2021 is the year of staycations, so whether you’re planning for an adventure family-friendly break, or a relaxing getaway you’re in the right place!

With travel abroad a little more complicated these days, there’s never been a better time to start exploring the UK. Britain is home to an amazingly diverse landscape just waiting for you to explore. You can enjoy sandy beaches, discover hidden woodlands and hike up mountains all in one day (if you’re really keen!). You really can discover so many things to do for all the family, perfect adventures for couples, or a pet-friendly getaway all with our stunning range of UK resorts.

Whether you’re looking where to go for a staycation or you want to start planning and trying to find the type of best staycation you can find, we’re here to help! With holiday locations all over the country, you can create your perfect staycation anywhere in the UK, below we have listed the most common types of getaways with resorts we think would be fit for you.

family staycation ideas

If you’re looking for a fun-filled family getaway with little ones our North Wales resorts are the perfect place for you. Offering day and night-time entertainment, your little ones will love spending time learning party dances and playing in the indoor heated swimming pool. Our Sandymouth Holiday Resort in Bude, Cornwall, is also perfect for little ones, with a fantastic pirate ship play area, outdoor splash zone, and an indoor soft play area coming soon, your little ones will never struggle for things to do in this kid-friendly staycation resort!

For older children, our beautiful Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa in Somerset, Piran Meadows Resort in Newquay, Cornwall, or Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa in Norfolk, are perfect. With fun adventure activities on the resort to enjoy, there will always be something for them to get stuck into, as well as fabulous local areas to discover.

All these resorts are full of family-friendly activities to enjoy, as well as the perfect family staycation location with a swimming pool, so you can relax and take a dip with your little ones, or watch them play while relaxing on the beds. All our locations are surrounded by beautiful local areas, from woodlands and countryside to explore to golden sandy beaches waiting for sandcastles to be built.

the perfect couples staycation

If you’re looking for a couples getaway, we have you covered! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing break in the countryside or a beach getaway, our resorts have one-bed accommodation perfect for the ultimate holiday with your better half.

For the perfect rural romantic staycation take a look at our new breathtaking Rivendale Lodge Retreat, in the Peak District. Explore the local area, enjoy endless cycle rides or walks through the truly outstanding landscape, with high peaks and winding paths waiting for you. Truly relax and unwind in your own hot tub, while enjoying a delivery meal from our beautiful restaurant. A country escape is on the cards for you at Rivendale.

If you’re looking for a beach getaway, Beach Cove Coastal Retreat is the ultimate romantic staycation, with all accommodation being one-bed beach huts and only a step away from the beach it’s a stunning location for a holiday. Our pastel-coloured beach huts have everything you need for a romantic break, luxurious beds, bathrooms, stunning views, and a selection of hot tubs – you’ll love exploring North Devon, with endless beaches, watersports, sunbathing, or walks to discover.

For a romantic city break, our Bath Mill Lodge Retreat or brand-new Stratford-upon-Avon Lodge Retreat is the perfect destination for you. Bath Mill is only a 20/30 minute walk from the bustling city centre where you can explore the Roman history and see the thermal baths in the middle of the city, enjoy high tea at the famous Pump Room, and visit the fabulous Victoria Park. Our brand new Stratford-upon-Avon Lodge Retreat will be opening its doors later this year but is sure to be a favourite for city fans, located only a short drive from the city center where you can discover all things, Shakespeare. Book tickets at the RSC to see some of the world-famous Bard’s most famous plays, learn more about his life and how he lived by visiting the historic sites of his home. There is also endless countryside to explore if you holiday here.

your hot tub staycation

For a truly relaxing time on your getaway, there really is nothing better than a staycation with a hot tub. Most of our locations have a hot tub range which can choose from, when booking look for our ‘premier’ range to make sure you book a hot tub.

Imagine coming back to your lodge after a long day wandering the woodlands or climbing mountains and slipping into your hot tub. Letting your muscle soak in the bubbles and heat while taking in the peaceful atmosphere and nature around you. There really is nothing better.

