The end of summer is coming fast, so it’s time to start planning your last hurrah for 2023.
21.07.2023 - 07:46 / roughguides.com
Ready for a sustainable staycation? So many restaurants and places to stay are responding to the climate crisis with eco initiatives, such as sourcing local ingredients, using solar panels and wind power to generate electricity – even providing compost loos. What’s more, an increasing number now have on-site chargepoints for Electric Vehicles (EVs) – so it’s never been easier to go green on holiday. Read on to discover some of the UK’s best eco-friendly restaurants and places to stay.
For the definitive guide for any green holiday in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, buy The Rough Guide to Green Britain and Northern Ireland.
Transported all the way from Amsterdam to the London Docklands by boat, the floating Good Hotel is a social business where profits are channelled back into the local community. Design is industrial minimalist and rooms are comfy and cosy.
Chargepoint: O2 Arena car park 1 (3 miles)
Cool, cheerful and in the heart of East London, Qbic will lend you a bike so you can explore on two wheels. Rooms are all uniquely decorated and have eco-friendly showers and filtered water to drink.
Chargepoint: On-site
Cycling along the Regent's Canal in east London © Image Source Trading Ltd/Shutterstock
Around five miles west of Hythe in Kent, England, is Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve, which, in conjunction with the Aspinall Foundation, runs a conservation and breeding programme for wild and endangered species. Overnight stays on the reserve are phenomenally popular, and there’s a luxury hotel and a range of lodges, cottages and glamping pods. All guests are treated to a ranger-guided hour-long safari (keep your eyes on the glistening watering holes and you might even spot a hippo poking its nostrils above the surface), plus dinner in the Laapa Restaurant cooked over an open fire pit.
Chargepoint: Folkestone Services (3.4 miles)
Whether you’re glamping in a shepherd’s hut, yurt or treehouse, or pitching a tent in the beautiful campsite, you’re in the heart of the Knepp rewilding project, which is transforming and regenerating 3500 acres of land.
Chargepoint: On-site
Brockenhurst’s – and the New Forest’s – best sustainablehotel and restaurant is in a fabulous country house set in stunning gardens. Ingredients for the innovative menu are sourced from the kitchen garden and within a 25-mile radius.
Chargepoint: On-site
White Stork at Knepp © Stephan Morris/Shutterstock
Nestled in a side street in North London, The Duke of Cambridge is gastro-pub fare at its best. Independent, ethical and organic, this is Britain’s first farm-owned pub.
Chargepoint: Chantry St (0.1 miles) and Bevan St (0.3 miles)
An ethically sourced, sustainable seafood restaurant in Margate’s old town. The menu changes daily and wine is
The end of summer is coming fast, so it’s time to start planning your last hurrah for 2023.
A quartet of caravans are in a wildflower meadow and copse in the grounds of an old rectory near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. They are Gertie, a rare 1930s model; Sybil, a handmade 1940s van; Monty, a second world war military wagon; and Elsie, a 1950s van. All have original features and outdoor seating; three have wood burners and Monty has a private deck. There are communal showers, toilets, a summer kitchen and campfire, and an honesty shop selling farm produce, ice-cream and cider. Guests can hire individual vans or the site, and pitch a tent next to their van at no extra cost.From £200 for two nights for four people, vans sleep two to five, maddogsandvintagevans.co.uk
Green fields and hills give Ireland its “Emerald Isle” nickname. But with nearly 2,000 miles of coastline, rivers, and lakes, the island nation is also awash in blue. Rounding out all that unspoiled nature are ancient castles, historic villages, and pubs alive with traditional music. Here’s the best way to experience this colorful corner of Europe.
Its consistently warm-to-mild temperatures and lack of a harsh winter mean there’s never really a bad time to visit St Lucia.
Art Deco mirrors, plus desks and tables designed by Queen Elizabeth II’s nephew David Linley, now the Earl of Snowdon. Bespoke furniture, china and lighting. All are up for sale in a series of ground-breaking auctions this August taking place in London (but also online).
Northern Ireland's second city and Ireland's northern-most county sit rather snug together in the corner of the island of Ireland. But many are yet to discover the two make a fantastic combination for a twin break. Blending thought-provoking history, striking landmarks and an incredible natural world, Derry~Londonderry and County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula offer everything you could wish for in a short, action-packed getaway.
Munich is a fantastic place to visit with kids. The ample greenery and great public transport system make the city feel relaxed and accessible, despite its size.
Woolacombe Beach is where soft sand meets the wild Atlantic and is perfect for our pooches. It consists of a wide, three-mile long sandy stretch from Barricane Beach down to Baggy Point, but dogs are restricted in certain areas. Parts of it are surfing areas and some kiosks even offered boards and lessons for dogs, though I didn’t want to embarrass Bob and Bertrand – our lovely Beagles – by insisting they try. Other pet owners were not so bashful. There are lots of dog bins and the cafes have bowls of water for four-legged friends. The Barricane Beach cafe is run by animal lovers, has great coffee and great-value curry nights.Gayle
On a Saturday morning in the Lake District, perhaps at the base of a popular fell or along the shores of a placid lake, you might think you were at a countryside Crufts. The region’s footpaths are bustling with spaniels, labradors and golden retrievers – and the ubiquitous cockapoo, of course – all in procession, dragging their owners up hills or along forested trails, tongues out, tails wagging, noses poised to sniff the behind of anything they might pass.
Following is our regular summary of the latest travel news and best frequent traveler promotions reviewed during the past week.
Kayak is out with its Travel Hacker Guide for 2018, led by its list of the top trending destinations for 2018. There aren’t any out-of-left-field locales—they’re all pretty well-known destinations—but they have “the greatest percent increase in searches year over year.”
If you want to stay at the best hotel in the United States, head to the French Quarter Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. And if you’re looking for the best bargain hotel stay in the world, it’s in a small town in northern Spain. That’s according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, which just shared the best hotel ratings for multiple categories heading into 2019.