Destination guides
These are the places we currently cover. The notes below say what each one is for, so you can pick a base before you read the full page. None of these guides is a booking form.
South coast of England
- Bournemouth is a large Dorset resort with a long sandy beach, gardens down to the pier, and Poole and Christchurch on either side.
- Dawlish is a small south Devon town where the railway runs along the sea wall and a brook crosses the lawns by the beach.
- Teignmouth has a beach, a pier and a working harbour, with a passenger ferry across to Shaldon.
- Shaldon is the quieter village on the south side of the Teign, with a beach reached through a tunnel.
- Torquay is the main resort of the English Riviera, built around a harbour. Things to do in Torquay covers beaches, caves and walks.
- Devon is the wider choice: two coasts, Dartmoor, and Exeter as the rail junction.
- Croyde is a north Devon surf beach and village, not a promenade resort.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
- Cornwall explains why one cottage booking does not cover the whole county, and how people usually split the north coast, the south coast and the far west.
- The Isles of Scilly are a separate trip: five inhabited islands, a seasonal ferry from Penzance, and flights from Land's End and Newquay.
North-west England
- Blackpool is the big Lancashire resort: tower, piers, Pleasure Beach, promenade trams and autumn illuminations.
- Southport is a wider, leafier seaside town with Lord Street, a lake and dunes towards Formby.
Scotland
- Edinburgh is the city guide: Old Town, New Town, where to sleep, and why August costs more.
- Scotland is the overview for going beyond Edinburgh, including trains, ferries, midges and rural bed and breakfasts.
Inland bases
- Hook is a Hampshire village on the London to Exeter railway, useful as a stop rather than as a resort.
- Towcester is a small Northamptonshire market town on the old Roman road, close to a racecourse and to Silverstone.
- Welwyn Garden City is a Hertfordshire garden city with direct trains to London King's Cross.
Choosing a stay
If you already know the town and you are comparing inns, sea-view rooms and cottages, read how to choose a quieter UK stay. For national tourism sites, trains and the forecast, see useful resources.
Guide me to UK is an independent information site. We do not own hotels or take bookings. Fares, opening hours and timetables change, so confirm them before you travel. Reviewed October 2026.