Sarah Gibbons

So, you’re craving a trip to an Italian island, to feast on pasta and stroll through cobbled streets. Aren’t we all? But perhaps your bank account won’t allow it, or you accidentally used up all your annual leave. Hey, we get it. But if that is the case, we’ve got the perfect antidote. The beautiful village of Portmeirion, in Wales, brings Italy right to your door.  Celebrated architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis dreamt up this marvellous marriage of Italian style and Welsh charm back in 1925, but it took many years to come together. Now, Portmeirion is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Wales (if not the UK), and it’s full of great stuff to do too. For everything from fishing village tours to ancient railways and perfect spots for a pint, check out our list of the best things to do in Portmeirion.  RECOMMENDED:🥾 The best places to visit in Wales📍 The best things to do in Wales🌳 The best places to visit in the UK

Tunbridge Wells is a very, very nice place. So nice, in fact, it was given ‘Royal’ status in 1909 by King Edward VII, because Queen Victoria liked it there so much. Oh, and there was the thing about King James drinking from the chalybeate spring in the seventeenth century, where he said it cured him of illness.  Now, of course, the Kent town is a booming spa resort, nestled away in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful countryside. And just an hour out of London, it’s become a hot spot for day trips and for chilled-out, slow-paced weekends. From fabulous cafés to countryside hikes, here are the best things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells right now.  RECOMMENDED:🦪 The best things to do in Whitstable🏰 The best things to do in Canterbury📍 The best things to do in Kent🌳 The best places to visit in the UK

Kent is home to a hell of a lot of great towns for a weekend break. But if you’ve done enough city breaks and you want to venture a little further than the likes of busy Whitstable and Margate, Dungeness could be the perfect place for your next adventure. This tiny fishing town is found at the southernmost point of Kent, and it feels a bit like reaching the end of the world (in the best way).  Here you’ll find vast stretches of shingle, lined with weathered wood cabins that look over abandoned fishing boats and the wide open sea. This is a proper escape from it all, especially those who are used to busy cities, and you can spend a day or a full weekend taking long walks along the coastline, recharging and being overlooked by the rather spectacular Dungeness Nuclear Power Station. Here are the best things to do in Dungeness.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Kent🏖️ The best seaside towns in the UK📍 The best things to do in the UK

Feeling the need for a dose of country village wholesomeness? You’ll find it in spades in the oh-so-charming Alfriston, in the heart of East Sussex. With its chocolate-box-pretty pubs, medieval buildings and independent shops, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. The bucolic, rolling landscape of the South Downs is the main event here, though, so don’t forget your walking shoes and to soak up those views. RECOMMENDED: The best weekend breaks from London