7 brilliant British breaks to make the most of the sun this summer – without the airport hassle
SUN'S OUT!
From clifftop coastal retreats to majestic Victorian manors, these seven picks from Great Little Breaks are fantastic options for a summer staycation
NOW that the sun is finally shining over the UK, there's no better time to get out and enjoy the very best of what our beautiful country has to offer.
From botanical breaks in blossoming gardens, to traditional steam trains along the coast, every corner of Great Britain has its own gems to explore.
These package deals bundle stylish stays with some delicious food and unforgettable experiences.
With sunshine and some serious savings in mind, we've collected some of the best finds below.
Cornwall Coastal Retreat
15
15
Cosy up on the Cornish coast with a retreat package that will leave you feeling purely pampered.
Tucked into the cobbled streets of Portloe, this harbour hotel is truly postcard-perfect.
In the heart of a traditional Cornish fishing village, the AA 5-star rated Lugger Hotel is rich in maritime history.
Once a 17th century smugglers' hideout, the hotel now boasts 23 luxurious bedrooms.
Each room is complete with an en-suite and dreamy bathtub - perfect for a relaxing soak after a day of exploring the cliffs of the South West Coast Path.
A dog -friendly hotel, feel free to bring your pooch along for the adventure and admire the rugged coastline together.
This two-night package includes a traditional Full English breakfast to start your mornings off right, as well as a dinner allowance of £40 to spend in the hotel restaurant on your first night.
The Cornwall Coastal Retreat is the perfect package for those wanting some luxurious looking after as you embark upon countless coastal walks.
Iconic steam train Tornado delights crowds as it powers through Cornwall on rail tour
All-Inclusive Trip to Cumbria
15
15
An all-inclusive break in Cumbria might sound like an absolute dream - but it can become your reality on this trip.
This two night stay at The Ennerdale Country House Hotel includes two nights' bed, breakfast, lunches and two course dinner.
If that isn't generous enough, the stay also includes unlimited tea, coffee and house beers, wine and soft drinks in the evenings (6-10pm).
Located in Cleator on the edge of the Lake District, you can spend your days exploring local wildlife parks and forests.
Venture out into the beautiful Ennerdale Valley to discover a stunning yet less touristy area of the Lake District - home to the wild river Liza and 30 miles of traffic-free paths.
Enjoy the all-inclusive experience without the hassle of the airport, and uncover the stunning scenes of the quiet corners of the Lakes at the same time!
Isle of Wight Seaside Stay
15
15
It's hard to say no to this five-night retreat overlooking the stretches of the Isle of Wight 's Sandown Bay.
Situated upon a clifftop with breathtaking coastal views, the award-winning Luccombe Manor Country House Hotel blends Victorian charm with modern luxury.
The views from Luccombe Manor showcase the best of the Isle of Wight's sensational southeast seafront - think miles of soft golden sand complete with a traditional British seaside pier.
The manor is a short walk from Shanklin Old Village, a picturesque small town painted with pretty shopfronts and thatched roofs.
The package includes a five night stay complete with breakfast, a two-course dinner on your first night, and a return car ferry from Southampton to East Cowes for hassle-free travel.
Great Little Breaks' Isle of Wight Seafront Break package can save you up to 28% on this stunning seaside escape.
Dorset Sea Train Adventure
15
15
Packaged with a welcome treat, three course dinner and seaside steam train, this two night stay at Bournemouth 's Hermitage Hotel is packed with plenty to do.
Starting with a scenic cruise from Poole to Swanage, complete with an onboard bar and live commentary, you'll have time to discover the town's coastal delights before heading to Swanage Railway.
Here you'll step onboard a charming heritage steam train taking you to Norden, where you'll visit Corfe Castle. Here you can admire the ruins of a Grade I protected 11th-century castle, first built by William the Conqueror.
This adventure break combines boat and steam train travel with extra special touches at your hotel, such as a three course meal on your welcoming night and a comforting coffee and cake on arrival.
Booking with Great Little Breaks can save you up to 21% on this deal - helping you discover Dorset with a discount!
Stay in England's Oldest Town
15
15
Step back in time and stay in England 's oldest recorded town with this heritage stay in the heart of Colchester.
Your base will be The George Hotel: a heritage hotel standing proudly on Colchester High Street, welcoming you with 500 years of rich British history. (They also serve some pretty delicious cocktails in their stylish bar and Moroccan -style courtyard!)
