{"id":549,"date":"2013-07-22T15:40:33","date_gmt":"2013-07-22T15:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/?p=549"},"modified":"2014-07-14T10:05:59","modified_gmt":"2014-07-14T10:05:59","slug":"summer-fun-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/summer-fun-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer fun – at home!"},"content":{"rendered":"

With summer well and truly here (finally!) and temperatures hitting impressive peaks, there is no better time to soak up some rays and get out and about. From hidden beaches to dazzling micro-climates, Visit England<\/a>\u2019s top holiday and weather hotspots will ensure the whole family enjoy England to the max this summer.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about the weather\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whatever the weather in England<\/a>, it remains a hot topic for its indecisive nature. What makes it ever the more fascinating are those little pockets that attract a warmer temperature than their surrounding areas. The micro-climate of West Sussex\u2019s\u00a0Nyetimber<\/a>\u00a0means the soil has a similar quality to that of the Champagne region of France, so it\u2019s no wonder that this vineyard has produced the award-winning Classic Cuv\u00e9e, the Queen\u2019s favourite sparkling wine. Cheers!<\/p>\n

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Cornwall <\/a>has some of the warmest temperatures in England, and uncommonly high levels of sunshine can be found at Cornwall\u2019s Lost Gardens of Heligan<\/a>. Protected by a dell, the moist air in this area gives way to flourishing subtropical plants such as camellias and tree ferns. In similar fashion,\u00a0Ventnor<\/a>\u00a0on the Isle of Wight<\/a> and\u00a0Tresco<\/a>\u00a0on the Isles of Scilly<\/a> both cultivate and array of exotic plants, and the latter island even has tropical underwater species thanks to this weird and wonderful weather mutation.<\/p>\n

Sand & the city<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re torn between a city break and coastal escape, the new trend of \u2018beacities\u2019 throughout England offers best of both worlds. At the heart of the capital, London<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0Roundhouse<\/a>\u00a0is bringing the beach to Camden until 24 August. Camden Beach is welcoming visitors with traditional seaside amusements and refreshments with an end-of-pier bar, a sizzling BBQ, deckchairs to lounge in and 150 tonnes of sand. Buckets and spades at the ready!<\/p>\n

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Nottingham<\/a>‘s famous\u00a0‘urban beach\u2019<\/a>\u00a0will once again draw crowds to Old Market Square from 19 July \u2013 2 September.\u00a0 The beach attracts thousands of families, visitors and tourists from across Britain and offers the chance to enjoy the seaside without having to leave friends and family at home. Now in its fifth year, the event will run for five weeks and include a giant paddling pool, sandy beach area, caf\u00e9, rides and lots of free activities for all the family over the summer.<\/p>\n

And, for the first time ever, Oxford<\/a>\u2019s Castle Quarter will be filled with 23 tonnes of sand, 8 palm trees and 50 deckchairs as the\u00a0Big Bang<\/a>\u00a0brings the beach scene to this historic town. Known for its more academic institutes, the city is softening its stiff upper lip by donning volleyball nets and encouraging beach wear \u2013 after all, why should the coastal resorts have all the beach fun?<\/p>\n

By the sea<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got the perfect setting, with balmy skies and blue seas. Choose the hottest place to stay, and you\u2019re guaranteed to impress your friends with your holiday snaps. Hire a landmark by the sea and make your digs part of the adventure.\u00a0The Windmill<\/a>, in the heart of Scarborough<\/a>, is an 18th century windmill that has been converted into a characterful. Down south,\u00a0Watermouth Castle<\/a>\u00a0is a true example of a 19th-century Victorian folly. Completed in the mid-19th-century by the Bassett family, now extensively restored, its self-contained holiday apartments have been decorated and furnished in keeping with the style and ambience of the Castle.<\/p>\n

Right on the footsteps of Camber Sands Beach<\/a>,\u00a0Sea Gem<\/a>\u00a0is a beach-hut with a difference. This contemporary take on the seaside classic is designed to make the most of its views of sand and sea. Giant floor-to-ceiling windows capture the sand dunes and panoramic pink sunsets right on your doorstep so you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re never off the beach.<\/p>\n

If you prefer the indulgent service and cuisine of a hotel, spend a few nights at\u00a0The Star Castle<\/a>\u00a0on St Mary\u2019s, The Isles of Scilly<\/a>. Built in 1593, this eight pointed palace on St Mary\u2019s commands tremendous views of the Celtic Sea from every direction.<\/p>\n

