Travel

40 Quirky Stays for Summer

Fancy an escape that's a leetle bit different? From yurts to lodges, shepherd's huts to helicopters (not even joking!), the Muddy editors have pulled together the most charming, unusual escapes across 21 counties. Book in once you've taken your jaw off the floor.
St Ives – the dreamiest staycation in the UK

As I was going to St Ives, I met a man with seven wives. OK, not really. What I did meet with though was a whole lot of FUN! Here's six reasons why you should take a trip to the Cornish coast this summer.
The Langley is… OPEN!

Superluxe The Langley in South Buckinghamshire opens its doors for the first time today! Here are 6 reasons why you should put it to the top of your hotel wish list.
A cool Cornish hotel – without the crowds

The Polurrian on the Lizard has had a style makeover - and then some. Fancy winning a 3 night £1800 stay at Cornwall's best kept secret?
Need a spa day? Check out the best ‘Superspas’ across Glos, Somerset and Wilts

I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want... a massage, mani and Jacuzzi please, and make it snappy. Whether you’re going with your romantic other, bezzie mates or gloriously solo, here’s our pick of the very best spas near you.
Day at the beach, anyone?

The sun has got his hat on (at long last) so we're thinking impromptu daytrip to the coast. Who's in?
Do you live in the best place in Britain?

A new survey of the UK's loveliest locales sees Bucks and Oxon trending. But you knew that already right? So does your neighbourhood make the list?
The dreamiest new hotels to book now

In need of an indulgent weekend away? Er, ALWAYS. Here's our pick of the best brand new - and downright desirable - hotels to book pronto. Breakfast in bed and late check-outs all round!
London calling!

Love the idea of going into London but find it all just a leetle bit daunting? Make life easy on yourself with our Top 10 tips on how to have a cracking time in the city this Easter.
Fancy a family weekend of R&R?

De-frazzling in bucolic surroundings while scoffing homemade brownies? Sounds like our perfect weekend. Muddy's Jo buzzes off to Noke, South Oxfordshire, to investigate.
Muddy stays: The Fleece, Witney

Cocktails in the Cotswolds? Well, if you insist. Muddy whizzes to Witney to check out a sleek gastro-pub with rooms.
Why travel agents rock

You get one life - don't waste it - eight reasons to use a boutique travel agent.
Get a room! Hurley House reviewed

Escape to the country for a luxury overnighter at this relaxing Berkshire bolthole – top nosh and quality starfishing await.
Hampshire hotel hotty

Shall we count the ways we love you Chewton Glen? Nah, we'll be here for days. Instead, here's what you need to know about this coastal classic spa and hotel destination.
Five Super Cool Norfolk Staycations

Grab a cuppa, snuggle up under a blanket on the sofa and start planning some Norfolk staycations for 2019.
Going anywhere nice on your holiday?

How about one of these gorgeous self-catering properties in the South West? Not only do they look pretty, they all come with the option for learning something new or getting a wellbeing fix. Bonus!
Out-of-Season Scilly with Kids

Cornwall meets the Caribbean on this unspoilt archipelago just 28 miles from Land's End. Here are my top tips for visiting with the family in 2019.
The best house party in the mountains

Ready for more partying after the Xmas season is over? How about heading for the Alps for the best party you can imagine?
Your 2019 holiday inspo

Going anywhere nice on your holidays? Don't answer that until you've read Muddy's guide to the coolest travel trends for the year ahead.
Four of the best weekend ski resorts

Looking for inspiration for a weekend away to the slopes? Here are for great getaways that are easy to get to from Surrey.
Booking your family hols?

Don't do anything till you've seen Flight Centre's first Family Adventures brochure - and put yourself in the running for a £20k dream trip!
And Relax… we’re on the Roseland

Four picture-perfect holiday cottages on the Roseland Peninsula offer a change of pace in one of Cornwall’s prettiest and sleepiest corners.
Brighton’s Rock ‘n’ Roll hotel

From silly to sexy, there's plenty of fun to be had at Brighton's unique Hotel Pelirocco
The Big Beautiful Beach House

This impressive family home was the setting for Richard Curtis' film, About Time and now you can rent it out and make your own memories here. Shall we have a snoop around?
The Northgate, Bury St Edmunds

One night at the Northgate Hotel was the perfect respite to recharge my batteries. Less than one hours drive from Norwich and it felt like a proper luxurious escape!
INSIDER GUIDE: FOLKESTONE

This town has not only gained a reputation for its artistic heart - it's also making convincing marks on the foodie map. What more reason do you need to visit?
Insider’s Guide To Truro

Foodie, arty and cultural - Truro is Cornwall's Great Little City and our in-the-know local guide will point you straight to the places to be.
Hurtwood Hotel

Homespun charm, dreamy rooms to overnight in and a five-star breaky - there's nothing not to like here.
Park House Hotel & Spa, Midhurst

Spa - tick... fab food - tick... rooms with a view - tick... get a relaxing triple whammy at this country house-style getaway with great seasonal promotions. Go on, you deserve it.
The Belfry Hotel & Resort

Muddy tucks into a 6-course Tasting Evening at this 4* top golf, leisure and spa resort in the North Warwickshire countryside. It was definitely well above par.
Cruising with kids

Cruising is not just for pensioners - some lines go all out to attract families. Find out about typical children's activities onboard and some of the adventurous places you could visit.
Riverside luxury

Looking for a relaxing spa break that's not going to take hours to get to? I know just the place.
The perfect honeymoon