The historic Colchester was the first city colonised by the Romans, and was even the original capital of the UK.
Venture out to Colchester Castle to see a slice of fascinating Norman history, take your pick of museums and art galleries, or stroll through the meadows of nearby Highwood's Country Park. Plus, you're only a 15 minute drive from Colchester Zoo.
This plush two night break includes an á la carte dinner served with wine on your first night, as well as a hearty English breakfast in the mornings.
You can save a whopping 38% on this bargain city break by booking the Historic Colchester Town Stay package.
Shakespearean Stay with River Cruise
15
15
Stay in Shakespeare's home town with this overnight escape at the traditional Clarion Hotel Charlecote Pheasant in Statford-upon-Avon.
Start your historical getaway with a relaxing welcome drink upon arrival.
After an afternoon of exploring local delights like the Royal Shakespeare Theatre or the stunning Holy Trinity Church, you can look forward to a two course dinner in the evening.
This break also includes two tickets for a scenic Avon Boating River Cruise. Here you can admire historic buildings and pretty Tudor cottages from the water upon a traditional Edwardian boat.
Booking with Great Little Breaks can save you up to 31% on this charming night away - and for as little as £95 per person, the Stratford Stay and River Cruise is the perfect bargain break for a one-night stay.
Botanical Break at Harrogate Hilton Hotel
15
15
This 4-star stay at the impressive DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa is pure luxury.
This escape blends spa serenity with botanical bliss, as you'll enjoy delightful teas, scones and a delicious from your Victorian mansion base.
You'll enjoy an hour of pool and spa facilities each day, a traditional cream tea, and dinner on your first night at the Carter's Champagne Bar and Grill (with an allowance of £35 per person).
This pampering package deal also includes two tickets to the famous RHS Harlow Carr, eight acres of famous public gardens full of fairy-tale woodland walks.
Browse blooming gardens and stunning water features before stopping to relax with a cup of tea and a freshly baked scone at the Harrogate Arms Café, a treat included with your stay.
You can save up to 32% on this horticultural Harrogate b r eak with Great Little Breaks, so why not treat yourself to a weekend of elegance and luxury in the Yorkshire countryside.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Are turbulent times ahead for Rolls-Royce?
The take-off of Rolls-Royce shares is the talk of the City. The engineering giant, synonymous with British manufacturing prowess, saw its share price hit a record high this month in one of the most remarkable comebacks ever seen in the Square Mile. Garlands have been strewn over its Turkish-born boss, Tufan Erginbilgic, who took the helm in 2023 and has been hailed as a miracle worker for bringing the aero-engine maker back from the brink of financial ruin in the pandemic. Not only has Rolls-Royce recovered, it has become one of the best performers in the FTSE 100 index. But there's a rule in the world of big money: if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. This could be the case for Rolls-Royce and 'Turbo' Tufan, who earned the nickname due to the ferocious pace at which he works. Amid all the excitement, the City has overlooked a damaging row between Rolls-Royce and airlines including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic – which some believe could soon bring the engine maker and its share price back to earth. The issue is Rolls's Trent 1000 engines, which power Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. The Trent 1000s proved popular but are showing their age after clocking up more than 20 million flying hours. And they have been dogged by serious maintenance problems stretching back nearly a decade, with hundreds of planes grounded and even routes cancelled. Both BA and Virgin were forced to cancel hundreds of long-haul flights and re-routed passengers when planes were taken out of service for unscheduled repairs. BA's prestigious routes to the Gulf States have been among the more prominent casualties. There was a furore last year when the airline scrapped direct flights from Heathrow to Bahrain and Kuwait, two of Britain's closest allies in the region, because of problems with the Rolls engines, some of which are prone to maintenance problems in hotter climates. Although flights to Bahrain were reinstated after a campaign led by The Mail, the Kuwait route and flights to Abu Dhabi remain suspended. This is a setback when businesses are desperate to forge trade links to the Gulf. Technical faults on the Trent 1000 have dogged Rolls since 2016, when a design flaw – which led to cracks forming in the turbine blades of some engines – was identified. According to Shai Weiss, the Virgin Atlantic boss, the Trent 1000 needs three times the attention of other turbines. The problems have so far cost Rolls up to £3 billion in repairs and payments to the airlines – and the row shows no sign of being resolved. If anything, it is likely to intensify as the summer travel season unfolds. Rolls-Royce has been spared President Trump's punishing trade tariffs under the recent US-UK trade deal. But it has been hurt by his America First policies: it missed out on one of the biggest ever engine orders from Qatar last month, losing to US rival GE. Not everyone, then, is convinced by the Rolls-Royce renaissance. The company's harshest critic is Willie Walsh, the former BA boss who now leads the International Air Transport Association trade body. The blunt Irishman has described the rise in Rolls shares as 'baffling' – and that was back in December, when the price was a good deal lower than today. Walsh accuses Rolls of basic engineering failings and of luring airlines to buy its turbines with, effectively, false claims. 