Flights are expensive. Airports are stressful. And there's a very real chance the villa you booked in Portugal looks nothing like the photos.
This summer, more Brits than ever are looking closer to home - and honestly? They're onto something. The UK's countryside is quietly extraordinary: ancient forests, rolling hills, market towns that feel like film sets, and pubs that have been perfecting their Sunday roasts since before anyone had heard of package holidays.
Whether you're organising a group getaway, a family trip, or a long-overdue escape with friends, these five countryside destinations should be at the top of your list. And the good news? You can reach all of them without anyone having to be the designated driver.
1. The Lake District, Cumbria
If there's one countryside destination that defines what a British staycation can be, it's the Lake District. And the numbers back it up: it's currently the UK's most searched staycation destination in 2026, with searches up significantly year on year.
It's easy to see why. Sixteen lakes, dramatic fells, and a landscape that inspired everyone from Wordsworth to Beatrix Potter. Windermere is the obvious starting point, and it earns its reputation. But if you're heading in peak summer, consider basing yourselves around Ullswater instead, where the crowds thin out and the scenery is just as jaw-dropping.
What to do: Walk the shores of Ullswater, take a steamer cruise across Windermere, explore Beatrix Potter's Hill Top farm near Hawkshead, or tackle the ascent of Helvellyn if your group is feeling ambitious.
2. The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire
The Cotswolds is what people picture when they imagine the English countryside, and it delivers every time. Honey-coloured stone cottages, ancient market towns, meadows full of wildflowers, and independent shops and tea rooms around every corner.
The villages each have their own character: Bourton-on-the-Water for its riverside charm, Chipping Campden for its long market high street, Burford for its antique shops, and Stow-on-the-Wold for its weavers' alleyways and classic Cotswolds square. You could spend a full week moving between them and still not tick everything off.
What to do: Walk the Cotswold Way between villages, visit Blenheim Palace in nearby Woodstock, hunt for antiques in Burford, or stop into the Daylesford Farm Shop for provisions that will make everyone feel very wholesome.
3. The Peak District, Derbyshire
Often overlooked in favour of the Lake District, the Peak District is the quietly brilliant alternative. Plus, it has the advantage of being genuinely central, making it one of the most accessible countryside escapes in England. It sits within comfortable reach of Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Derby.
The landscape is wonderfully varied: the dramatic gritstone edges of the Dark Peak in the north, and the gentler limestone dales and dry-stone walls of the White Peak to the south. There's enough here to keep a group busy for a long weekend without repeating yourselves once.
What to do: Walk the Stanage Edge, visit Chatsworth House and its estate, cycle the Monsal Trail along a converted railway line, or wander through the chocolate-box village of Eyam which is famous for its plague history and extraordinary community spirit.
4. Snowdonia, North Wales
For groups who want something a little more dramatic, Snowdonia delivers in abundance. This is rugged, cinematic countryside; the kind that makes you feel genuinely small in the best possible way.
At the centre of it all is Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales and England. You can tackle one of six walking routes to the summit, or, if your group is more of the "admire it from a comfortable distance" persuasion, the Snowdon Mountain Railway will take you up and back with spectacular views included. Beyond the mountain, the national park is full of lakes, ancient woodland, and quiet valleys that most visitors never make it to.
And after all that fresh air? Caernarfon Castle, a medieval fortress right on the waterfront, is one of the most impressive in the UK. The surrounding town has some brilliant spots to eat and drink.
What to do: Summit Snowdon (or take the railway), explore Caernarfon Castle, visit the Zip World adventure site for something a bit different, or head to the seaside town of Barmouth for chips by the sea.
5. Exmoor, Somerset & Devon
Exmoor is the one that keeps surprising people. It doesn't have the fame of the Lake District or the Instagram presence of the Cotswolds, but anyone who's spent time there will tell you it earns its place as a must visit staycation.
It's wild in a way that feels rare in England: ancient ponies roaming free across the moorland, red deer herds, dramatic coastal cliffs, and river valleys with wild swimming spots that are beautiful. Exmoor is also a designated Dark Sky Reserve - on a clear night, the stars here are something else entirely.
The village of Tarr Steps is worth going out of your way for: an ancient clapper bridge surrounded by woodland, with the River Barle running beneath it. In summer, you can wade in. There's also excellent walking along the South West Coast Path, and the market towns of Dulverton and Porlock are full of independent shops and good food.
What to do: Walk to Tarr Steps and swim in the river, explore the Dunkery Beacon for moorland views, spot Exmoor ponies, stargaze on the moor, or follow the coastal path between Lynton and Lynmouth.
The Smarter Way to Get There
Group travel to rural areas is notoriously tricky. Trains don't always go where you need them to, driving in convoy is a logistical headache, and someone has to be designated drive. Booking a coach means everyone travels together, nobody has to stress about parking on narrow country lanes, and the trip starts the moment you pull away — not when the last car finally arrives.
Get a free quote from Coachhop today and find out how easy it is to get your group from doorstep to countryside without the faff.