Getting married? Don't leave your honeymoon to the last minute. Here's how to plan the perfect holiday as Mr and Mrs.
Stay Here: Cliff House

One of our fave luxury self-catering stays in South Devon has just re-opened after a snazzy refurb. So what's new? Well, *that* hot tub for starters...
Make a dash for the seaside

You don't have to hop on a plane to enjoy a little beach time this summer. Here are 8 stylish British staycations for inspiration
Cotswold House Hotel

This boutique townhouse hotel in Chipping Campden gives its country house cousins a run for their money.
Insiders Guide To Falmouth

A seaside town with bags of style, community spirit and an arty edge. Here's Muddy's favourite places to eat, stay, shop and play in Falmouth
The Castle Inn, West Lulworth

Rustic luxe pub with rooms, food by a Blumenthal protégé and just two minutes walk away from the stunning Jurassic coast. I'd say the dream combo for a weekend away...
Glamp rock

The West does it best when it comes to camping and glamping! The definitive Muddy guide to campsites and glamp sites in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset
A Stylish Family Retreat

Looking for a special, take-a-deep breath space—all Mad Men elegance, oodles of space for kids & a mahoosive dining table? Welcome to Slate Cottage.
Tour travel: could it be for you?

Group touring has come a long way from guides waving umbrellas in the air! Increasing popular, there are now lots of small and perfectly formed far-flung travel options...
Cliff Cottage, Iken

Heart-stopping views and an open, airy interior make this secret, Suffolk hideaway very special indeed. Perched high above the River Alde, expect big sunsets and endless, estuary horizons.
Caribbean island match

Budget-conscious or luxe? Romantic or family-friendly? Get the lowdown on the right islands and resorts for you with our handy guide.
Thai for beginners

As the kids go back to school and the nights draw in, what's the best thing to do? Book a holiday, of course! Fancy something a bit further afield this time?
Broadway Barn

Superbly styled, this 200-year-old barn in Ripley is perfect for a romantic or relaxing break.
Stay at the Stag

A relaxed country inn with seven charming rooms for an appealing 30 second stagger to bed after dinner. Shall we?
Ski Luxury for Less

Are you after a luxury ski holiday but want it on a smaller budget? Fear not, Muddy is here to help - check out our top tips for luxe for less!
Have pooch, will travel

Woof! 38 perfect dog-friendly stays in the UK, from hotels, pubs and inns and cottages, to cater to the furry baby in your life.
Room with a view

Lavishly decorated, a spectacular view and a whopping great big brass bath at The Swan Hotel in Wells – why wouldn't you?
Pick of Edinburgh Fringe

Heading to Edinburgh Festival? Overwhelmed by the brochure? Get a shortcut with my picks of the Fringe
Shakespeare’s Gardens

Been to visit the stunning contemporary new sculpture garden at Shakespeare's New Place in Stratford yet?
Say namaste to an Asian hotel in Alicante

An Asian-themed hotel right in the centre of Alicante? Meet Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa
Edinburgh Fringe planning tips

Get the best from the fest with my handy guide to how to plan your gig-going
Holiday glamping

This bijou glamping site on the Surrey-Sussex border is the perfect place enjoy the natural charms of the English countryside.
RED (CAMPER) VAN WOMAN

This baby's got everything you need to be pretty much self-contained. It's fab to drive and when you park up you can be cooking up dinner, knocking back wine and/or be cosy in bed within minutes.
Breakfast in ‘Broadchurch’

The first award-winning series of Broadchurch opened with a shot of distinctive honeycombed sandstone cliffs with a child’s body at the bottom. I may not have guessed who done it, even by the final episode, but I immediately recognised where. Broadchurch is largely shot in West Bay on Dorset’s Jurassic coast, a few bays down from Lyme […]
New spa & afternoon tea

A cosy new spa in an old seafront cellar and a show-stopping afternoon tea at the stylish Brighton Harbour Hotel
And The Winner Is…

Happy days to one very lucky Muddy reader who is about to float off with a luxury weekend at Another Place, The Lake in Ullswater, The Lake District. Thousands of you entered this one – I guess everyone needs a holiday! – but the winner is (*drum roll*)… Michelle Tebbutt. Congratulations to you lady. I’m […]
Sundays At The Star & Garter

An amazing slow-cooked Sunday roast and stunning waterside views await at this gastro pub on Falmouth's old high street.
Chic sleeps and Sunday roasts at Rathfinny Wine Estate

Ever keeled over on a settee hugging a bottle of Pinot Noir? No, me neither <cough>. Anyway, here’s a much more sophisticated way to sleep with wine. Rathfinny vineyard perched in the South Downs has some gorgeous cosy-yet-stylish accommodation in the Flint Barns on site. It’s perfect for either a house party or a rejuvinating […]
My fave places: Somerset crime queen Clare Donoghue

Crime novelist Clare Donoghue was brought up in Somerset and spent the obligatory ten years in London before moving back to the West Country to do an MA in creative writing at Bath Spa. By the end of the year she had her first novel – Never Look Back – and her main characters DI […]
Stay here: The Castle Hotel, Windsor

And so it came to pass that the mudlets were gently but firmly pushed into the loving arms of their doting Auntie while Mr Muddy B and I hopped into the car and floored it. Yes, we had escaped to Windsor for 24 hours… no kids to harrass us, nothing to do but browse in shops (yes, […]
It’s a family affair

The Hornbys are a talented bunch. Author Gill Hornby, sister of Nick, shares her favourite places.