'They built the engines and promised us great things,' he said. 'What they didn't say is: this engine is going to be 25 per cent more fuel efficient. But, by the way, you're going to have to change it every couple of months. 'I doubt anybody would have bought their engines if that's what they were saying.' But investors seem happy to set aside these concerns. Shares continue to be swept up in the hope Rolls will win lucrative defence contracts as Britain rebuilds its military strength. There's some sense to this: as well as making turbines for passenger planes, Rolls-Royce produces engines for combat vehicles, fighter jets, submarines, ships and helicopters. Rolls has also chosen to build the next generation of mini nuclear reactors. These factors have helped it overtake drugmaker GSK and data provider Relx to become Britain's sixth-largest company, with a valuation of £75 billion. Credit is certainly due to Tufan, who conducted a root and branch overhaul after taking charge. He put every aspect of the business under the microscope and imposed what he describes a 'zero tolerance for mediocrity' regime. Such is his obsession with performance that he instigated a three-and-a-half-month-long study of how Rolls fared against its rivals before he even arrived. This delved deep into internal processes and was the basis of a highly detailed strategy to rebuild the balance sheet and improve profitability. So far as the stock market is concerned, the medicine is working. There has been an astonishing £68 billion rise in the value of Rolls-Royce shares in the two years since Tufan arrived. Having lost £4 billion in a year in the pandemic, Rolls made an operating profit of £2.5 billion last year, its highest ever. Any investor shrewd enough to have bought £1,000 worth when he joined would now have a holding worth almost £8,500. That is an alchemy of wealth creation that even the tech giants of Silicon Valley would struggle to match. 'It's been a monster performer,' says Jamie Murray of Shore Capital stockbrokers. Rolls has a loyal army of 150,000 small shareholders who have stuck with the company through thick and thin since it was privatised under the Thatcher government in 1987. Younger investors are also enjoying the ride. Rolls is one of the most popular shares on investment platforms such as Trading 212 which are used by newer generations of share owners. There is no denying Tufan's actions – cutting costs, slashing 2,500 jobs and re-negotiating loss-making contracts – have been a big factor in transforming the 119-year-old company's fortunes. Naturally, Tufan has reaped personal rewards. He has pocketed £18 million in salary and bonuses in the last two years, including £7.5 million to persuade him to leave his former employer, BP. His performance is all the more impressive given the tough climate facing aviation – particularly a post-pandemic shortage of components and spare parts. Rolls-Royce is not the only manufacturer facing complaints. Problems with turbines made by American rival Pratt & Whitney have led to more than 40 of Wizz Air's planes being grounded. And investigators are still looking at what caused an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to Gatwick to crash just after take-off this month, killing 270 people. The Boeing Dreamliner, which was powered by recently serviced GE engines, had 'a clean history', Air India's chairman said this week. The question, then, is this: can Rolls-Royce's gravity-defying performance continue? Those with long memories know that Rolls – which was declared insolvent in 1971 due to cost overruns and development problems with its RB211 engine – has had a chequered past. Nationalised by Edward Heath's Conservative government, its fortunes have yo-yoed ever since. The famous car-making arm was separated out in 1973 and is now owned by BMW. Some say Tufan, a British and Turkish citizen with a background in engineering, has been a lucky general. His arrival at Rolls coincided with a post-pandemic bounce in flying among business passengers and holiday makers. But Tufan and Rolls-Royce will need more than luck in the months ahead. The problems with the Trent 1000 and other engines in the core civil aerospace business – which accounts for just over half of Rolls's £17.8 billion of sales and the bulk of profits – remain a dangerous Achilles' Heel. While Tufan cannot be blamed for the difficulties he inherited, he has so far not managed to draw a line under them – certainly not so far as the airlines are concerned. BA, for example, told The Mail on Sunday it was 'very disappointed' that it had been forced to make changes to its schedules because of the failings. 'Our teams continue to work closely with Rolls-Royce,' a spokesman added. And, while the original design faults on the Trent 1000 engines have now been fixed, Rolls accepts the supply chain shortages could last for another 18 months, meaning more delays, more grounded flights – and even higher air fares. 