Where to Go for a Magical Spring Break in the UK

Spring has sprung. Here's where to see the best of it in the UK.

January 17, 2023~

Springtime means flowers, rain showers, gambolling lambs and asparagus – but it also means it’s time for a holiday. And there’s no better place to see in the start of spring than in the British Isles. After a long and dark winter, the UK dusts itself off and the country starts exploding with colour, fresh growth and the chance of a new start for all. You can be a part of that in great style thanks to the lavish choice of apartments, cottages and estates that Plum Guide has on their books just waiting to accommodate you. Here’s our pick of the top spring breaks in the UK.

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Norfolk

To really see the best of the spring season in England, you need to be in the countryside. East Anglia, on the east coast of the country, is an excellent choice as it’s close enough to the capital for a day trip from London, but far enough away that you truly feel as though you’ve escaped from everyday life (which we all know you need - you’re not chained to your work desk, you know).

Home to a long, sandy coastline and the Norfolk Broads, 125 miles of waterways just begging to be explored by boat, there are plenty of relaxing outdoor activities to do in Norfolk. Maybe the fresh air will even encourage your teens to finally get off TikTok and spend some quality time with you. One thing you shouldn’t miss is Norfolk’s fabulous displays of bluebells, an unmissable sight on any spring break in the UK. At the Blickling Estate, the ancient Great Woods are carpeted by a sea of blue flowers for as far as the eye can see.

Horatio's Return, Plum Guide home in Norfolk, England

For a trip with your family and friends, this country estate near the bluebell woods can’t be bettered. With plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxing and spending time together, plus a kitchen that will make you want to host a huge dinner party, it’s the ideal place to spend the springtime.

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Cambridge

This famous English city is at its most beautiful at this time of year, making it a perfect option for a spring break in the UK – unless you’re a student at the university, in which case springtime is your cue to start panicking madly about your finals. Lucky for you, those years are long behind you and you can take advantage of the daffodils and crocuses blooming alongside the river and the cherry blossom drifting gently over the college gardens.

Cambridge University Botanic Gardens

So what are the best things to do in Cambridge during spring? Once you’ve taken the obligatory tour of the university and perhaps attended an evensong at Christ’s College or King’s Chapel, the Botanical Garden is a great place to while away a few hours in some of the first warm sun of the year. Otherwise, you can spend your time here making it your mission to discover the best teashop in the city – our recommendation is Fitzbillies on Trumpington Street – wandering around the city’s nine museums, and learning to punt (no, we didn’t just accidentally swear. A punt is a boat propelled by a long wooden stick. No snickering in the back there).

Godwin, Plum Guide home in Cambridge, UK

This cosy yet contemporary house in central Cambridge provides a great base for exploring. As well as a spacious garden, there’s a glass-walled conservatory so you can enjoy a view of the outdoors even if it’s not quite warm enough to sit outside.

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The Scottish Highlands

Yes, the weather in Scotland can be unpredictable. But the beauty of that is that as it’s changeable all year round, you might as well bring a raincoat and boots and get on with accepting that it’s probably going to rain here at least once or twice a day. Don’t let your aversion to slightly damp socks put you off what is an incredible place to visit for a spring break in the UK.

Ben Nevis, The Highlands, Scotland

As Scotland is further north than the rest of the country, visiting in spring means that the sun will already be setting later in the evenings than it is in the rest of the UK, giving you as much daylight to enjoy yourself as humanly possible. As well as cherry blossoms, gorse and rhododendron flowers will be blooming, bees and butterflies will be awakening and spring lambs will be frolicking through the hills. It’s as if the whole country is celebrating your arrival. Plus, the fact that it’s still quite nippy in the evenings means you have plenty of opportunity to acquaint yourself with a dram or two of Scotch whisky – and the breeze blowing off the Highlands in the morning will wake you up nicely after a glass too many.

Right Angles, Plum Guide home in the Isle of Arran, Scotland

This magical house on the very edge of a loch has a hot tub where you can watch the famously clear Scottish skies for shooting stars and cook for your loved ones in the open plan kitchen. Warm and inviting, you won’t want to leave at the end of your trip. Alternatively, this house has views of the famous Loch Lomond and has an outdoor play area for the kids to amuse themselves in while you take a tour of the nearby Glengoyne Distillery.