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18 amazing UK holidays with availability from April 12

best uk holidays 2021 - Getty
best uk holidays 2021 - Getty

Self-catering holidays in England are officially back on from April 12, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to confirm today

When this potential restart date was first announced, there was a surge in bookings. And as it looks unlikely that Mr Johnson will confirm the possible May 17 restart date for foreign holidays today, many more Britons may decide to first secure a domestic break.

It is worth noting that some restrictions will remain after April 12 – in England, restaurants and pubs will not be able to offer indoor service, for example, so you’ll need to rely on home cooking and beer gardens (weather permitting) – but this hasn't dampened the desire for that first dose of freedom.

As it stands, "stay at home" orders have been lifted for Wales and England and self-contained holidays have restarted in Wales. Non-essential travel in and out of Wales is also set to resume from April 12, meaning visitors from England will be able to take a holiday in the country.

Despite dwindling options, our experts have managed to unearth some of the best holiday options that still have availability on, or soon after, next Monday.

South Coast

1. Let’s do Battle

A revamp of the 31-mile 1066 Country Walk from Pevensey (where William of Normandy landed in 1066) to the medieval town of Rye (via historic Battle, where the Battle of Hastings took place), will be revealed this summer. Scattered along the route are 10 pieces of art being created by East Sussex sculptor, Keith Pettit and it’s possible to see one of these up close, at Hare Farm Hideaways. A working sheep farm, Hare Farm has accommodation for 12 in a stylishly converted Oust House and for two in a nearby shepherd’s hut. On the brow of the farm’s field is Pettit’s ‘Far Bank Henge’ – six oak monoliths inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry. Tucked into the Brede Valley Hare Farm also offers access to a quiet shingle beach at Winchelsea.

Availability from April 16. Three nights in the Oast House from £1,350 (harefarmhideaways.co.uk).

2. Isle of Wight glamping

However did we manage before glamping? First there were tents, then came yurts and eco pods, and now there are modulogs. With five safari tents, two wood cabins pods – and modulogs – Tom’s Eco Lodge Glamping on the Isle of Wight does glamping every which way. Masquerading as Anderson shelters, the cosy two-bedroom modulogs can be configured as doubles or twins and each has a log-burning hot tub. The farm has views to Freshwater Bay and can be reached by public transport from East Cowes or Yarmouth.

Availability from April 16. Five nights in a modulog (sleeps four plus two on a sofa bed) from around £1,400. One night in a Pod from £73 (tapnellfarm.com).

See our South Coast summer holiday guide for more ideas.

Peak District

3. Farm cottages near Bakewell

In the heart of the Peak District, Bolehill Farm Cottages has eight child- and dog-friendly properties set around a central courtyard. Each stone-built cottage sleeps two, four or five people, and all share communal facilities including a laundry, barbecue area and games room. This former farm feels splendidly isolated, with green fields and drystone walls stretching for miles in all directions, but the tourist hotspot of Bakewell is less than 10 minutes’ drive away.

There is one cottage with availability from April 12; from £527 for two nights; bolehillfarm.co.uk. Others have availability later in April.

A bridge near Bakewell - Getty
A bridge near Bakewell - Getty

4. Working farm near Matlock

The owners of Hoe Grange Holidays, a working farm in between Matlock and Ashbourne, are big on all things eco and accessible. Their log cabins are fully adapted for wheelchair users and their glamping pods have heating and light powered by their own renewable energy source and water from an on-site borehole. There’s no knocking the facilities, either, which extend to electric off-road wheelchairs for hire and on-site stabling if you’re planning on holidaying with your horse.

Two of its seven pods and cabins are available from April 12; hostunusual.com (prices range from £583 to £928 for four nights).

See our Peak District summer holiday guide for more ideas, and our pick of the best hotels in the Peak District.

Lake District

5. Pick of the Holidaycottages.co.uk

As its properties in the perennial hotspots of Keswick, Ambleside and Windermere are already booking up, you’ll stand a better chance of getting the size and style of accommodation you want by spreading your net. Picture-postcard Hawkshead – just five miles from Ambleside – has some great pubs, and is a hop and a skip from Beatrix Potter’s home.

