Would it surprise you to learn that the British tourism industry will be worth a mammoth £257 billion to the economy by 2026 and that it has been our fastest growing economic sector since 2010? Did you know that our tiny, rain-soaked, but ultimately beautiful little island was the world’s sixth most popular inward tourism destination in the world? (source: VisitBritain)

With the value of the pound falling and increased competition between hotels and private villas, Britain is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination – for us Brits. In 2018, 57% of us took a holiday in our own country (source: Express) but where do we like going to within our own shores more than anywhere else for our “staycations”?

In this article, Oyster Loan counts down the top 5 UK staycation destinations as revealed by the Express

newspaper.

5. Cotswolds

One of England’s most spectacular Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds attracts staycationers for a wide variety of reasons – and they keep coming back for more. It’s the ideal part of the UK if you want to go out for long country walks with its woods, green hills, and historic footpaths (Oyster Loan tip – if you love hiking but you’ve never been to the Cotswolds, you don’t know what you’re missing out on).

Its pubs are world-famous and some of them serve food, which has achieved both Michelin star and AA rosette recognition. Its huge agricultural sector leads many to describe the Cotswolds as one of the “larders of England.” Its native pig, the Gloucester Old Spot, is supremely tasty and there are as many Cotswold cheeses as there are picturesque little villages unchanged in 500 years or more.

4. London

The capital city of the UK – often cited as the capital of the world by many international traveller magazines – is full of sights, sounds, attractions, and events. It is so diverse and so vibrant that even Brits from other large cities like Manchester and Birmingham think of London as a city-state within a country.

Housing 8 million people from over 150 different countries, London is (and always has been) a melting point for the world’s cultures and cuisines. You can visit some of the world’s most architecturally stunning modern buildings like the Gherkin or the Shard – or you can step back in time 1,000 years to visit the world-famous Tower of London (Oyster Loan tip – you must go to the Tower if you’re in London).

London is comprised of hundreds of different of smaller districts, each with their own attractions and unique selling points. Better still, it’s easy to get around with the city’s integrated network of buses, underground trains, and trams.

3. Bournemouth

Did we say “beach”? No, well, we should have. Bournemouth Beach is long, beautiful, and clean – it rightly has a reputation across Europe for its sublime aesthetics and ease of access. It has a quaint shopping district in the middle of town which mixes the very best of international, national, and local retail plus, for those who love pubs, clubs, and partying, a varied nightlife all within easy reach.

You must take a stroll on the Bournemouth Pier for not only the views back onto Bournemouth that it offers but for the shops, arcades, and restaurants at the very end of it.

2. Devon

The South West of England takes the first and second positions in the UK’s top staycation destinations with Devon being narrowly pipped to the post by Cornwall. Devon is the second-most westerly county in England and, with 450 miles of beautiful coastline, it’s not hard to see why it’s so popular with families and groups alike.

Devon’s food culture is long-established and many visitors from the UK (as well as overseas) come to Devon with the main intention of checking out and indulging its culinary scene. And Devon does pubs really well too. Often, these award-winning pubs and eateries are located within some of Devon’s most fashionable towns including Salcombe and Totnes. Parts of the county benefit from a unique weather system which means that temperatures in the Summer are close to those you’d find in the Mediterranean.

For hikers and bikers, the Exmoor National Park must be experienced to be believed.

1. Cornwall

And topping off Britain’s most popular staycation destinations is England’s most westerly county Cornwall which borders the magnificent Devon.

Cornwall, for many centuries, has claimed its separateness from the rest of England and the UK. There is a small but vocal band of supporters wanting either Cornish independence or a Cornish parliament (similar to the Scottish Parliament). There is even an attempt at reviving the old Celtic Cornish language and, according to press reports, the number of Cornish speakers, a language dead for 200 years, now tops 600.

Cornwall has something for both families looking for a holiday by the beach and couples looking for an impossibly romantic destination. On the subject of its beaches, they are some of the best in England offering amazing coastal walks. A handful of particular beaches attracts surfers from around the world from the quality of experience they offer.

The food is divine with everything from pasties and fish & chips to Rick Stein’s and Nathan Outlaw’s empire of award-winning restaurants. Take time to visit some of the beautiful harbour towns and fishing villages when you get here. In addition, Cornwall’s climate is balmy and warm for much of the year because of the Gulf Stream it benefits from.

Personal Loans For Bad Credit Staycationers

Looking to take the family away on an amazing British staycation but don’t quite have all that you need to be saved up? Want to take the other half away on a surprise weekend but need a bit more money to make it happen?

Oyster Loan is a broker and not a lender. What we do is to put you in touch with a panel of reputable, Financial Conduct Authority-approved lenders. We know the types of borrowers each lender wants to work with. So, we make sure we only pass on your loan request to the companies most likely to say “yes” to your application.

You get your answer and the best offer we find normally within a few seconds. Best of all, our service to find personal loans for bad credit applicants is free of charge and you’re under no obligation to accept any loan we find for you.