see the most that Swansea Bay<\/span><\/a> and the surrounding area has to offer. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s rambling around the Mumbles, or admiring the views of the Gower Peninsula, this is a great staycation spot for someone with a more active disposition. Of course, when you return from your adventures, Swansea Bay offers plenty of amazing food to get stuck into, including fresh fish from the Bay, and traditional fruity welshcakes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your stay in Swansea<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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4. York– Shop at the shambles, walk the medieval walls and discover a museum…or two<\/span><\/h4>\n

Founded by the Ancient Romans, tourists flock to York for its history, its shopping and its landmarks. From the characterful shopping experience at the Shambles to a walk along the city walls or a peek in one of the world\u2019s most significant Cathedrals (which also happens to be Centuries old), York is a cracking place to visit and is indeed one of the top 5 happiest in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\n

As well as the York Castle museum<\/span><\/a> where history comes to life in its recreated streets and First World War displays, ramp up the happiness factor with a visit to York\u2019s Chocolate Story<\/span><\/a> where you\u2019ll take a guided tour through York\u2019s colourful history with chocolate. You\u2019ll discover many secrets and fascinating facts about York\u2019s finest chocolatey creations, including the Chocolate Orange and the popular KitKat. There\u2019s also a gift shop where you can indulge in this mood-lifting sweet snack yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your stay in York<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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5. Lincoln– A home away from home for history lovers\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Whether you\u2019re a history buff or a keen learner, Lincoln is certainly the place to come to see some amazing sites of historical and cultural importance. Head over to Lincoln Castle<\/span><\/a> to see one of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta, a hugely historical charter of rights that was written in 1215 by King John of England and is almost certainly one of the most important and famous documents in the world. <\/span><\/p>\n

Also at Lincoln Castle is a Victorian Prison that was last used between 1848 and 1878. As well as the castle, historical sights can also be seen in the Museum of Lincolnshire Life<\/span><\/a> which has displays and artifacts exploring Lincolnshire\u2019s history from 1750\u2019s to the present day. Having a wander up Steep Hill in between museum visits is also a treat with 12th century homes lining the route up to Lincoln Cathedral<\/span><\/a>. After all this, it isn\u2019t hard to see why Lincoln is in the top 5 happiest places to live and work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your stay in Lincoln<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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6. Scotland– Experience an all-rounder; from the highlands to the exciting cities.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Among the list of happiest places in the UK, Glasgow and Edinburgh both made it inside the top 10. Which must mean that if you\u2019re heading north on your travels, a stop in Scotland is not to be sniffed at. Edinburgh is a compact, fast-paced city with lots of history and fascinating hidden gems such as Arthur’s Seat<\/span><\/a>, which sits atop one of the many hills in the city and is a great place to take a break and recharge. <\/span><\/p>\n

Glasgow is a fantastic port city which is famed for its Victorian architecture and rich cultural links to music and the arts. Make the most of the waterside location and visit the Riverside Museum<\/span><\/a> where you\u2019ll find out more about the history of Glasgow and its past Glaswegians, or pop over to King Tuts’<\/span><\/a> iconic and legendary music venue to get your groove on with great live music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your stay in Glasgow<\/span><\/a> \u00a0 Book your stay in Edinburgh<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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7. London<\/b>– Experience more in the UK\u2019s capital city<\/span><\/h4>\n

If having the freedom of variety makes you happy, then there\u2019s no better place to come than London. Some of the best food, drink, music, museums and scenery live here and as soon as you arrive, the buzzing atmosphere welcomes you. What better way to beat \u2018Blue Monday\u2019 than to head on over to the Museum of Happiness<\/span><\/a> which is running its annual Winter Happiness Festival in January. Expect to learn more about your own well-being, laugh a lot and make a few new friends too. After getting a big dose of \u2018happy\u2019, it\u2019s time to truly see the blues off by grabbing some comfort food. <\/span><\/p>\n

London is well known for its wide variety of cuisine and from one district to the next, you\u2019re sure to find something you\u2019ll love. However, in the January weather, there\u2019s nothing better than a hearty pub classic, and a warm, cosy fireplace to make you feel good. <\/span>The Ealing Tavern<\/span><\/span><\/a> has all of this in abundance as well as a fantastic atmosphere which will beat your blues in no time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Book your stay in London<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We want to make ‘Blue Monday’ a thing of the past. Beating the January blues can be hard, with the back-to-work routine and the ropey weather. So check out our list of some of the happiest places to visit in the UK 1. Hexham– A small Northumberland town with a huge heart Tucked away deep […]","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":31919,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1311,1361,1675],"tags":[1813],"class_list":["post-31907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-short-breaks","category-things-to-do","category-tips-tricks","tag-winter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31907\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}