Or, spend your whole holiday break in the hot tub (in short bursts, of course, remember to be safe, they do get hot!). Wake up every morning and enjoy a dip, take lunch out on your decking, wait for an hour or so and jump back in! A hot tub staycation is an ultimate way to relax and unwind.

find hot tub accommodation

discover with your best fur-buddy

All of our Darwin Escapes locations are pet-friendly, meaning the whole family can enjoy a holiday break away!

Staycations with dogs are a brilliant way to discover new areas, going on endless wanderings, searching out hidden forests and lost lakes in the country or running along the beach and jumping in the sea…you’ll have unlimited fun!

Our own Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat has a dedicated dog wash area – so you can explore the stunning Lake District with your buddy and not have to worry about those muddy paws! Keswick Reach also has a spa for you to relax in after a day of exploring, the Copper Fells Restaurant & Bar, with delicious food and locally distilled spirits. You’ll love spending your staycation in Cumbria and discovering everything the UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer!

No matter the type of staycation you’re searching for, here at Darwin Escapes we have the location to suit your needs, and we can’t wait to see where you’ll go!

find out more about our locations

We all know that British weather is a little unpredictable, you can go out with your biggest coat on and it’ll be 15 degrees, or pop out to the shop in a jumper and it feels like it’s -20 degrees! But there is nothing worse than being stuck inside on a rainy day with nothing to do…well we’re here to help!

We can guarantee you most things your Darwin Escapes break away, fantastic facilities, glorious accommodation, super-friendly service and more, but we can’t guarantee the weather for you. So whether you’re relaxing on the south coast or searching for adventure up north, we thought we would put together the ultimate list of things to do on a rainy day with your children!

All our resorts are the perfect escape away, with stunning accommodation waiting for you and lots of family fun to be had, even on those rainy days. Our list can be done anywhere, if you’re struggling for things to go at home or searching for ideas while on holiday, our accommodation has everything you need for a self-catering break away in the UK and comes ready for all occasions – even bored children on rainy days.

Start planning your activities with our ideas below:

1. get out the board games

So this isn’t ground-breaking we know, but you can’t beat an old-faithful! Board games have been entertaining families and children of all ages for thousands of years (maybe don’t quote us on this).

Whether you’re looking for brain teasers like Scrabble, Boggle, or Articulate, where you can sneak in a little education for those little ones. Or if you’re looking for something thrilling like Buckaroo (yes, we really get thrills when that donkey bucks!). Test your detective skills with Clue, get old school with Connect 4, see what happens with the Game of Life or you could settle in for a lengthy game of Monopoly and try not to have an argument.

The choices of board games are endless these days, so this is a great choice a rainy day activity that gets everyone away from the screens!

2. get baking

This one will require a little clean-up, but there will be so much fun had you won’t mind!

Little hands love baking and the list of tasty treats you can create is truly unlimited. Start with the ever-popular fairy cake (we dare you to try and not lick the bowl!), or be a touch more adventurous and maybe try your hands at homemade pizzas! Just Google some pizza recipes and see how easy it really is, pick your favourite toppings and make your perfect pizza each! Or opt for some easy biscuit recipes and cook up some chocolate chip cookies to taste. Or for something with little fuss, you can do the always popular corn flake cake, where all you need is chocolate, and cornflakes!

If you’re on holiday with us here at Darwin Escapes, you’ll find your fully-fitted kitchen (oo-la-la) in your holiday accommodation fully stocked with everything you need for a baking session with your little one, from pots and pans to chopping boards.

3. make a den

A really clever and simple idea for endless fun with imagination on a rainy day.

Another old faithful, you can make your den as simple or extravagant as you wish. Go old school with pillows on the floor, a sheet over the table, and snacks. Up your game a little with a tablet or some books for a cosy little getaway inside your living area, or go all out and drape some fairy lights over, put all the cushions and blankets on the floor, create a door out of sheets and set up your tablet and tasty treats for the ultimate movie time!

