Time For A Short Break Away From It All

Short Break

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and a short break is an ideal way to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. These options are mainly one and two night escapes in hotels to suit all budgets.

If you can't get time off work to head over to Paris or sail to Amsterdam, the next best thing is a short break here in Blighty. Or perhaps you're already planning a trip to London but haven't found your accommodation yet?

A short break experience is a convenient alternative to finding and price comparing hotels across the land. Some experiences not only include the accommodation but also include perks such as a romantic dinner, theatre tickets, spa treatments, and more.

As for the accommodation itself, there's a world of choice - my price checker lists a mind boggling 2,500+ of them. Opt for a budget glamping getaway or splurge on a luxury retreat. Fancy something a little more quirky? Or perhaps a treehouse short break is more your thing?

Here's the gist of what's available and some ideas for you to consider.

Luxury Short Breaks

Lavish, luscious and loaded with little luxuries. That’s what you can look forward to on one of these luxury breaks, and for goodness sake, why ever not? All too often life is all work, no play. So swing the balance back in your favour and head off for a truly decadent escape. You could be serving up your own slice of heaven with spa treatments on-tap, a leisurely nine holes or even a spot of croquet. Round it off with an overnight stay in a plush suite (some have private hot tubs, don’t you know) and add yet more decadence with a la carte dining and celebratory fizz. Go on – you’ve earned it.

Boutique Short Breaks

Fed up of feeling like a room number? Try one of these boutique breaks and you’ll soon feel like a person again. Cosy, comfy and charming, these unique properties pride themselves on their individual personality, and focus on the finer things in life – like friendly service, quality food and homely décor. After all, it’s the little things that make the biggest differences. Boutique breaks come in all shapes and sizes, from the cute and cottagey with woodburners and hatched windows, to the suave and stylish with shiny chandeliers and soaring spiral staircases. It’s Old Blighty as you’ve never seen her before – so treat yourself and someone special to a weekend away in one of these beautiful, welcoming and heart-warming locations.

Countryside Short Breaks

You can’t beat the British countryside. Green, glowing and glorious, it’s a staple part of our lives in one way or another. Now you can enjoy the best of Old Blighty and all her dips and dales with this fabulous choice of countryside breaks. Come and create wonderful memories filled with whatever you fancy – whether it’s leisurely strolls and cream teas, wellied walks in the early morning dew or farmyard fun with the kids. Whether you’re into lakes, mountains or Wuthering Heights-style wilderness, you’ll find something that’s right up your street. Feel-good getaways don’t get much better than this.

Budget Glamping Breaks

Forget what you know about camping. Glamping - glamorous camping - takes it to a whole new (comfortable) level.

Forget bent pegs, stony ground and creepy crawlies: glamping is the latest outdoor accessory! ‘Roughing it’ has taken on a whole new meaning with the arrival of pods, huts and tipis which are poles apart from your old musty canvas. Settle down in a charming chalet-style cabin complete with all your creature comforts. Get back to nature in style and enjoy a thoroughly relaxing retreat in this camping experience with a twist. One thing’s for sure, it will certainly be love at first ‘site’.

No more pitching up in the dark or packing up in the rain. Camping has finally had a 21st century makeover! Choose between a quaint wooden camping pod, a classic cowboys ‘n Indians style tipi (don’t forget your feather headdress). You’ll enjoy all the best bits of camping with a few luxuries thrown in – from a comfortable bed to a working kettle. After all, who wants to wake up in a cold tent without a cup of tea? Great for first-time campers, this is the perfect way to jazz up your camping break, escape the creepy crawlies and try something that little bit different.

Gourmet Short Breaks

Combine your two favourite things – good food and holidays – with one of these fabulous gourmet breaks. Forget flights, fussy ferry trips or braving the 'chunnel'. It’s holidaying at home at its absolute best; complete with lavish overnights, first-rate service and the finest cuisine you’ve ever tasted. From palatial houses and four-poster beds to turret-clad castles with film-set courtyards, these gourmet breaks put a new spin on luxury and serve up a completely new take on home holidays. Score some serious brownie points by treating your favourite person to one of these luxury breaks that really do cut the mustard.

