Simon Calder's UK holiday hotspots for a stylish staycation – away from the busy beaches of Devon and Cornwall

Potentially avoid quarantine with a beautiful break here in Blighty!

Saturday's announcement that anyone returning from mainland Spain would need to quarantine for 14 days is yet another blow for the travel industry. No wonder more and more of us are ditching plans to head abroad, and instead looking for UK holiday hotspots. Especially those 'less discovered' but beautiful parts of the country that won't be teaming with tourists.

Related: Rightmove reports a surge in searches for holiday homes – and Netflix is inspiring our number one destination

'It's going to be an amazing summer for the UK tourist industry,' says travel expert Simon Calder, who was on the This Morning sofa today to share a few of his favourite UK resorts. He's been hearing that most campsites on the South Coast are booked up until October, while 'prices for some properties in Cornwall have doubled.' Yikes!

'What I've been trying to do is find places where there are likely to be a fair amount of hotel rooms, so they may not be in the most "celebrated" of spots,' explains Simon, who has picked out some real gems to discover.

Simon Calder's UK holiday hotspots 2020

1. Folkestone, Kent

Harbour with different colour boats and blue sky

(Image credit: Laurie Noble/Getty)

'It's an absolutely lovely town, a Victorian resort, beautifully located with a wonderful promenade along the cliffs,' says Simon. 'There's lots of art to see – they've really pumped a lot of money into it, and there are lots of good places to stay.'

Stay at: The Grand Burstin Hotel, rooms from £37 per night

2. Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Fishing port with different size boats in front of the The Grand Hotel in North Yorkshire

(Image credit: Michal Sleczek/Getty Images)

'My goodness me, if you haven't been there for a while, it's so exciting,' enthuses Simon. 'They've got a lovely beach, a fishing port – it's such a wonderful location. The Grand Hotel is, I think, the most magnificent old relic – present company excepted – that I've seen around the coast of Britain!'

Stay at: The Grand Hotel, £39 per night for a standard double

Winding coastal road with ocean view surrounded by green grass

(Image credit: Alexander Spatari/Getty)

'You have to say Llandudno. You've got the wonderful Great Orme – a huge outcrop – waiting there. The Great Orme tramway isn't running at the moment but Wales is gradually opening up now.'

Stay at: St George's Hotel, rooms from £120 per night

4. North Berwick, Scotland

View of the Marine Hotel & Spa with beach and ocean view

(Image credit: Roy James Shakespeare/Getty)

'It's difficult to pick one hotspot out in Scotland, as there are so many resorts, but North Berwick, on the brink of the Firth of Forth, is my choice. It's absolutely lovely.' Simon highlights local attractions such as the Scottish Sea Bird Centre and its numerous golf courses.

Stay at: Marine Hotel & Spa, £150 per night for a double room

5. Ballycastle, Northern Ireland

The Salthouse Hotel in Ballycastle North Ireland overlooking beach and sea

(Image credit: Stephen Barnes/Getty Images)

Related: Enjoy the stunning views from a cool eco-cottage in County Kerry – and you can stay the night!

'Such a beautiful place, wonder setting and nice and handy for the Ginat's Causeway. Just great beaches along that whole stretch of coast – and some trendy places to stay, such as The Salt House. It's very chic and there are some great places to eat and drink.'

Stay at: The Salthouse Hotel, rooms from £200 per night

We're off to request some annual leave... see you at the seaside!

Amy Cutmore
Contributor

Amy Cutmore is an experienced interiors editor and writer, who has worked on titles including Ideal Home, Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, GardeningEtc, Top Ten Reviews and Country Life. And she's a winner of the PPA's Digital Content Leader of the Year. A homes journalist for two decades, she has a strong background in technology and appliances, and has a small portfolio of rental properties, so can offer advice to renters and rentees, alike.