From camping adventures to solo escapades, there are so many things I want to tick off my UK summer bucket list. Here’s what’s on my list!
As I write this, we are experiencing a rare burst of sunshine in an otherwise rainy spring in the UK. I cannot begin to explain how happy I am to enjoy the warmer and brighter weather. I have always been a winter/autumn girlie and have always preferred the colder months of the year.
But since going self-employed, my thoughts have changed! Now that I genuinely have to rely on myself for motivation and be strict with myself, I have really struggled with the dark and dreary weather this year. Usually, it never bothers me, but 2023 into 2024 has been really different for me. I’ve really struggled to motivate myself and I’ve really struggled with early mornings. When you find yourself waking up to darkness outside – and you don’t have any reason to get up and go into an office – it’s very hard to force yourself to get up. Or even leave the house. Luckily I’m getting better though!
So because I’m so happy with the (temporary) arrival of warm weather, I thought it would be nice to put together my UK summer bucket list for 2024. Because now that I’m able to spend more time on my blog, I’m forever finding amazing places to visit. And I’m able to dedicate more time to travel too!
Visit Stonehenge
As someone with a huge passion for the alternative, magical and folklore side of travel, I can’t believe I’ve never been to Stonehenge! It has been on my bucket list for so many years. Thanks to TikTok, I’ve also discovered there’s an amazing witchy village in the New Forest. Burley Village is about an hour away from Stonehenge but in that area of the UK. So I’d love to visit both in one day!
Take a Road Trip
To be honest, I do take mini road trips quite often. Or rather, I drive somewhere more than an hour away and dub it a road trip when really it’s just a long drive/mini adventure, haha! But this year, I want to take a proper road trip in the UK. It’s kind of hard to do an actual long one due to my partner’s weird shift pattern at work, but we can definitely take a 2/3 day one. I just need to decide what type of trip! I’ve been tempted by a few in a new book I purchased recently: Road Trips Great Britain. Their four-day Spiritual Journey road trip sounds right up my street, especially as it includes a visit to Stonehenge. I’ve also taken inspiration from Hand Luggage Only’s book – I think I’ll do either the Jurassic Route or the Cotswolds Cottage Route outlined in their book.
Go Camping
Here’s a funny story: I’ve had a four-person tent stored in the boot of my car for about three years now. It’s never been used. I bought it off Facebook marketplace a few summers ago, with every intention of using it. I never did. But this year is the year! I think camping is a much more affordable way to travel, especially if you want to be closer to nature. Because I haven’t yet put the tent up, I’ve booked one night already at a fairly local campsite next month. So if the night is a total disaster (or I can’t put the tent up!) I can just drive home again. I particularly want to go camping in the summer so I can do lots of stargazing too.
Explore More of the Cotswolds
I’m lucky in that I can get to the Cotswolds from my house in about an hour. At least, the East area of the Cotswolds, just because it’s such a big area! That being said, my first visit to the Cotswolds wasn’t actually until 2020. I wasn’t actually too impressed when I first visited, as it was just so crowded and busy! But since I’ve been back at quieter times (and explored more villages), I have fallen in love. There is so much to see and explore, so I can’t wait to do more of that this summer.
Read more: Why Cheltenham Is the Perfect Pick for a Cotswolds City Break
Do More Spooky Stuff
As you might already be aware, I run a second niche blog which is all about the darker and spookier side of travel in the UK. Since launching The Morbid Tourist, I’ve had so many fantastic opportunities to explore this passion of mine. But it’s only getting me more and more inspired/excited for new spooky places to visit! On my list for this year is Whitby, Chillingham Castle and the Eyam plague village. I also want to spend more time in York! In particular, I really want to spend one night at the (extremely haunted) Golden Fleece pub, and the very atmospheric Hocus Pocus Tiny Hotel.
Travel Solo (Again)
I have travelled solo many times in the past and I find it incredibly rewarding. I think I’d like to do that again this year -even if it’s just a day trip somewhere!
Go Hiking
I am absolutely loving all the hiking content on TikTok at the moment. Especially the guided hikes for the Lake District and the Peak District. I’m not a great hiker, nor am I super fit, but I do enjoy walking! I’d love to explore more of the UK by foot. It’s really weird, because when I was younger I thought the idea of hiking sounded SO boring. Now it’s like, my ideal weekend activity (only if there is a pub involved though). I genuinely want to be known as a rambler when I’m older too.
Specific Places
Most of the above ideas are a little vague, but there are specific places on my UK summer bucket list too! I’m desperate to explore more of Scotland and Wales, for example. But I think visiting Scotland may have to be part of a larger trip next year. I really want to go back up North and show Shaun all my old stomping ground from when I was a uni student. There are lots of places in the North East that I never managed to visit when I was studying either, so I’d like to tick them off my list. Places like Chillingham Castle, Beamish open-air museum and The Forbidden Corner (technically not in the North East, but sort of on the way!). I’d love to revisit Alwnick Castle & Gardens again and Durham too.
I don’t think I’ll have the time (or money!) to visit everywhere on this list, but putting everything together into one UK summer bucket list definitely helps for accountability. I’m incredibly lucky in that I’m in a position that allows me to be a bit more flexible to travel more in the UK though. Thankfully, I can visit the Cotswolds on a random day of the week when it might be just that bit quieter, or work around my boyfriend’s shift patterns for a better work-life balance. So here’s hoping these factors will help!
What’s on your summer bucket list? Let me know!
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