Seven nights at Apple Lodge, Hawkshead, from April 12, costs £749 (sleeps six); holidaycottages.co.uk.

See our Lake District summer holiday guide for more ideas, and our pick of the best hotels in the Lake District.

Cotswolds

6. Camping near Cirencester

Family-run, 1,600-acre Abbey Home Farm is a terrific organic enterprise with an acclaimed shop and café as well as a variety of accommodation options carefully devised for maximum sustainability. These include the Magical Glade, a quiet spot for eight that's about as close to wild camping as you can get. Bring your own tent, stock up on organic veg from the shop and enjoy guided tours around the farm. You can even hire an e-bike.

Abbey Home Farm, near Cirencester (theorganicfarmshop.co.uk); camping for eight at The Magical Glade costs £95 per night. Good availability for April 16 onwards. The larger family campsite, with shared facilities, will open on May 17.

See our Cotswolds summer holiday guide for more ideas, and our pick of the best hotels in the Cotswolds.

Devon

7. Family camping near Dartmoor

For those craving space and nature after months of being cooped up, Hideaway Camping has a 24-acre expanse to run wild in. Set in Higher Melbury, on the edge of Dartmoor, this glamping site has gypsy wagons, Airstream trailers, ‘igloos’ and camping pitches, all with summer availability. There’s a magical fairy glade for children, tree swings, a dedicated picnic area and hammock garden.

A two-night stay in an airstream sleeping five starts from £215 for two nights (hostunusual.com). Plenty of availability from April 12 onwards.

Dartmoor - Getty
Dartmoor - Getty

8. Go glamping, Sidmouth

If you’d rather steer clear of busy hotels, Harvest Pod is the latest addition to a collection of handcrafted glamping structures on a hillside above the Otter Valley, near Sidmouth and the Jurassic Coast. Sleeping two, it’s furnished in a simple, country style and has a shower room, Wi-Fi and uninterrupted countryside views. Harvest Pod is well spaced from the other pods on site, and at the time of writing had availability throughout summer.

A four-night stay from April 12 costs £635 (01348 830922; qualityunearthed.co.uk).

See our Devon summer holiday guide for more ideas, and our pick of the best hotels in Devon.

Cornwall

9. Channel your inner Swallows and Amazons

A 10-minute drive from Port Isaac, in the heart of Doc Martin country, Cornish Tipi Holidays (01208 880781; cornishtipiholidays.co.uk) is deliciously off-grid. Hidden in 20 acres of native woodland beside a spring-fed lake, there are 20 traditional North American tipis and a wild camping meadow. This is the ultimate back-to-nature holiday with the chance to go swimming, boating and fishing in a lake. It’s a great choice for single parents and you can be as private or social as you like. There is plenty of availability from April 12 onwards.

Port Isaac - Getty
Port Isaac - Getty

10. Go retro with VW

Falmouth-based Clive Goodwin has spent his life restoring classic VW campervans and now rents them out to holidaymakers (07914 015540; cool4campers.co.uk). He can also advise on the best campsites to pull in for the night. The VW’s slim profile makes it ideal for pootling along Cornwall’s narrow roads. Ingeniously fitted out with sink, gas stove, fridge, electric hook-up and heater, the vans sleep four: two children in the pop-up and two adults on a rock-and-roll bed. A week’s rental costs £627 in April or May.

Go retro in the West Country - Getty
Go retro in the West Country - Getty

11. Hidden Cornish cottages

Some of Cornwall’s loveliest granite cottages, hidden deep down mossy lanes, can be found through Classic Cottages (01326 555555; classic.co.uk). It looks after the rental of 600 Cornish properties and around eight still have availability for the week commencing April 12. New houses are added regularly too – 20 in January alone – so it’s worth keeping an eye on the website. The agency also has a flexible booking policy offering a transfer, credit or a full refund if you can’t travel due to the imposition of restrictions.