Hidden beaches<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the recent closure of Holkam\u2019s nudist beach, Norfolk<\/a>\u2019s more deserted beaches offer coastal clandestine cover. Miles away from the masses at Holkham,\u00a0Cley\u2013next-the-Sea<\/a>\u00a0is perfect for animal lovers \u2013 though the only heavy petting we\u2019re suggesting is of the wildlife dotted around this private retreat. Let the sun warmed soft sand sink between your toes on a walk to Blackney Point for some seal spotting.<\/p>\n

Avoid the hustle and bustle of everyday life at the gorgeous\u00a0Lantic Bay<\/a>. This secluded cove in the South East is a serene alternative to Cornwall<\/a>\u2019s more populated beaches. The hidden gem will only reveal itself to sunbathers in the know; you\u2019ll be blown away as views of idyllic shingle beach open up during your descent.<\/p>\n

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But you don\u2019t necessarily need a dramatic coastline to draw in the drama as you\u2019ll discover on blue flag awarded,\u00a0Bamburgh beach<\/a>\u00a0in the North East. With Holy Island and the\u00a0Lindsifarne Priory<\/a>\u00a0bustling, get away from it all as the low-tide gives way to a walkway to Bamburgh beach. With the magnificent eponymous castle towering over, Northumberland\u2019s ancient landscape looks ever the more glorious from the wide sandy shoreline.<\/p>\n

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Cooling stations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bit hot and bothered? Why not try out a spot of wild swimming?\u00a0Durdle Door<\/a>\u00a0is one of England\u2019s natural wonders and swimming through the arch out into wide open sea should help explain what the wild swimming fuss is about. Outdoorsy types will also love\u00a0Lumb Falls<\/a>\u00a0by Hebden Bridge. Scramble up a trail and down a bank to dip in the waters of this beauty spot near\u00a0Hardcastle Crags<\/a>. Locals love to picnic by the bridge and cool off in the semi-circular pool overhung by ferns and ivy during the summer months.<\/p>\n

Something a little more quirky awaits at unspoilt\u00a0Anderby Creek beach<\/a>. Tucked away between the small seaside towns of Chapel St. Leonard’s and Sutton-on-Sea, this quiet beautiful stretch of wide-open seascape is home to the\u00a0Cloud Bar<\/a>. While there\u2019s no alcohol served, visitors will still find themselves feeling sky-high! On the viewing platform are \u2018Cloud Menus\u2019 to help you identify the different formations, mirrors that can be swivelled to reflect different parts of the sky and specially-designed cloud-viewing seats, on which visitors can recline and enjoy the view.<\/p>\n

For some cooling in the capital, among the now-ubiquitous ice-cream parlours and frozen yogurt pop-ups there\u2019s a sub-zero Scandanavian experience on Heddon Street. ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL<\/a> is the UK’s only permanent bar made of ice. Guests can cool it for 45 minutes in the freezing cold before surfacing back up into extreme heat.<\/p>\n

Kids will love the Ice-Scream Weekend being held at\u00a0Thorpe Park<\/a>\u00a0on 26-27 July, when visitors will be literally showered with ice-cream. Strawberry and vanilla ice cream will snow down on the park at regular intervals, providing those sweet-toothed visitors with some shade beneath giant waffle umbrellas.<\/p>\n

Still stuck for ideas? The Met Office\u2019s\u00a0Get Ready for Summer app<\/a>\u00a0has a host of activity suggestions for your staycation this summer \u2013 simply select your location and the day\u2019s weather<\/a> and wait for the recommendations to roll in. Happy summer days!<\/p>\n

VisitEngland <\/a>is the country\u2019s national tourist board.
\nPhoto credits: Camden Beach by Stuart Leech<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With summer well and truly here (finally!) and temperatures hitting impressive peaks, there is no better time to soak up some rays and get out and about. From hidden beaches to dazzling micro-climates, Visit England\u2019s top holiday and weather hotspots will ensure the whole family enjoy England to the max this summer. Let\u2019s talk about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"post_views_count":963,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[129,71],"class_list":["post-549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays","tag-uk","tag-uk-holidays"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=549"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1841,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/549\/revisions\/1841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}