Cornwall

For beaches, bars (and beach bars!), turquoise seas and a tropical climate, you don’t even have to leave England. Year round, Cornwall is well worth a visit. There’s every type of beach you could need for when the sun is out, but you can’t beat a blustery coastal walk in the autumn or scrumpy around a cosy pub fire in the winter either.

Check out the crashing Atlantic waves at The Lizard, the UK’s most southern point, or the hilltop castle on St. Michael’s Mount. Take your four-legged friend to some of the huge dog-friendly beaches or head to Newquay for surfing and the party scene. There are more postcard-perfect villages than you can shake a stick at here, and you’ll struggle to find so many top restaurants in one area elsewhere. Rick Stein’s deli in Padstow can get booked up weeks in advance, so grab a pasty or chips on the beach instead or take a cream tea in one of many tea-rooms. Head to St Ives for art, and to the Lost Gardens of Heligan near St Austell for beautiful gardens that take full advantage of Cornwall’s unique warmer weather, caused by its position on the Gulf Stream.

Whatever you get up to, you’ll leave Cornwall rested, with clean air in your lungs and sand between your toes. Good for a romantic staycation, a family holiday or even a solo retreat, the West Country county truly offers something for everyone.