See our Cornwall summer holiday guide for more ideas, and our pick of the best hotels in Cornwall.

Wales

12. Glamping for bookworms

If you’re making a literary pilgrimage to the Welsh-border book town, this glamping site at Felindre, four miles from Hay, with five fully fitted yurts, is a fine option, featuring compost loos, outdoor seating and private kitchens. The owners also plan a pop-site bell tent village with shared facilities in Hay itself for summer holidays, including a marquee bar and cinema tent. There is good availability after April 19.

A three-night stay from April 19 costs £374; wyeglamping.co.uk.

Book lovers flock to Hay - Getty
Book lovers flock to Hay - Getty

13. Airstream dreams

The 26ft retro Americana, originally built in the United States during the mid-Sixties, occupies a wildflower-strewn field in a corner of Cardiganshire. Surrounded by wild Welsh nature, guests can look forward to sitting around a firepit in cooler climes, explore boat-cluttered New Quay harbour, and tucker down with hot meals like bangers and mash ordered to the door. The airstream comes with a bed and a pull-out sofa, shower room with flushing loo, a little kitchen, and a wood-burner to keep things cosy.

The Airstream at Wildernest costs from £62 per night (for two), with good availability from April 15 (canopyandstars.co.uk).

14. Cottage cosy

Apple Mint Cottage is a romantic converted stone barn at Cryngae Farm near Drefach Felindre, surrounded by 30 acres of Welsh meadows and miles of footpaths from the door. Evenings can be spent snuggled up by an open fire, under characterful vaulted ceiling and exposed beams, while sandy beaches and the nearby National Wool museum beckon to be visited during the day. It's one of West Wales Holiday Cottages' newer listings, sleeps two, and has good availability through April and the beginning of May (westwalesholidaycottages.co.uk)

Pembrokeshire coast Whitesands Bay Wales
Pembrokeshire coast Whitesands Bay Wales

15. Architectural heights

Expect award-winning architecture (lots of red cedar, glass and stainless steel) and dramatic views of the Wye Valley through floor-to-ceiling windows at this smart self-catering cabin. It's called the "Chickenshed" though references to its agricultural roots, for instance the corrugated roof and chunky wooden cladding, are thoroughly modernised with heated polished concrete floors and an impressive kitchen. Elsewhere, there are two private acres and a wood to wander, so it's great for kids and pets. The property is located between Monmouth and Chepstow. A four-night stay costs £1,470 for up to eight people from April 19 (sawdays.co.uk).

16. Hideaways with history

Grain Silo, on the edge of an ancient site’s old farm yard, once belonged to Cistercian Monks and still houses Iron Age remains. The farm is near aforementioned Hay-on-Wye, with its second-hand bookshops, art galleries and tea rooms, and overlooks rolling hills and trees. But for those who wish to chill back at base, the conical digs offer a kitted-out kitchen, a hot shower and flushing loo, Welsh blankets, books to borrow, a television, and crisp-cotton beds. Rates from £134 per night for two people, with good availability for short stays during April, and longer for May (canopyandstars.co.uk).

East Anglia

17. Cruise and snooze

With around 120 miles of navigable rivers and lakes, the Broads National Park (visitthebroads.co.uk) on the Norfolk and Suffolk border is a haven for wildlife. Most cruisers start from Wroxham, but Potter Heigham is the best departure point for the quieter cruising areas of Upper Thurne, Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere. Herbert Woods (herbertwoods.co.uk) is one of the longest established boatyards in the area. Seven-night hire for the week of April 12 starts from £752.

Explore the Broads - Getty
Explore the Broads - Getty

18. All at sea

Book a tailor-made trip on a traditional wooden fishing boat through the little-known creeks and backwaters along Norfolk’s coast through the Coastal Exploration Company (coastalexplorationcompany.co.uk). Guests can help skipper and former Royal Marine, Henry Chamberlain, navigate to the open sea, forage and fish for meals, and swim in the wild. Overnight expeditions, sleeping in hammocks under canvas, are also on offer. Exclusive half-day charters from £385 for up to four people.