The best weekend getaways in Great Britain

Britain is often painted as a land of endless drizzle. Yet in the summer of 2018 we experienced the opposite: a heatwave blanketing the island. We put together five weekend getaways worth the trip. Seven years later, the essence still holds: Brighton, Cornwall, Oxford, Kent and Glasgow remain strong picks for two or three days. What has shifted, what myths need correcting, and what’s new-all spelled out below.

Brighton: the seaside city with attitude

Brighton has been one of England’s most popular coastal cities for decades. The Brighton Palace Pier continues to draw crowds, while the city in the south stands for an open, queer-friendly scene and for cafés, record shops and vintage stores tucked away in the warren-like Lanes. Don’t miss: fish and chips by the water and a stroll through North Laine, the alternative quarter behind the station. From London Victoria station you’re there in about an hour, making Brighton the classic day-trip with an overnight stay.

Update since 2018: the i360 viewing tower beside the decaying West Pier went into administration at the end of 2024 and closed temporarily. Since March 2025 the glass pod is turning again under new ownership, still delivering the 138-metre panoramic view over the English Channel. You can’t walk on the West Pier itself; the burnt-out skeleton in the water is pure photo opportunity.

Cornwall: calm, coast and the end of the mainland

For quieter vibes, head to the far south-west. Cornwall oozes the charm of the traditional English coast-sleepy fishing villages, cliffs and endless hiking trails along the South West Coast Path. Afternoon tea is mandatory here, and the debate over whether to apply clotted cream or jam to the scone is best taken seriously: in Cornwall the cream goes first.

For extra drama, visit Land’s End, the westernmost point of mainland England. From here you gaze only at sea heading toward the Isles of Scilly. Correction to a common misconception: the westernmost point of the entire British mainland isn’t here but in the Scottish Highlands, roughly 37 kilometres further west. Land’s End holds the record for England, not for the whole of Great Britain. Arrive early and you’ll have the cliffs to yourself before the tour buses arrive.

Cornwall isn’t a tick-box destination. It’s an invitation to slow down until the wind sets the pace.

Oxford: culture weekend with Hogwarts DNA

Oxford, one of the oldest university cities in the kingdom, is almost the perfect destination for a culture weekend. The historic old town with its colleges, the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera can be explored on foot, with small theatres and restaurants interspersed between the walking. For an overview, climb the tower of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.

One popular claim needs correcting: Oxford was not the blueprint for the entire Hogwarts school. What is true is that the Christ Church dining hall served as the design template for the Great Hall in the Harry Potter films. The final hall, however, was shot on a studio lot in Leavesden near London-a scaled-up replica. Actual filming locations in Oxford include the staircase in Christ Church where Professor McGonagall greets the young wizards, and the Bodleian Library as the infirmary and library. A must for fans, for everyone else simply one of England’s most beautiful old towns.

Kent: chalk cliffs with a view of France

The county in the south-east, often called the Garden of England, dazzles with landscape and history. As the nearest point to continental Europe, Dover with its white chalk cliffs and mighty castle is a magnet. Dover Castle is one of England’s largest fortresses, complete with underground tunnels from the Second World War that are open to visitors and from which the Dunkirk evacuation was coordinated in 1940. Add broad beaches for relaxing and, on clear days, a view of the French coast some 33 kilometres away.

If you have more time, pair Dover with Canterbury. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of England’s most important pilgrimage destinations, a half-hour train ride away.

Glasgow: Out of England, into Culture

For our fifth destination, we’re leaving England behind. Alongside the Highlands, Scotland offers Glasgow-a city where architecture and music coexist in close quarters. The hand of Charles Rennie Mackintosh shapes the skyline, from the Glasgow School of Art to the tearooms. A fire ravaged the famed Mackintosh Library at the art school, and while its reconstruction drags on, the rest of the city pulses with life as vibrant as ever.

Since 2008, Glasgow has held the title of the UK’s first UNESCO City of Music, boasting a density of live venues that more than satisfies a long weekend. The university and art school fuel a nightlife and cultural scene you simply must experience. Add the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum-free to enter-and a skyline blending Victorian grandeur with modern design, and you’ve got a destination worth the trip.

Britain offers so many quick getaways that choosing can feel impossible. Whether you crave the quiet of the countryside or the buzz of the city, the island is a journey worth taking. Looking for more offbeat escapes? We’ve got ideas that stray far from the beaten path.

More travel inspiration from the IBL archive: Hidden Gems of Europe for Your Next Road Trip and Silence as Luxury: Three Secluded Retreats.