Now is the time to organise a UK break. Met Office predictions that summer is more than twice as likely to be hotter than normal, a fall in demand in places such as Cornwall last year and protests against mass tourism on the Continent may all be tempting a domestic getaway.

According to a survey carried out last month for VisitBritain, 78 per cent of people plan to take an overnight domestic trip in the next 12 months. And more than half of those planning a UK holiday (59 per cent) said they are easier to organise than overseas ones.

Coastal towns are top of the UK holidays search list for 2025, according to TripAdvisor. While the seasides of Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex will draw visitors in a heatwave, there are less obvious highlights in every county. The best recommendations can come from residents, so we asked travel experts to suggest where they would choose to visit in their area this summer.

Shropshire 

Mark Hooper Project lead, Visit Shropshire

I’ll be getting my walking boots on and heading to Church Stretton for a weekend jaunt or two to try the mapped circular walks from the town. There’s something special about that landscape – big skies, wild ponies and proper peace and quiet.

A wild swim is on the cards, too, and Carding Mill Valley Reservoir is top of my list. It has a man-made stony beach and is surrounded by the Long Mynd hills. In late August, the valley turns purple from flowering heather.

Cornwall

Jon Hyatt, Chair (non-executive), Visit Cornwall

This summer, I’m running the length of Cornwall’s south coast path, ending at the remote Rame Peninsula – an underrated finale to an epic journey. After miles of rugged cliffs and bustling coves, Rame offers the peaceful reward of wide-open beaches, raw headlands like Rame Head, and the solitude only wild beauty can provide. I’ll pause at Whitsand Bay, take in the views from Mount Edgcumbe, and reflect on the miles behind me. It’s not just the end point – it’s the perfect finish: windswept, untamed, and quietly magnificent. Cornwall’s Forgotten Corner, perhaps – but unforgettable to me.

Manchester

Victoria Braddock Managing director, Marketing Manchester  

In my own patch, Altrincham, south of the city, I enjoy spending a morning walking around Dunham Massey, spotting the deer that run free or exploring the colourful gardens. Nearby, Altrincham Market has a choice of 10 independent food traders with sourdough pizza, Lancashire cheese and onion pie and craft beer on the menu before a stroll through Stamford Quarter.

Hertfordshire

Holly Loftus, Marketing executive, Visit Herts

I love Ashridge House, in the Chiltern Hills. Dating to the medieval era, it has a formal garden and 190 acres of parkland, a 10-minute drive from Berkhamsted railway station.

Another favourite spot is St Paul’s Walden Bury. It has glorious gardens that were laid out in the 18th century and are filled with statues, temples and ponds. It was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Puddingstone Distillery offers tours and award-winning gins an eight-minute drive from Tring (a market town at the edge of the Chiltern Hills).

Kent 

Sophie Hewitt, Senior marketing manager, Visit Kent

This summer, I will be heading to Great Comp in Sevenoaks with seven acres of tranquil gardens, romantic ruins and woodland walks and events, including open air theatre.

I also love paddling just outside Canterbury and will be spending sunny afternoons here on the River Stour.

Close to Faversham, the brand-new Nordic wood-fired Sea Scrub Sauna makes the most of the surrounding rural views. 

And near Ashford, Boys Hall is a foodie dream in a lovingly restored manor house hotel. My summer highlight is the grilled sea bream with charred lime butter and chive sauce.

Pembrokeshire

Emma Thornton, Chief executive, Visit Pembrokeshire

There’s always something happening at Milford Waterfront in summer, from live music to festivals, such as the Milford Haven carnival in July.

I’ll squeeze in a walk along the coast path, too – one of my favourite lesser-known rambles is a circular route starting at Melin Tregwynt Woollen Mill and looping through the peaceful Abermawr region, with wild coast path views along the clifftops above Pwllstrodur and secluded Abermawr beach.

I might even pull on a snorkel and swim near Skomer to see the puffins and other seabirds.

West Midlands

Becky Frall  Head of tourism, West Midlands Growth Company

I love to go to Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens and Birmingham Botanical Gardens to get away from it all – they are colourful oases of calm, refuges from the hubbub of city life. I’m particularly looking forward to joining in with Garden Yoga there this summer, enhanced by a post-session treat from the café.

Bantock Park in Wolverhampton, Walsall Arboretum and Black Country Living Museum have hundreds of years of history between them, and they’ll provide the perfect backdrop for the Digbeth Dining Club’s summer tour, which highlights the Black Country’s proud past, combining with the very best contemporary street food. I’ll be visiting with friends.

