6 Places in the UK and Ireland To Visit in 2023

ad // I love a staycation and I think that staycations have become a lot more popular after the pandemic. Although most people are jumping on flights and continuing their travels like nothing ever happened, there’s still a special place in our hearts for staycations.

Photo by Lou Goetzmann on Unsplash

I’ve been on a lot of staycations and I love exploring more of the UK. There are so many gems to find, places to see, things to do and wonderful food to eat, it’s amazing what can literally be on your doorstep.

Every time I go into London, which is only a 20 minute train ride away, I discover something new and I’m barely going anywhere!

So the possibilities are endless when it comes to staycations and what you can find and I do hope that even though the pandemic is over, we still continue to support and use hotels, hostels and establishments in the UK.

In this post, I’m going to share some amazing places to visit within the UK and Ireland, if you’re in need of some staycation inspiration for 2023. There’s a little something for everyone in this list!

Photo by Julian Schiemann on Unsplash

Every motorsport lovers dream at Silverstone

As the Formula 1 season is gearing up for 2023, it would be rude of me – a massive motorsport fan – not to mention Silverstone first. Silverstone – the home of the British Grand Prix – is a fantastic track to visit and they hold masses of events throughout the year, including their incredible Lap of Lights that we attended in 2021.

Get outdoors in Connemara

Love the great outdoors? What better place to experience all it has to offer than beautiful Connemara. If you’re looking for a hostel in Connemara to rest your head after an adventurous holiday, the Ben Lettery Hostel might be right up your street! Need some outdoor inspiration? You could:

• Hike the 12 Bens mountains scattered through Connemara (your hostel is at the base of one of the 12, so you can have a pretty good start!)
• Explore the beaches which, attention animal lovers, has two seal colonies to watch out for
• Get on your bike and cycle through history of the old railway tracks of the Connemara railway
• Explore the lakes and rivers on a kayak – a super fun way to get around!
• Horse ride through the quiet lanes and rolling hills of Connemara

Photo by Kevin Bosc on Unsplash

Experience delicious local food and produce at The Ferry House

The Ferry House in Kent is every food lovers dream. Everything is home-grown, they have their own herb gardens, vegetable patches, fruit trees and farm – so you even know where the meat on your plate is coming from too. And my goodness, it shows. I would go out of my way for another Ferry House steak.

A blissful spa break at Orsett Hall

Orsett Hall is somewhere I go quite a lot, for dinner, afternoon tea and especially for a solo spa break. They offer various packages but I’ve never been disappointed by a relaxing two days away at Orsett Hall, with a beautiful spa-treatment by one of their incredible therapists, use of the facilities and a gorgeous dinner to finish off the evening.

Slow things down on the Norfolk Broads

If you’re after a slow week or weekend, then the Norfolk Broads is for you. You can’t get a much slower pace of life that than on the river. The perfect place to spend quality time with loved ones, step away from your phone and take in the beautiful surroundings. The ultimate stress-reliever.

Lazy weekends in Woodhall Spa

Lincolnshire is somewhere I visit a lot and one of my favourite places to go when I’m there is Woodhall Spa. A super cute village with quaint shops (including a lovely book shop!), an abundance of tearooms and a beautiful hotel that does the best hot chocolate. Woodhall Spa is also home to the adorable Kinema in the Woods, which is well worth a visit to to see a movie.

Are you a fan of staycations? Have you been to any of these places? Which one sounds like something you’d like to do? Let me know in the comments!