If you don’t want movie time, you can get the imagination going with endless games. Pretend your in Neverland with Peter Pan and hiding from the Pirates, or pretend your the Pirates looking for Peter. You could be in a castle waiting for your knight in shining armour, or you could be getting ready to kick your own way out of the fairytale tower and rescue yourself! There are so many possibilities waiting for you!

4. drawing games

All you need is a pen and paper for hours of fun for this underrated rainy day activity!

Children and adults of all ages love colouring and creating, whether you’re 8 or 58, put a pot of colouring pencils and a fresh sheet of paper in-front you and you’ll spend hours creating your very own little scene! Challenge yourselves to create the best house or castle, let little ones create their favourite scenes and then spend the next hour guessing what it is (is it a dog or a heart? it’s beautiful either way!).

You can also try some great games including an old school game of noughts & crosses (how many rounds can you win in a row?) create your own battleships grid and place your ships for a bit of strategic playing, or even have your own version of Pictionary!

You’ll have hours of laughter with each game, and for the little ones, a good educational game like hangman will help with spelling. Plenty of opportunity for sneaky teaching with fun with this rainy day activity for kids.

5. dance off

Burn off all that extra energy and dance like no one is watching (because no one is!)

Put on your favourite upbeat tunes and start boogying (is that what they say nowadays?). Create a playlist or for the ultimate thrill put your music on random and see what hidden songs you’ve forgotten you had (is there some NSync hidden in there?).

Challenge yourself to see who can dance the longest, or play a good old game of musical chairs or musical statues. Make it more challenging with an obstacle course of pillows and blankets, or simply just have a really good dance off and pick a judge, and don’t forget to up the game with some epic lip sync battles!

6. make a scrapbook

You don’t need a lot for this one!

Although this sounds like a lot of work, you actually don’t need a lot at all. You can use magazines, newspapers or photographs (if you have them handy) and sellotape to create a fabulous scrapbook! Use coloring pens and pencils, colourful paper or toilet rolls and put all the pieces of paper together to make your own scrapbook.

You can choose themes and create a scrapbook for each one such as pets, holidays, favourite books or movies. Choose your own theme and create a fantastic scrapbook with your little one.

7. have a fashion show

Loads of laughs to be had with a fantastic fashion show.

Stretch a sheet out on the floor, set some chairs alongside it, if you have fairy lights dangle them across the chairs and you have yourself a very cosy-looking catwalk! Put on some music for ambience and strut your stuff.

The children can dress up in their fanciest clothes, or dress up in your clothing, or create your best superhero outfits out of bedsheets and make logos on sheets of paper.

8. toilet roll crafts

Now the panic buying of toilet rolls is over, you may have a lot of empty toilet rolls hanging around the house ready for some fun crafts!

All you need for this is colouring pens or pencils and toilet rolls, if you really want to go fancy you can use glitter and glue! There are limitless little characters you can create with empty toilet rolls. Try your hand creating a little farm filled with animals, make cows and pigs and even make the farmer!

If you really wanted a challenge, why not create a fairy house? Google toilet roll fairy houses and make your own adorable abode for Tinkerbell and her pals, this really is one of the most fun and creative rainy day activities.

Those are our top picks for rainy day activities with your children. Hopefully, we have helped to brighten up those cloudy skies and have given you some inspiration for fun activities you can do whether you’re at home or with us at one of our stunning resorts.

We’ve put together the ultimate holiday checklist of all the things you need to remember to make the most of your UK getaway. Staycations are the perfect getaways for all, whether you’re looking for a family break or a romantic escape, our resorts are waiting for you!

There is so much to discover with a UK holiday break, whether you’re searching for your next adventure, or looking for summer breaks on golden sands and blue seas, Britain has such a massively diverse landscape that you can choose any type of holiday and it will be waiting for you to explore.

Here at Darwin Escapes, we’ve put our brains together to come up with this definitive list of what you need to look at before booking your staycation.

breathtaking views

You’ll discover some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, from stretches of sandy beaches in Dorset to the dramatic mountains of the Lake District. Whether you’re searching for a country escape, a seaside getaway or looking for a next adventure by climbing the magical North Wales mountains, our resorts are your base for exploring our stunning country.

