If you fancy staying a little closer to home on your next break from reality, new research has made it easier than ever to hit the road for a good time guaranteed. Crusader Vehicles have listed the 10 best places to travel within the UK for the perfect combination of good weather, pubs, accommodation, and distance from London.
From the cost of dinner for two to the amount of sunshine and entertainment in these destinations, you can plan your 2019 staycation here.
Where to Eat and Drink
Research suggests you’ll need to travel North for the cheapest dinner for two in the UK, with Sheffield taking the top spot at only £40 for the experience! However, Essex’s only city, Chelmsford ranks the highest for a drink with pints selling for £2.60, whether you’re travelling with friends or family, everyone will be pleased with these bargains.
The Joy of British Weather
The coastal city of Southampton boasts the least rainfall and most sunshine hours. In July 2018, holidaymakers enjoyed 222 hours of sunshine! Tourists can enjoy an average temperature of 18 degrees, with gorgeous highs of 29 degrees in the summer. With Brighton and Bristol taking second and third spot, there are many options in the South if you are after a tan this summer without having to dig out your passport.
Where To Stay
Chelmsford places first for the cheapest accommodation with a hotel stay for two averaging at only £56 a night. This is closely followed by the student towns Cambridge (£58) and Oxford (£60).
Getting Far, Far Away
If you’re after a trip far away from home, Exeter should be the top of your road trip bucket list. Situated 174 miles away from London, this will give you plenty of time to enjoy the journey with your loved ones and listen to that playlist you’ve spent weeks creating.
Keeping Occupied
To take long queues and overcrowding of tourists into consideration, we divided the number of attractions, pubs and restaurants by the average population. The historic city of Bath comes out on top as it is filled with sights to see and places to eat and drink with over 500 landmarks, restaurants, and pubs filling the relatively quiet setting.
Best Overall
- Chelmsford, Essex – This study suggests it might be best to stay close to the capital, located only 50 miles from London, Chelmsford rated highly across the board, placing highest for cheapest accommodation, food, and drink of the UK destinations.
- Southampton, Hampshire – The best location for great weather, with the highest sunshine and least rainfall is also the third cheapest accommodation, food, and drink.
- Bath, Somerset – Known for its Roman-built baths, the largest city in Somerset placed the highest for attractions, and fifth for weather, so you shouldn’t have to worry about packing an umbrella into your suitcase.
- Oxford, Oxfordshire – Also located only a short drive from London and known for its prestigious university, Oxford offers the second best entertainment options with nearly 600 restaurants and pubs.
- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire – Ranking highly for entertainment, this is the perfect location for experiencing British culture. With dozens of museums filled with exhibits on anything from archaeology, anthropology, to the history of science.
Top 5 Cheapest Accommodation, Food, and Drink:
| Rank | Location | Accommodation For Two | Dinner For Two | Cost of a Pint |
| 1 | Chelmsford | £56.00 | £47.50 | £2.60 |
| 2 | Oxford | £60.00 | £46.50 | £4.57 |
| 3 | Southampton | £66.00 | £45.00 | £3.83 |
| 4 | Coventry | £70.50 | £42.50 | £3.78 |
| 5 | Sheffield | £83.00 | £40.00 | £3.74 |
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