It’s a beautiful part of the country. Gorgeous views, ancient woodland and vast open spaces all help you feel like you’re away from the busyness of city life, even though the modern cities of Southampton and Bournemouth are both within easy reach. There are plenty of activities to do in the Forest, or you can simply wander and take it all in.

New Forest National Park, England, UK by Jim Champion

For people who do like active days out, there are lots of options. You can hire bikes and cycle on the miles of off-road cycle paths, stopping at a 17^th century pub along the way. Or you can go orienteering or geocaching. There’s even kayaking in the Forest along the Beaulieu River, allowing you the chance to see rare plants from the water.

The Beaulieu estate is well worth visiting as well. There’s the Abbey, dating from 1203, which was partly destroyed during the Reformation, but much of it still remains. Just watch out for the smell of incense – it’s a sign that the Abbey’s resident ghost is about! Also at Beaulieu, there’s the famous motor museum, with a simulator and monorail as well as the Top Gear Enormodrome, home to some of the bizarre creations from the TV show.  There’s also archery on the estate, if you want to feel connected to the ghosts of the past.

There are lots of other towns to visit in the New Forest as well. Lymington has an attractive marina and narrow streets lined with interesting independent shops, while Lyndhurst is home to the New Forest Visitor Centre, as well as some nice cafes and pubs. Or you can visit the beach, at the village of Barton-on-Sea or the working tide mill at Eling.

Beaulieu River, New Forest National Park, England, UK by Jim Champion

If you want to get back to nature, however, you can follow a trail through the Forest itself, looking out for some of the unusual wildlife and famous trees contained there. One tree is known as the Eagle Oak, as the last known sea eagle in Britain was shot from its branches. Another is called the Knightwood Oak but appeared on Victorian maps as the “Queen of the Forest”. If you’re more interested in animals, then you can go on a deer safari, where the deer come and nibble fruit from the trailer you’re riding in. Or you can just walk through the woods, looking for the snakes that live there!

So, there’s lots to do and it’s set against a spectacular backdrop. It’s close to both the coast and the M3, as well as the mainline from London Waterloo so it’s well-connected. Come and take a look and soak up the nature and history!

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Glasgow University by Ben Kucinski

If you want to see some of the UK’s most exciting cities and enjoy going to theater events, concerts and more, some top destinations for cheap city breaks include London, Edinburgh, York, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Liverpool.  Popular countryside areas to visit include Aviemore, South Lakes, Peak District, Cotswolds, North Lakes, Yorkshire, New Forest, and Loch Lomond Area.  You might also enjoy a location where civilization meets nature such as a seaside town like Brighton, Eastbourne, Southampton, or Blackpool.

The Reality

In reality, you’re going to have a tough time getting under 100 GBP for a weekend break, even if you are careful with your budgeting.  You’ll need to account for transportation, food, and accommodations, as well as any entertainment you have planned.  In general, you’ll spend less on entertainment if you venture into the countryside, since many activities in the countryside are free.  In the city you’ll pay for concerts, theater, museums, and other diversions.  In terms of transportation, you’ll want to calculate whether you’ll pay more or less using your own vehicle or public transportation.  That’s one way in which you might be able to save money visiting the city.  Public transit is generally more affordable in town and can take you to all of the sights.  As far as food is concerned, you’ll need to shop around for good deals.

Keeping the Budget

Accommodations are generally the most expensive part of a weekend getaway.  You don’t have to settle for the first deal you find, however.  While you may find hotels which cost hundreds of dollars a night in many exciting locations, you can get excellent accommodations for far less if you’re willing to take the time to find them.  Many top notch hotels have very nice rooms available for 70 GBP and under, both in the city and in the countryside.  You also may be able to stay for even cheaper if you find a hostel which serves low budget travelers.

You might be tempted to borrow money to take your weekend trip, but this isn’t really a good use of a loan.  You may still want to incorporate payday loans into your plan, however, simply as a backup in case of a contingency.  If you’re traveling on a budget, hopefully your trip will unfold without a hitch and won’t turn out to be any more expensive than you planned.  If however something unforeseen does occur, as a budget traveler, you may not have the funds to cover the emergency.

Unexpected Expenses

If your car breaks down while you’re on your trip or you have a medical crisis or another emergency, you can get a payday loan fast online to pay for your emergency if you don’t have the money to cover it.  You’ll need to be able to pay it back within a short timeframe, which will be specified when you take out the loan.  You may need to deal with the crisis in order to get home and back to work however, so a payday loan can actually end up saving you a lot of money in a pinch while you’re traveling.

Have fun planning your cheap holiday getaway in the UK, but don’t forget to have plans in place if you do end up needing to spend more money than you budgeted.  Do what you can to save money in your trip plans.  If unforeseeable circumstances do arise, you can turn to a payday loan to cover the emergency.  Enjoy exploring the beautiful countryside and cosmopolitan cities of the UK!

By writer John Szabo, who works at PoundAccess. PoundAccess is an online loan provider in the UK. The aim of the company is to provide short-term cash loans and fast payday loans to its costumers within the hour.

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