London

Maya Mroue, Marketing Director, Opportunity Kensington

It’s amazing how much is packed into just a few streets in this often-overlooked corner of west London. I’m really looking forward to [visiting the exhibitions] Dress Codes at Kensington Palace and Splash! at the Design Museum.

I’ll go for coffee at the lovely Leighton House café, while the free fortnightly Friday lunchtime opera in Holland Park during June and July is also on my hit list.

Northern Ireland 

Etta Austin, Publicity manager, Tourism Ireland

Benone Beach in Limavady, County Londonderry, is my favourite place to go. It stretches for miles, and I have so many happy childhood memories here. Head to Magilligan Point, where The Point serves amazing seafood chowder.

Mussenden Temple, perched on the cliff edge, always looks dramatic, and adds to the spectacular landscape. A session in HotBox Sea Sauna is the perfect experience after a dip in the Atlantic, and hot chocolate at the Sea Shed coffee shop is also a great idea. 

Devon

Hayley Reynolds, Founder and director of RAW food and drink PR

I live in the South Hams near Salcombe, which is stunning and home to Salcombe Gin, a waterside distillery that you can reach by boat.

I grew up in east Devon and, just east of Sidmouth, Branscombe is one of England’s oldest villages with pretty thatched cottages – it’s quieter than many of the tourist hot spots. The Masons Arms is a lovely place to eat.

Nearby, Beer has a timeless feel, with narrow, winding streets. It’s a great place for a swim in the sea or to watch the fishing boats while eating some delicious local seafood.

Scotland

Erin Hickey PR manager, VisitScotland

The Black Isle, a peninsula in the Highlands north of Inverness, is a real hidden gem, packed with history and stunning views. It’s great to explore on foot. Cromarty, on the north-eastern tip, is beautiful with its little cottages, and fascinating Hugh Miller’s Birthplace Cottage & Museum.

I have a dog, and Rosemarkie beach and Fairy Glen are our favourite walks.

Chanonry Point has amazing views across to Fort George, and you might even spot some dolphins playing in the Moray Firth. 

Norfolk

Asa Morrison, Chief executive, Visit Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth is full of surprises, beyond its 15 miles of golden sands and seafront attractions, with a rich heritage and some real hidden spots. 

To escape the crowds, I’ll head to the quiet beaches at Winterton-on-Sea or Scratby with their peaceful coastline, windswept dunes and real charm. 

In June, the Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival, one of the biggest events of its kind, brings roaring engines and vintage vehicles right to the seafront.

West Yorkshire 

Andrew Stokes OBE Director, VisitEngland

From mid-July to September there is a theatre production of The Railway Children taking place along the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, where the film was shot.

I’ll be heading to the moors above Haworth, where there’s a new, free Wild Uplands open-air art exhibition trail, plus the newly reopened Brontë Birthplace in Thornton.

North Yorkshire

Tony Watson, Head of tourism, Visit North Yorkshire  

I love stepping into North Yorkshire’s timeless past with a visit to majestic Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, near Ripon, which has the largest monastic ruins in the country.

Then there’s Malton, Yorkshire’s celebrated food capital, bursting with bakeries, delis, and a monthly food market with live music, as well as a traditional Saturday market.

Savour creamy Wensleydale cheese at Hawes Creamery or Yorkshire curd tart in cosy village tearooms.

Celebrate 200 years of the passenger railway, with a trip aboard heritage railways like the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway.

Northumberland

Neil Carney, Head of destination, Visit Northumberland

This summer, I’ll do what I love most: set out to walk along Hadrian’s Wall, Britain’s most spectacular and expansive World Heritage Site. I never tire of the walks linking the forts and milecastles that each tell a different story of the frontier of the Roman Empire.

Perhaps my favourite experience, though, is stargazing at the Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory. There is nothing quite like watching the night sky blossom into stars in the heart of the county.

Cumbria

Gill Haigh, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism

I’d recommend a visit to Whitehaven on Cumbria’s west coast, a characterful harbour town with a proud maritime heritage and a growing energy. It is undergoing major regeneration, with investment transforming public spaces, enhancing the town centre, and creating new opportunities for both visitors and the local community. With its coastal charm, historic architecture, and a rising number of independent businesses and attractions, Whitehaven offers a refreshing and authentic experience for those looking to explore a different side of the county.