'The supply chain environment remains challenging,' said the spokesman, admitting that there had also been 'a significant increase in Trent 1000 major refurbishments' last year. Rolls has responded by committing £1billion to a series of upgrades across the Trent family of engines aimed at reducing the number and frequency of repairs. Erginbilgic hopes to put a new high-pressure turbine blade into all the engines in the Rolls fleet over the next two years in a move that will more than double the amount of time the Trent 1000 spends in the air. The improvements cannot come soon enough for customers and passengers. And, as for what this means for the stellar share price, experts are divided. Analysts at Bank of America think the company could be worth up to £100 billion – in other words, the shares could climb significantly higher. Its long-term success depends on whether the company can deliver cleaner, greener, quieter engines – and, in that respect, the Trent 1000 saga does not augur well. For the moment, Rolls is flying high. But its critics, while still in a small minority, are adopting the brace position – in case of a sudden and troubling loss of altitude.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Heatwave hell as passengers are 'slow cooked' on stuck trains for hours amid 34C heat - as nation swelters on hottest day of the year
Terrified passengers today had to be freed from stuck Thameslink trains by transport police and were forced to walk down the tracks to safety in sizzling 34C heat. Enraged customers travelling on the services say they felt like they were being 'slow cooked' in 'an oven' as the services came to a halt with no air conditioning or ventilation. The frightening ordeal comes just days after experts predicted nearly 600 people in England and Wales could die as a result of this week's heatwave. Three trains were stopped due to faults, and a series of images shows one service heading south through London being evacuated on what is the hottest day of the year so far. One commuter wrote on social media: '[Thameslink] you will have hell to pay. We've been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour. 'The doors were closed because we were told we may be moving. That was 15 minutes ago. It's like an oven in here and we're being slow cooked.' The operator confirmed on a social media post that their services were facing issues, and have since apologised to the passengers who were affected. They first posted: 'Due to a fault on a train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, some lines are blocked. We're working to gather more information on this incident.' They later added that 'services across the network' were 'experiencing significant disruption'. Another passenger said they had been stuck on a 'rammed' service to Brighton between Elephant and Castle and Loughborough Junction which was a medical accident 'waiting to happen'. They also asked why there was 'no air con' or windows that could be opened on the service. In their instructions to stuck passengers, Thameslink posted on X that anyone stuck should not attempt to leave the train. They said: 'If you're stuck on a train which isn't moving, please remain where you are and don't make any attempt to leave the train unless instructed to.' Thameslink also replied to a post from a passenger who said he was stuck on a service between Blackfriars and East Croydon which had been 'over an hour with no AC'. Their reply read: 'Network Rail staff and emergency services are enroute to each train stuck between stations to evacuate and work on getting these moving.' A Thameslink spokesperson told MailOnline that they were 'truly sorry' to the passengers affected. They said: 'Earlier today, a fault on a train near Loughborough Junction brought all services to a halt in the area, three of them outside station platforms. 'Without power and air conditioning on such a hot day, we pulled all resources from across Sussex and Kent to get personnel on site to safely evacuate passengers as quickly as possible along the track. 'This would have been a difficult and uncomfortable experience for our passengers and we are truly sorry. With safety our top priority, the safest place was to remain on the trains while we worked our hardest to get help to those on board. 'There is engineering work taking place today, which means this is the only route Thameslink trains can take south out of London and severe disruption is expected for the rest of the afternoon. 'Anyone travelling south of London is currently advised to use Southern services from Victoria but you should check the latest travel advice at 'Passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more are also entitled to compensation, with details on our website.' A British Transport Police spokesperson added: 'Officers were called to Loughborough Junction Railway Station at just before 11am today (June 21) to reports of a train broken down nearby. 'Officers assisted Thameslink and Network Rail and all passengers have been evacuated safely.' The shocking footage has sparked concern as experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London used decades of UK data to predict excess mortality during the hot temperatures from Thursday to Sunday. Their study, released on Saturday, forecasted that around 570 people could die due to the heat over the four days. The excess deaths were estimated to peak at 266 on Saturday when the heat will be at its most intense. London was predicted to have the greatest number of excess deaths with 129. The researchers said their assessment highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK. Today, Britain is as hot as the likes of Barbados and Corfu and is hotter than Barcelona and Lisbon. But forecasters at the Met Office warned that much of the UK could be soaked as soon as 5pm this evening as the humid aftermath of the heatwave