St Anthony Head – Cornwall. Closest location, Piran Meadows Resort

family fun activities

If you have little ones, activities in the park are a must! Some of our parks have a full Go Active+ program, including climbing walls, archery and some even have an outdoor splash zone. You’re sure to find the perfect family holiday break for you.

Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa – Somerset

delicious food

With Darwin Escapes, you’ll have one of the area’s best restaurants on your doorstep. Relax and kick back with a drink from our fully stocked bars. Find family-favourite dishes in Cornwall or enjoy a date night in peaceful surroundings at our Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, in Somerset. Or dine in at our Rivendale Lodge Retreat in the Peak District with award-nominated interiors and enjoy the stunning countryside too.

Rivendale Lodge Retreat – Peak District

relaxing spa treatments

Everyone loves to unwind on holiday. All our spa locations offer relaxing treatments such as a full back massage, refreshing facials, and nail treatments. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful place to escape for a couple of hours at our Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa in Somerset, or Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa, or if you’re after a full spa-break away in Devon, you’ll find it here.

The Spa at Norfolk Woods Resort & Spa – Norfolk

first-class facilities

If you’re looking for saunas and steam rooms or Jacuzzi’s and swimming pools, Darwin Escapes’ destinations are ideal for you. Head to Surrey for a sauna in your lodge, or venture up to Yorkshire for a golf course, we really do have something for everyone! Our Hawkchurch Resort & Spa in Devon is a firm favourite for a relaxing break, with our stunning hydrotherapy pool.

Hydrotherapy pool at Hawkchurch Resort & Spa – South Devon

beautiful accommodation

The accommodation makes the holiday, our self-catering lodges are second to none. With sumptuous king sizes beds, luxurious ensuites and spacious, open-plan living spaces, there’s enough room for everyone. Or if you’re looking for a romantic break, we have quirky beach huts at Beach Cove Coastal Retreat in North Devon for you or try out our stunning treehouses in the Isle of Wight or in the Peak District, whatever kind of escape you’re looking for, it’s here.

Treehouse at Woodside Bay – Isle of Wight

Are you ready for a perfect staycation?

We have holiday locations all over the country waiting for you, and with 8 of our destinations offering holiday home ownership in case you never want to leave us! There are endless escapes you can make, discover Darwin Escapes and your UK holiday inspiration with us.

discover our destinations

Our stunning Rivendale Lodge Retreat has been nominated in the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2021!

Here at Darwin Escapes, we love creating beautiful spaces that showcase the personality of our locations from family-friendly destinations to county escapes. When designing and building Rivendale, we partnered with NBDA Architects and Lazzeri Creative Interiors, who created a beautiful, welcoming, and relaxing space.

The designers have created a colourful interior, showcasing the landscape with floor to ceiling windows and really making the countryside the main character with a living green wall behind reception, stunning flowers throughout and even flower wallpaper in the truly stunning loos (a sentence you’d never thought you would read, but wait until you see the pictures below!).

The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards have been recognising talent for over ten years with over 100 countries entering the competition. We are so thrilled to be nominated, take a look at the interiors below to see the award-nominated interior.

discover Rivendale Lodge Retreat

We’ve found all the top five reasons why you should book your staycation today and start planning your getaway!

Now is the time to book your staycation and beat the boom! Here at Darwin Escapes, we have destinations all over the UK for you to find your dream holiday location, with stunning accommodation from static caravans and large lodges to EPIC treehouses and beautiful beach huts! Find your holiday inspiration with us and book your staycation at one of our stunning locations.

1. the best beaches for sandcastles

Did you know that Britain actually has the best sandy beaches for building sandcastles in the world?! So book yourself a beach break away in the UK and pack your bucket and spade. Whether you’re heading south to Cornwall or east to Norfolk, we have destinations along the coastline waiting for you!

