| Over the last 18 months, the term staycation has | | | | Park. Book the Copthorne Tara in Kensington and |
| entered many holidaymakers vocabulary. With the | | | | be near Harrods and Harvey Nichols, or stay on |
| Euro at an all-time low against the pound, and | | | | the Strand and watch the real West End come to |
| uncertainty in the jobs market, the prospect of a | | | | life at night with an endless row of theatre shows |
| weekend away in the UK appealed to a large | | | | just minutes walk from Covent Garden. Oyster |
| percentage of the population. With the UK | | | | Cards make tube travel a cheap way to explore |
| hopefully on the verge of emerging from the | | | | by bus or tube, with tube journeys from just |
| darkest times, find out why UK City Breaks may | | | | £1.60 per single and £3.80 a day, |
| stay just as popular in summers to come. | | | | and bus journeys across the capital from just |
| First decision for staycationers is where in the UK | | | | £1. |
| to visit. The most obvious decision is London, | | | | Great last-minute offers on West End shows, |
| which offers something for everyone. | | | | especially through the week, make evenings out |
| Sightseeing-fans can enjoy the traditional sights of | | | | very affordable. Pre-theatre dinner menus in a |
| the Tower of London, Big Ben, Houses of | | | | host of central restaurants allow you to relax and |
| Parliament, Westminster Abbey and so much | | | | enjoy your night out in style. Many famous chefs |
| more. Even regular visitors to London are highly | | | | such as Marco Pierre White, Jamie Oliver, Gordon |
| unlikely to have seen it all. An hour on the train | | | | Ramsey and Gary Rhodes base their restaurants |
| can land you amongst the beautiful royal city of | | | | in London, with a seemingly never ending choice |
| Windsor, home to the Castle and a Royal Visit if | | | | of bars and restaurants. |
| you are lucky, Chessington Theme Park, Thorpe | | | | For those who don't fancy a trip to London or |
| Park and Legoland. A boat trip down the Thames | | | | really have seen it all, the UK has plenty more to |
| can take you to Hampton Court, and a quick trip | | | | offer. Edinburgh in August houses the Festival and |
| on the Tube can see you on a guided tour of | | | | Tattoo, with bookings needed to be made early |
| Wimbledon Centre Court in no time. | | | | as the city becomes very busy during this time. |
| With several rail stations, all in the heart of the | | | | Newcastle has gained a well-deserved reputation |
| city, travelling by train removes the hassle | | | | as a great city for a night out. Regularly ranked |
| associated with out-of-town airports and the usual | | | | amongst the to 10 in the world, the famous Bigg |
| taxi costs or waiting times for luggage and | | | | Market and Quayside provide bars and clubs for all |
| transfer coaches. London Kings Cross serves the | | | | tastes. Sports teams such as Newcastle United |
| East Coast of England and Scotland, with a | | | | (it's much easier to get a ticket these days), |
| journey-time of around 3 hours to Newcastle and | | | | Newcastle Vipers, Newcastle Eagles and |
| just 4.5 to Edinburgh. With regular first-class ticket | | | | Newcastle Diamonds offer the men plenty of |
| offers for booking ahead, it needn't be as | | | | weekend activity while the women enjoy the |
| expensive as claimed. | | | | shops of Eldon Square, Monument Mall and the |
| Upon arrival in London, your hotel is likely to be | | | | Metro Centre. Restaurants such as Azzuri, |
| near some of the most famous landmarks in the | | | | Piccolinos and Blackfriars are a gourmet delight, |
| world. Stay at the end of Oxford Street at | | | | with the Gate offering a huge range of |
| famous names like the Cumberland and Marriott | | | | restaurants bars and a cinema. |
| and be just seconds from Marble Arch and Hyde | | | | |