looks set to result in a downpour. This week has already seen thermometers surpass 30C across much of the UK, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recording their warmest days of the year on Friday. But forecasters at the Met Office warned that much of the UK could be soaked as soon as 5pm this evening as the humid aftermath of the heatwave looks set to result in a downpour (Pictured: Commuters squeeze onto a London Underground tube, June 21, 2025) That blistering heat has continued into today, which is the official end of spring, an occasion which was marked at Stonehenge this morning. Thousands of people watched the sunrise over the monument to celebrate the summer solstic e. Those who gathered for the spectacle in Wiltshire braved a warm start to the morning as they marked the year's longest day. Temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London reached 18C by 5am, according to the Met Office. The weather bureau confirmed that Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside recorded the highest overnight temperatures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am on Saturday. Towns in Cumbria and Lancashire also recorded temperatures above 19C. An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England remains in place for the weekend, but a warning for thunder has been issued. Spanning the north Midlands to Northumberland, including north-east Wales, downpours, hail, lightning and gusty winds are predicted from 5pm today until the early hours of tomorrow. The Met Office warned of 'sudden flooding' which could see communities 'cut off', transport disruption and power cuts. The hot weather is poised to linger in the South and East through the weekend. An amber heat health alert – to warn healthcare providers – lasts until Monday. Elsewhere, temperatures are set to fall from tomorrow to the high teens or low 20s. It follows a World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group study published on Friday which found the heatwave has been made around 100 times more likely and 2-4C hotter due to climate change. Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said: 'Heatwaves are silent killers - people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death. 'This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm. 'Heatwaves are an underappreciated threat in the UK and they're becoming more dangerous with climate change.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. The Met Office confirmed that 'many places' in England and 'one or two areas' in Wales, including Cardiff, entered a heatwave on Friday. There will also be very high UV and pollen levels across the country on Saturday, the forecaster said. The amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Following the hot weather, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged the public to take heat and water safety seriously. During 2022's heatwave, temperatures rose past 40C, leading to 320 people being treated in hospital. Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk - it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities. 'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip. 'While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold-water shock, even in summer.'
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Former Championship manager, 44, now working at Bristol Airport as picture of him in uniform goes viral
A FORMER Championship manager has swapped wingers for wings - by taking a job at Bristol Airport. And fans could barely believe their eyes as he opted for a high-viz instead of a high line. 2 Ex-Swindon and Notts County chief Luke Williams was Swansea boss from January 2024 until his sacking in February 2025. The London-born gaffer, 44, was placed on gardening leave. But despite no doubt receiving a pay-off from the Welsh club when axed four months ago, he was keen to do something worthwhile during his time out of the game. So much so that as he awaits a new stint in a dugout, kind-hearted Williams has undertaken a gig helping disabled and limited-mobility passengers around the Bristol Airport terminal, as reported by The Athletic. He started the job two weeks ago. And it did not take long for a photo of him at his new workplace to go viral. The snap showed humble Williams wearing his yellow reflective vest uniform and lanyard coming out of the lift in Bristol. An X user wrote: "Luke Williams gone from managing the Swans to working in Bristol Airport, someone check VAR." One replied: "He's just doing this because he's bored, he genuinely doesn't care about others' opinions and you have to respect it." Another commented: "Fair play to the guy." Former Premier League manager is told 'f--- you' by his own player before he shushes him in furious Club World Cup row A third joked: "Managing in the top flight." A fourth added: "Cardiff City fan here with nothing but respect for this. Call me woke if you want. (*best believe I'll turn up in full bluebirds kit when I fly out next week)" And a final person typed: "Clearly has a massive work ethic. Good luck to him!" Williams told The Guardian in 2024 that he places a strong emphasis on commitment and dedication, declaring: "In my opinion, motivation in life is everything." He also revealed how he loaded lorries for BHS and drove minibuses to and from nightclubs and airports to fund his early coaching career. In those days, he collected £1.50 for every player who attended his sessions. Williams also applied for an electrician course when he left his coaching role with Swansea under Russell Martin in 2022.