2. endless history to discover

The UK is a country full of culture and history, with endless monuments and historic attractions throughout. Including a range of Medieval Castles, especially near our North Wales destinations, as well as Roman Runes and towns that date back to the doomsday book. There will always be something to explore and discover during your staycation.

3. year-round events for everyone

The UK is home to a calendar of a huge variety of events, including world-renowned music festivals, like Glastonbury, huge literacy festivals such as Hay Week and smaller fetes, fairs, and the ever-popular Christmas Markets. So whether you’re looking for a village fete, international music festival, or a Medieval festival, there will be an event for you to enjoy on a weekend staycation with Darwin Escapes.

4. breath-taking landscapes

Are you looking for an adventure-filled holiday? Or maybe a relaxing beach break? Perhaps you’d like both! Well, a staycation is perfect escape for you, book a stay along the North Wales coastline, and you can soak up the sun golden beaches, then challenge yourself with a climb up the Snowdonia Mountain all in the same day. The UK has one of the most diverse landscapes waiting to be discovered and explore on your staycation.

5. explore with your pup!

A staycation often offers the freedom of taking your fur-baby! So if you’re looking for pet-friendly holidays, a staycation could be the best idea for you, and with Darwin Escapes’ luxurious, self-catering lodge’s we have the ideal destination for your pup! There are a number of pet-friendly attractions throughout the UK, including pubs, garden centers, and stately homes, as well as dog-friendly restaurants becoming more popular. And if you’re looking for endless dog walks, Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat in Cumbria is perfect for you and it even has a special dog wash area for you to clean your pup’s muddy paws after a fun, nature-filled walk.

So whether you’re looking for staycation ideas for families, which includes endless fun and family facilities, or you’re really wanting romantic staycation ideas for couples, with a hot tub, relaxing spa facilities, and stunning views, we have the perfect destination for you.

Start planning your holiday break and escape with your friends and family, book your staycation today!

Dundonald Links lodges are coming soon in August 2021, but have a look at our artist illustrations below to take a little sneak peek inside these sure-to-be stunning lodges in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Explore the west coast of Scotland when you book your break away with us at Dundonald Links, we have beautiful lodges waiting for you, each with self-contained bedroom suites, with their own bathrooms, open plan living spaces, and panoramic views of the stunning golf course around.

Take a virtual tour of our artist’s impressions below and scroll down for some more images.

Book your lodge holiday at Dondonald Links, Ayrshire, and start planning your Scottish dream break away today!

Our brand new resort along the west coast of Scotland is currently under development and we’ve got the latest pictures here for you to see!

Our stunning Dundonald Links, Ayrshire will home to beautiful lodges and an outstanding clubhouse, which will including a dedicated whiskey room and world-class restaurant. Known as a first-class links golf course, hosting many prestigious tournaments, here at Darwin Escapes, we can’t wait for you to see the purpose-built lodges in Ayrshire, where you can book your getaway and explore the breath-taking Scottish landscape.

Scroll through our images below for the latest update on the development of the clubhouse, lodge foundations, and the redesign of the beautiful golf course.

And the best part is you can book your lodge holiday break away today, make an enquiry and find out more.

Our stunning Dundonald Links location has a rich and fascinating history dating back to the 1800s!

Always home to one of Scotland’s most beautiful links golf courses, Dundonald also played a role in both World Wars and has gone on to host the most prestigious tournaments.

Here at Darwin Escapes, we are so excited to show the new course redesigned by Kyle Philips and of course, we can’t wait for you to see our stunning lodges in Ayrshire, where you can base yourself and explore the beautiful west coast of Scotland. Located only 40 minutes away from Glasgow, you can enjoy city centre shopping and an evening stroll along the sandy Irvine Bay, all on the same day!

Discover centuries of hidden histories and fascinating stories around the local area when you book your holiday lodge in Ayrshire.

Watch our video below for the wonderful and fascinating history of a beautiful Scottish resort.

Here at Darwin Escapes, we have stunning destinations all over the country, each a spectacular holiday getaway that’s perfect for you.

