Sarah Gibbons

  Most of us would love to spend our summer dreamily wandering around a pretty coastal village somewhere in Italy, but because of a lack of funds, time or leftover annual leave, it’s not always so simple to organise.  We can rejoice then that there’s a little chunk of Italy tucked away on an estuary in North Wales – the tiny folly village of Portmeirion. Celebrated architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis dreamt up this marvellous marriage of Italian style and Welsh charm back in 1925, but it took many years to come together. Now, Portmeirion is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in the UK, so from fishing village tours to perfect spots for a pint, check out our list of the best things to do. RECOMMENDED:🏔️The best places to visit in Wales🎭The best things to do in Wales🌤️The best places to visit in the UK🏖️The best seaside towns in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Kent is home to a hell of a lot of great towns for a weekend break, but if you’ve done enough city stuff and you want to venture a little further than the likes of busy Whitstable and Margate, Dungeness could be the perfect place for your next adventure. This tiny fishing town is found at the southernmost point of Kent, and it feels a bit like reaching the end of the world (in the best way possible).  You’ll find vast stretches of shingle, lined with weathered wood cabins and abandoned fishing boats that look over the wide open sea. It really is a great place to unwind and disconnect, and there are plenty of coastal walks, beach-side beers and fresh-off-the-boat seafood to be enjoyed. So, here are the best things to do in Dungeness. RECOMMENDED:🦪The best things to do in Whitstable🏖️The best things to do in Broadstairs🌻The best things to do in Kent🌤️The best seaside towns in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Tunbridge Wells is a very, very nice place – so nice that it was even given ‘Royal’ status in 1909 by King Edward VII, because Queen Victoria liked it there so much. Oh, and there was the thing about King James drinking from the chalybeate spring in the seventeenth century, where he said it cured him of illness.  Now, of course, the Kent town is a booming spa resort, nestled away in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful countryside. Just an hour out of London, it’s become a hot spot for day trips and for chilled-out, slow-paced weekends. So, from fabulous cafés to countryside hikes, here are the very best things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells. RECOMMENDED:🦪The best things to do in Whitstable🏖️The best things to do in Broadstairs🌻The best things to do in Kent🌤️The best places to visit in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Feeling the need for a dose of country village wholesomeness? You’ll find it in spades in the oh-so-charming Alfriston, in the heart of East Sussex. With its chocolate-box-pretty pubs, medieval buildings and independent shops, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. The bucolic, rolling landscape of the South Downs is the main event here, though, so don’t forget your walking shoes and to soak up those views. RECOMMENDED: The best weekend breaks from London