Turn any short break into a gourmet short break with the addition of a meal for two. Book both experiences for the same date for an easy win. Better still, opt for a meal at a celebrity chef's restaurant for a really memorable getaway.

Seaside Short Breaks

We’ve all got fond memories of trips to the seaside. Whether yours is building castles in the sand, eating fresh fish and chips with a wooden fork or crab-fishing off the harbour wall, you can now re-live those carefree days with one of these superb seaside breaks. From lavish luxury and sumptuous spa retreats to gastro getaways or budget B&Bs, there’s a fantastic range of seaside experiences to suit every preference and pocket. Whether you’re a surfer, sun-seeker or a seafood lover – or perhaps you just love the smell of salty air and sand between your toes – there’s a seaside break with your name on it.

Romantic Short Breaks

Sometimes it is absolutely necessary for you and your significant other to get away from it all for a while. Just one night is often enough to recharge the batteries and spend some time with a loved one. It’s enough time to get enough of a break to feel revived and refreshed, ready to meet real life head on once again. Reality can take a rain check, and wonderful, relaxed, chilled time can take its place. A fantastic and fabulous one night break.

If it's romance you seek, consider a relaxing spa break.

Unusual Short Breaks

What to get the man or woman who has everything? Well, perhaps not everything, but certainly quite a lot of stuff. What to get the person who doesn’t need anything in particular, but who does require a present of some sort, because you like them enough to buy one for them? Something like that. A voucher for an experience day is a great way of showing how much you care without cluttering up your loved one’s house with any more gifts, but of course when it comes to choosing from the hundreds and hundreds of experiences available, it can become a difficult job.

Hire a Classic VW

Forget other campervans, enjoy a short break in a classic VW camper

Vehicles can be beautiful things, and even the ones that aren’t so pretty are still a source of fascination for many. Even before we can legally get behind the wheel of a car, the looks and the mechanism of them delights and captivates, and it can become a bit of an obsession. It’s not always about speed – it’s about comfort, history, enjoyment, and being just that little bit different; and when it is about those things, a VW campervan fits the bill perfectly.

Each campervan has been lovingly restored so that it is luxurious and filled with everything you could need for your amazing adventure. Learn the ropes and get out on the road for a day trip with a difference. Drive into the countryside, or perhaps to the beach, and make the most of a bit of time away.

Treehouse Short Breaks

Was a treehouse the ultimate in kids’ clubhouses when you were younger? That one child who had one – even if it was just some planks of wood thrown (before the days of health and safety, of course) across two branches, with a rope ladder (if you were lucky) leading the way up – was the envy of the class, and getting invited to their house was surely the best playdate ever! There was – and still is for many – just something about being able to climb up high, getting your feet off the ground and your head, in not in, then certainly closer to, the clouds that was exciting and the best fun that could be had. What a shame we have to grow up, and can’t play in treehouses anymore…

Wait a second! Hang on a minute! Who says treehouses are just for the kids? Try a treehouse short break and you’ll discover that some blasts from the past can be made into perfect mini breaks. Rediscover your youth and get away from it all by staying the night in a tree.

Theatre Breaks

Enjoy a stage show and a comfortable night's sleep in London on a theatre break

Raise the curtain on a terrific experience that provides the perfect entertainment package: a trip to the Big Smoke, a first rate show and quality overnight accommodation. Choose from a selection of West End performances and enjoy a night of show business on the big stage, from magical musicals with all the song and dance you could wish for, to timeless drama and spine-tingling chillers. Whether you’re a house regular or a first timer, this is what London does best – so come and enjoy a show-stopping night out that you certainly won’t forget.

Choose from a magnificent range of shows and performances on offer to suit different tastes and budgets. Choose from timeless classics such as Blood Brothers and popular long-running shows like spine-chiller The Woman in Black, or opt for adrenalin-pumping productions such as We Will Rock You and Stomp.

Enjoy an overnight stay in a standard 3-star hotel, go one step further with a four-star stopover, or go all out with lavish five-star accommodation. The more luxurious breaks will include top-price theatre seats along with an excellent standard of accommodation, which makes for a wonderfully lavish trip and the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion, or just to enjoy the chance to live it up in the lap of luxury.

(Photo credits to Bottlein; Lmcpy; Strecosa; Skeeze)