Are you looking for a family adventure? Or a romantic getaway? Or maybe you’d love to explore legends and nature? We are sure you’ll find your UK holiday break with us! With locations reaching from south Cornwall to the Yorkshire Wolds, whatever kind of break you’re looking for, you’ll find it with Darwin Escapes.

We’ve had a bumpy start to the year, but now’s the time to do a little window shopping for your Easter breaks and summer holidays, find your holiday inspiration with us and start planning your break away today. Have a read through below about just some of our locations and see if you can find your perfect holiday to create with us.

family adventure time

You’ll find your next adventure on a UK holiday break with these Darwin Escapes locations, from fantastic family facilities to fascinating local areas. Get outside to explore nature, enjoy the thrills of a theme park, or test your skills with our activity programmes, there is something for everyone!

Sandymouth Holiday Resort

Location: Bude, North Cornwall.

Facilities: heated indoor swimming pool, soft play area, EPIC pirate ship playground, splash zone, Go Active and entertainment schedule, Bistro, and bar.

Local area: a short walk to Sandymouth Bay and miles of golden sands, children’s theme parks and King Arthur’s birth place in Tintagel Castle

find out more about Sandymouth

Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa

Location: Cheddar, Somerset

Facilities, Go Active schedule, indoor heated swimming pool, Eden Spa with treatments, rock climbing wall, multi-purpose playing courts, two-lane indoor bowling alley, Bistro, and bar.

Local area: explore woodland walks behind the resort, climb the famous Cheddar Gorge and explore the Wookey Caves, visit the bell-ringing Swans and learn mystical legends of Glastonbury town

more about Cheddar Woods

peaceful city breaks

We know the title of this section is basically an oxymoron, but that’s only if you haven’t been to one of our destinations yet! Explore the hustle and bustle of a city and experience the exciting nightlife, then retreat back to a stunning oasis just a few miles away, where you’re surrounded by countryside. A place where you can unwind from a fast-paced city life and recharge ready to go again!

Bath Mill Lodge Retreat

Location: Bath, Somerset

Facilities: gym lodge, The Brook Bar & Bistro, small outdoor children’s play area

Local area: two miles from the city centre of Bath, visit the posh Pump Rooms for afternoon tea, see the stunning and historic Roman Baths, learn more about Jane Austen and her stamp on the city, as well as visiting the famous Victoria Park

find out more about Bath Mill

Kilnwick Percy Resort

Location: Pocklington, Yorkshire

Facilities: golf course, The Glasshouse Restaurant, The Box gym, nordic spa area, and Tranquility Spa Lodge

Local area: about a 20-minute drive to York City, visit York Minster and the city of stunning architecture, the popular Jorvik Viking Centre, experience the scares at the York Dungeon

find out more about Kilnwick Percy Resort

lose yourself in nature

Surround yourself with the beauty of nature, explore the English countryside like never before, venture out on endless country walks, climb mountains, find fantastic cycle paths and sail on great lakes. Your UK holiday is your break away, your way.

Thanet Well Lodge Retreat

Location: Greystoke, Cumbria

Facilities: reception and small essentials shop (it’s all about getting out there and finding your peaceful escape)

Local area: close to the famous Scafell Pike which is the highest mountain in England, visit Coniston Water – the third largest lake in the region and hire a boat to sail around it, there are endless footpaths and smaller mountains or hills to climb in the area

more about Thanet Well Lodge Retreat

Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Location: Ashbourne, Peak District

Facilities: Bistro and bar (where you can relax and take in the breath-taking views)

Local area: close to Alton Towers for the theme park thrill-seekers out there, endless cycling paths to discover including the Tissington Trail only 100 meters away, visit the Lyme House & Estate and learn about the Regency era (and see the site of the famous scene of BBC’s Pride & Prejudice!)

more about Rivendale Lodge Retreat

Are you looking for more ideas? Visit our holiday inspiration page here and find your dream destination for a UK holiday perfect for you and your family

Have a little sneak peek inside our beautifully decorated Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat’s facilities, where you can getaway from it all to truly relax and unwind

See more and find out more about our beautiful Lake District resort here