UK

A Guide to Sustainable Staycations

A Guide to Sustainable Staycations

As a B Corp-certified company, we are celebrating B Corp Month by blending inspired explorations with conscious travel choices to create escapes that nourish both the soul and the planet, and there's nowhere more enchanting to indulge than the dreamy scenes of the UK. 

Wooded valleys, sweeping moorland, and patchwork countryside, all fringed by a salt-kissed coast, the UK is home to an enchanting array of destinations, inviting you to embark on a spellbinding staycation that marries sustainable travel with luxury retreats. 

From seasonal cooking and supporting local businesses to choosing captivating corners of the UK you have yet to unravel, explore our guide to sustainable staycations and embrace a Boutique stay that's carefully curated, considered, and offers luxury living with intention.

Dreamy sustainable travel destinations in the UK

Close to London

A chocolate-box thatched cottage surrounded by lawn and trees

Whether you seek a seaside sojourn framed by white-tipped waves and chalk-lined cliffs or a countryside retreat that blends honey-dipped cottages with wildflower meadows, there are many dreamy destinations close to London, promising a staycation that feels like a world away without the air miles. The Cotswolds, with its golden views and winding lanes, is only two hours away by car, or under an hour by train, meaning you can leave the office on a Friday and be dining in a Michelin star restaurant in the Cotswolds that evening. Sussex, with its dramatic cliffscapes and historic villages, is equally close, promising a staycation crafted with sea air and rolling hills, perfect for restorative retreats. 

Country retreats

A sprawling country estate surrounded by patchwork fields in the Lake District

The perfect destination for slow living, the UK’s quintessential countryside is woven with patchwork fields, wildflowers, and ancient woodlands, crafting a serene setting for a sustainable stay. Sprawling farmstays promise rustic charm at every turn, while thatched cottages offer a dose of fairytale wonder alongside the soul-soothing warmth of wood burning stoves and glorious open fires. Whether you’re surrounded by a working farm or a tranquil forest, these luxury retreats showcase the beauty of our Arcadian interiors, and often sit a stone’s throw from farm shops laden with locally grown goodies. 

By the sea

A beautiful terrace overlooking the sea in Cornwall

Flee the city to embrace the serene sounds of waves lapping against the shore, a coastal staycation invites you to unwind in time with the ebbing tide, synchronising you with nature and inspiring a more attuned break. The UK is home to many salt-kissed locales to uncover, from Cornwall’s blend of surfing havens and Mediterranean-esque beaches to Scotland’s wild coast that promises untouched sands you can enjoy all to yourself. Trace gorse-lined paths above turquoise waters, before sinking onto sun-warmed sands for a picnic, and leave with a renewed appreciation of the natural beauty that sits just beyond our doorstep. 

Luxury cabins

A serene black cabin amidst the rolling landscapes of the Isle of Skye

Perfectly crafted for romantic retreats and solo sojourns, escaping to a heavenly cabin or lodge invites you to slow down and follow the pace of the natural world around you. Wake up to a golden stream of sunlight filtering through the leaves, before stepping onto a clifftop terrace or tree-lined patio for a moment of mindfulness before the day begins. Discover bijou boltholes with wood-fired hot tubs, heavenly hideaways nestled on Scottish islands, and dreamy pocket-sized abodes perched on the top of Cornish cliffs, allowing you to plan your day according to the tides below and skies above. 

A guide to sustainable staycations

Travel with care

Someone on a bike cycling at sunset

Choosing a luxury retreat on UK soil is already a wonderfully sustainable travel choice, made all the more thoughtful with a few additional considerations. Electric vehicles are a popular way to travel more consciously, and many of our luxury cottages boast electric vehicle charging points. Or, if you want to leave your car behind for a day, step aboard one of the UK’s vintage railway lines for a steam-powered adventure. Whether you opt for the care-free ease of electric bikes or you like to add some exertion to your excursions, cycling allows you to truly immerse yourself in your travels as you drift down county lanes and across undulating landscapes.  

Shop local

Boxes of fresh vegetables at a local farm shop

Cooking and dining out in harmony with nature allows you to enjoy the richest flavours while ensuring the food on your plate has minimal miles behind it. Local farm shops and markets invite you to pick up farm-fresh produce, low-intervention organic wines, and local deli delights, while supporting small, independent farmers, and boutique restaurants promise a plethora of low-mileage food and menus that change daily depending on what the boats and tractors bring in. Dine in luxury at one of the 37 restaurants in the UK that boast a Michelin Green Star or relax into the friendly atmosphere of a small, local coffee shop as you sip an aromatic blend. The UK is also home to a myriad of independent shops, boutiques, and emporiums full of cherished antiques, inviting you to support local businesses while you browse. 

Explore with intention

A beautiful wooden bridge in New Forest

Sustainable travel can also mean embracing the art of living with intention, whether that means embarking on long, leisurely walks, cycling through chocolate-box villages, or sailing along winding riverways as the sun traces its arc across the sky. Delve into the UK’s rich and eclectic past with relaxed days spent exploring ancient sites, historic houses surrounded by landscaped gardens, and time-worn castles that bear stories etched into stone, or turn towards the natural landmarks that pepper the country, from rough-hewn mountains to heather-topped moorland that evokes a sense of magic at every dramatic turn. Wherever you traverse, take a moment to pause amidst your surroundings, letting the tales of time wash over you, painting a picture of what has passed and what the future may hold.

Support community projects

A seal swimming through the water at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary

For an extra dose of soulful intention, choose projects and places that have a positive impact, such as National Trust and English Heritage sites, so that the time you spend exploring has a direct effect on the extraordinary places you love. Community art galleries, theatres, and cafés are another wonderful way to give back while soaking up the local creative scenes. For animal and wildlife lovers, the UK is home to many amazing sanctuaries and conservation projects that care for everything from birds and hedgehogs to donkeys and seals. Visiting for the day helps support their work, while affording the chance to meet some of our beloved creatures. Many of these sanctuaries and local organisations also offer volunteering opportunities, inviting you to get involved with the amazing work they do.

Feeling inspired for your next sustainable staycation? Explore our luxury cottages across the UK.

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